International team tracks clues to HIV( Rice University's Andrew Barron and ...)
Rice University's Andrew Barron and his group, working with labs in Italy, Germany and Greece, have identified specific molecules that could block the means by which the deadly virus spreads by taking away its ability to bind with other proteins.
Using computer simulations, researchers tested more than 100 carbon fullerene, or C-60, derivatives initially developed at Rice for other purposes to see if they could be used to inhibit a strain of the virus, HIV-1 PR, by attaching themselves to its binding pocket.
"There are a lot of people doing this kind of research, but it tends to be one group or one pharmaceutical company taking a shotgun approach -- make a molecule and try it out, then make another molecule and try it out," said Barron, Rice's Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science. "This is interesting because we're tackling an important problem in a very rational way."
The groups reported their findings in a paper published on the American Chemical Society's Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling Web site last week.
Their method of modeling ways to attack HIV may not be unique, but their collaboration is. Research groups from five institutions -- two in Greece, one in Germany, one in Italy and Barron's group at Rice -- came together through e-mail contacts and conversations over many months, each working on facets of the problem. "Not all the groups have ever met in person," Barron said. Most remarkable, he said, is that their research to date has been completely unfunded.
Using simulations to narrow down a collection of fullerenes to find the good ones is "the least time-consuming low-cost procedure for efficient, rational drug design," the team wrote.
"A long time ago, people noticed that C-60 fits perfectly into the hydrophobic pocket in HIV, and it has an inhibition effect," Barron said. "It's not particularly strong, but there's potentiall
'/>"/>
| Contact: David Ruth druth@rice.edu 713-348-6327 Rice University Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. BIO-key(R) International to Showcase Deployed Biometric Security Applications at 2007 Biometric Technology Expo
2. ESMO International Symposium on Immunology
3. Conservation International and Toyota partner to protect Philippines rain forests
4. International team shows mercury concentrations in fish respond quickly to increased deposition
5. International team shows mercury concentrations in fish respond quickly to increased deposition
6. BIO-key(R) International to Showcase Deployed Biometric Security Applications at 2007 Biometric Technology Expo
7. Youngstown, Ohio Police Award Mobile Data Contract to BIO-key(R) International
8. Clemson physicist addresses international forum on thermoelectric energy
9. US launch of international consultation for new responsible nanocode
10. International team of scientists warns of climate changes impact on global river flow
11. BIO-key International Showcasing Innovative Public Safety Solutions at 2007 IACP Conference
| Copyright © 2003-2009 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |