Predicting the mode of action of anti-cancer drugs with AI
Plants, fungi and bacteria produce a variety of active substances that alter cell metabolism, sometimes to the point of cell death. This makes them promising candidates for new drugs against cancer and other diseases. Although a diverse range of bioactives exists, the further development of new anti-cancer drugs is proving difficult, because of the time-consuming and expensive elucidation of their mode of action. IPB scientists and partners at the MLU and the University of Dhofar have now taken a major step towards overcoming this hurdle in the future. With their modern analysis of cellular metabolites and AI-based evaluation, they have successfully predicted the mode of action of new anti-cancer drugs. Published in Advanced Science // >> IPB Press release
News Ticker Science
Plant metabolite inhibits biofilm formation of bacteria
Methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEcPP) is an intermediate of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway (MEP), which leads to the biosynthesis of isoprenoids in both plant plastids and bacteria. In plants, MEcPP also acts as a stress signal, especially during oxidative stress. And according to the latest findings, MEcPP also appears to play a role in stress adaptation in bacteria. Published in Nature Communications//>> Read more
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Omics insights into plant resilience to light stress
Under intense light conditions, plants produce reactive oxygen species that damage other molecules with important biological functions. IPB scientists have recently comprehensively investigated the diverse adaptive responses to this photooxidative stress. They used a multi-omics approach including transcriptomics, redox proteomics and metabolomics. Published in The Plant Journal// >> Read more
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Synthetic compounds increase the effect of chemotherapeutics on colon cancer cells
Tumor tissue often has too little blood supply and is therefore poorly provided with oxygen. The increased formation of carbonic anhydrases in hypoxic tissue makes solid tumors less responsive to chemotherapy. This turns carbonic anhydrases into interesting targets for new drugs designed to support cancer therapy. IPB and MLU chemists have successfully synthesized various inhibitors of these tumor-associated carbonic anhydrases. Published in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry// >> Read more
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Selective cancer drugs in the pipeline
Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) are increasingly becoming the focus of cancer research, as they release the anticancer agent specifically in the tumor tissue, sparing healthy cells from the toxic effect. IPB chemists and partners from Havana have recently developed various PDCs by conjugating novel analogs of the anticancer agent tubulysin with the peptide ligand bombesin. Published in Frontiers in Pharmacology // >> Read more
Infrastructure
Modernization: New 700MHz NMR at IPB
At the end of 2024, the NMR lab at the IPB was upgraded with the installation of a new Bruker AVANCE NEO spectrometer. This state-of-the-art system features an 16.4T (700MHz) Ascend magnet and helium-cooled cryoprobes (5mm and 1.7mm), marking a significant enhancement in our liquid analysis capabilities within the newly structured Analytical Lab of the MetaCom Program Center. >> Read more
Conferences and Events
IPB scientists speak as experts at the World Conference on Nature
In 2024, the 16th United Nations World Conference on Nature (COP16) took place in Cali, Colombia. Over 23,000 people from 196 countries came together for this event, to discuss the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the role of indigenous peoples in biodiversity conservation. The IPB was represented by two speakers at this conference. >> Read more
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DiP projects at Green Week in Berlin
The IPB took part in the Green Week in Berlin together with other stakeholders. We presented our DiP-NA-WIR project, which is one of a total of 19 joint projects in the DiP consortium of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The IPB is represented in the consortium with seven projects, five of which are coordinated by our scientists. >> Read more
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