AQUAPLUGS: Aquaporin blockers for novel skin care products and diuretics

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0064

Key words (English)

Aquaporins; body water balance; aquaporin blockers; kidneys; sweat glands; Biotechnology; Environmental Protection; Innovation; Technology Transfer; Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Waste Management

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK3-CT-00778

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.3 The 'cell factory'

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Universität Basel
Biozentrum, C-CINA, WRO-1058.P.24
Maurice E. Müller Institute for Structural Biology, c/o Syngenta AG

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen (NL)

Abstract (English)

Disturbances of body water balance severely affect the quality of life and can lead to life-threatening conditions. AQUAPORIN (AQP) water channels play central roles in human water balance and are novel targets for pharmacological intervention. To screen for blockers (AQUAPLUGS) of AQPs, mammalian and yeast cell systems will be established. Inhibitors of AQUAPORIN function will be identified in compound libraries and rationally designed.

The activity, specificity and toxicity profile of these aqua plugs will be determined in optimised cell- and integrated, systems. The atomic structures of AQPs and AQP-AQUAPLUG complexes will be elucidated and used to design optimised AQUAPORIN inhibitors. Studies will be performed to further determine the role of AQPs in organ water balance in health and disease to identify additional conditions where AQPs are targets for pharmaceutical application of AQUAPLUGS. Identified AQUAPLUGS with promising profiles will serve as lead structures for the development and exploitation of specific AQUAPORIN inhibitors in novel skin care products and diuretics.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0064