Kurzbeschreibung
(Englisch)
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This project aims at investigating the uptake, speciation and protein interactions of metal-based compounds using an integrated and multidisciplinary approach. The obtained information will provide knowledge on the possible pathways of metal ions and metal compounds in biological systems.
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Partner und Internationale Organisationen
(Englisch)
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AT, CH, CZ, DE, DK, EL, ES, FI, FR, HU, IE, IL, IT, LV, PL, PT, SE, SK, TR, UK
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Abstract
(Englisch)
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Metal complexes are essential to life and many people routinely take them as food supplements in the form of vitamin and mineral pills. Most non-essential metals are considered to be toxic, nevertheless, many are widely used in imaging, diagnostics and medicine. In this project metal compounds were prepared and characterized and use to probe a number of to biological processes of therapeutic relevance. Highly selective complexes were discovered that either inhibit or activate key pathways linked to cancer progression. Their effects were demonstrated at a molecular level, e.g. inhibition of a specific enzyme and structural characterization by mass spectrometry and/or protein crystallography, at a cellular level in vitro and also on in vivo on relevant models. Cellular uptake mechanisms and cellular distribution studies were also undertaken. Envisaged applications of some of the new compounds discovered could be in the treatment of diseases, and in this respect studies are on-giong, or as tools for application in chemical biology.
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