Hey MMP9, I've heard you're quite the ECM disruptor. What's your mission?
You heard right! I'm all about clearing paths by breaking down the extracellular matrix. But I can't do it alone. What about you, LCN2?
I'm your partner in crime! I trap iron-loving molecules and help you stay active. When we team up, we can break through any barrier. But when we're unchecked, we contribute to something serious — cancer spread.
Right! That's why our interactions are so important to understand. Knowing how we work together can help design inhibitors to stop us from aiding metastasis.
Exactly! With IMPROViSeD, scientists are visualizing our structure in detail. They're using real data to model how we connect.
So, they're creating a blueprint of our partnership?
Yes, and that blueprint could be the key to disrupting our dangerous dance. It's like turning our strengths against cancer!
Here's to science — revealing our secrets to save lives!
Why Do Protein Complexes Matter?
To Understand Biological Functions
Disease Mechanisms
Drug Design and Development
Biotechnology Applications
The IMPROViSeD Advantage
IMPROViSeD introduces a one-shot registration approach for protein complex modelling that revolutionizes the process by utilizing experimentally-derived geometric restraints. Unlike traditional methods that rely on random sampling and prediction-heavy algorithms, IMPROViSeD uses DREAM (Distance Restraints and Energy Assisted Modelling) to efficiently map out protein substructures with minimal computational overhead.
- IMPROViSeD is Fast. No Monte Carlo or Bayesian inference. Skips exhaustive, random sampling of possible configurations.
- IMPROViSeD is Data-Driven. Provides a more reliable and accurate model using experimental data.
- IMPROViSeD is Scalable. Suitable for modelling large and complex datasets with ease.
Tackling Cancer Metastasis
One of the most dangerous aspects of cancer is its ability to metastasize—spread from the original tumor to other parts of the body. The LCN2 and MMP9 complex plays a critical role in degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM), a process that provides passage for cancer cells to invade other tissues.
By modelling the structure of this complex more accurately, IMPROViSeD aims to unlock new insights into how this mechanism works and how it can be disrupted to prevent metastasis. Through cross-linking mass spectrometry (XLMS), our team is actively studying this complex, shedding light on potential therapeutic interventions.