Researchers have made a significant advancement in drug discovery that could enhance patient care. Initially, scientists focus on identifying molecules in the body’s cells that contribute to disease. These molecules serve as potential targets for new medications. The next phase involves screening candidate drugs to determine their effectiveness against these targets. However, this screening process can often be lengthy and complex.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals a breakthrough from a team at Osaka University. They have developed a technology that simplifies drug discovery through single-molecule tracking. This innovative method enables researchers to evaluate the effects of various candidate drugs on a specific target molecule simultaneously. Utilizing a large-scale intracellular single molecule imaging system called AiSIS, this technology can screen new drugs 100 times faster than traditional manual techniques.
The team applied their new method to screen drugs targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a key molecule in the development and progression of several cancers. Since multiple drugs that inhibit EGFR are already approved for treating lung cancer, this target provided a reliable benchmark to test their screening approach. The new imaging technique allowed researchers to visualize how EGFR behaved after treatment with each drug, enabling them to observe its reactions. For instance, they could now monitor the changes in the assembly and disassembly of target molecules, a process known as multimer formation, in response to drug treatment.
“Screening using single-molecule imaging provides a new way to discover drugs by observing the movement of biomolecules in cells and the formation of multimers,” said senior author Masahiro Ueda. “This approach has not been previously utilized in drug discovery, allowing us to develop new drugs with various mechanisms of action. It also opens the door to repurposing existing approved drugs for new targets.”
The successful demonstration of this method using the established EGFR target sets the stage for further research. The team can now apply this innovative approach to screen drugs aimed at a wider range of receptor targets that play critical roles in disease progression.
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