About

This project was an early-stage drug discovery program aiming to establish test-tube screening materials and methods, followed by library screening and hit expansion to produce inhibitors of our targets that could be used in later stage drug discovery efforts. Our target enzymes are Flap endonucleases (FENs) which process the branched DNA structures (5’ flaps) arising during DNA replication. FENs are found as independent globular proteins in eukaryotes, including parasites from this study. Inhibiting FEN enzymes in any organism tested so far will lead to organism death. Specific inhibitors with good  pharmacological properties, i.e. not toxic to humans, cheap to produce and with good bioavailability in vivo, would thus make potential antiparasitic drugs.