Scientists develop probe that could unlock the mysteries of a vital cellular messenger and pave the way for new drug discoveries
A study by Loughborough University and the University of Oxford has led to the development of a small molecule probe that could deepen our understanding of a crucial cellular messenger and lead to the development of new therapeutic drugs.
The research paper – recently highlighted as Pick of the Week in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s flagship journal, Chemical Science – showcases the researchers’ probe that binds to inositol pyrophosphate or ‘5-PP-InsP5’.
The Loughborough University and University of Oxford research team – which includes Dr Stephen Butler, Dr Felix Plasser, and Professor Barry Potter – combined their chemical synthetic and computational modelling expertise to create a probe specific to 5-PP-InsP5 that emits a bright red light upon binding.
The intensity and duration of this light can be measured to quantify the levels of 5-PP-InsP5 during different biological processes, paving the way for a deeper understanding of its precise functions, mechanisms, and therapeutic potential.
