This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate capstone course at UW-Madison
What are Small molecules?
Small molecules are organic molecules that allow biological systems to be investigated. These molecules can bind to proteins and create phenotypic responses. The best way to understand a system is to disturb it, and small molecules allow researchers to do this. One benefit to these molecules is the ability to only perturb on molecular function of a protein, opposed to many or all functions the way genetic deletions do. The approach that uses these small molecules is called Chemical Genetics. [1]
One resource for finding small molecules that interact with a protein is through the PubChem database.
One resource for finding small molecules that interact with a protein is through the PubChem database.
What chemicals affect MITF?
Analysis
Chemical small molecules have been found to inhibit the protein function of MITF. The two molecules shown here are just a few of the chemicals that have been found to carry out this inhibition. This could be one method used to study the role of MITF in WS2A, as it would allow for the inhibition of its function without completely deleting it from the cell. This could allow for a more directed study of the effects on WS2A.
References
1. Stockwell, B. R. (2004). Exploring biology with small organic molecules. Nature,432 (7019), 846-854. doi:10.1038/nature03196
2. The PubChem Project. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2017, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
1. Stockwell, B. R. (2004). Exploring biology with small organic molecules. Nature,432 (7019), 846-854. doi:10.1038/nature03196
2. The PubChem Project. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2017, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/