Projects
3D4Health : Protection structures for health: Structural biology of therapeutic membrane proteins as a starting point for effective rational drug design. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Structural biology of large and flexible macromolecules in solution: Small angle X-Ray Scatter (Bio-SAXS) and Multi-angle light scatter (MALS) (UABR/11/012) Vrije Universiteit Brussel
FABLITE – A light sheet microscopy and microfabrication 'ménage-à deux' for real-time, high throughput and physiological structural biology. Hasselt University
Towards the realization of a structural biology platform at the University of Antwerp: The Mosquito Xtal3 crystallization robot as the missing link. University of Antwerp
Integrative Structural Biology Approach to Intermediate Filaments KU Leuven
Our research focuses on the three-dimensional structure of intermediate filaments (IF). IFs alongside with microtubules and actin microfilaments form filamentous system of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. There are six different types of IFs that function in different cells. Their main role is to provide reinforcement to the cell to withstand external stress and strain. The number of diseases associated with mutations in IF genes is constantly ...
Structural, molecular, and cellular biology of PKD2 allosteric modulators as novel therapeutics for cancer KU Leuven
Recently, we applied computer aided drug design to develop
allosteric, isoenzyme specific inhibitors of Protein Kinase D2 (PKD2).
We have now validated our compounds as truly PKD2 isoenzyme
specific, with promising properties against pancreatic cancer,
glioblastoma and multiple myeloma (cancers of high unmet medical
need). While we have designed the compounds to bind a specific
location in PKD2, the crystal ...
Structural biology in aid of the design of next generation PKD2 inhibitors KU Leuven
Multiple clinically inhibitors targeting protein kinase D2 (PKD2) are available, but all of these compounds are currently ATP-competitive and lack target sensitivity. As PKD1 has an opposing effect to the PKD2, this selectivity is essential. Recently, the host laboratory identified a series of compounds named AllStars (Allosteric Stabilizers) targeting PKD2 in an allosteric and PKD2 specific way. Therefore, the main goal of my project is to ...
Structural biology of Interleukin-34, a novel cytokine ligand for colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) Ghent University
We propose an interdisciplinary research project at the frontline of molecular structural biology to dissect the interaction of a novel cytokine, interleukin 34, with its hematopoietic RTKIII receptor, Colony Stimulating Factor1 Receptor. The proposed research project aims to elucidate the structural, kinetic and thermodynamic determinants that dictate this unusual cytokinereceptor specificity, using both experimental and computational ...
The structural biology of Interleukin-34, a novel cytokine-ligand for the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) Ghent University
We propose an interdisciplinary research project at the frontline of molecular structural biology to dissect the interaction of a novel cytokine, Interleukin-34; with its hematopoietic RTKIII receptor, Colony Stimulating Factor-1 Receptor. The proposed research project aims to elucidate the structural, kinetic and thermodynamic determinants that dictate this unusual cytokine-receptor specificity, using both experimental and computational ...