Dr. Katja Arndt (Junior Fellow der School of Life Sciences - LIFENET): Fabulous Research: Inhibitors Attached to Switches (FRIAS) - Light Induction Facilitates Extinguishing Needlessly Expressed Targets (LIFENET)

Protein-protein interactions are key for virtually all biological processes and play important roles in numerous diseases. Therefore, synthetic protein fragments (called peptides) interfering with malfunctioning proteins are of utmost therapeutic interest. We generate such "interfering peptides" (iPEPs) that are specifically directed against the protein-protein interaction domains of cancerous proteins and use them as a tool to inhibit these proteins. The inhibition potential of selected iPEPs can be quantified and tested in cell culture models. Even more sophisticated, a remote control of inhibitor activity can be achieved by installing a "light switch" on the iPEPs, and using light to switch them "on" or "off" inside living cells.