This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison. http://genetics564.weebly.com/
Chemical Genetics
What is Chemical Genetics
Chemical genetics alters protein function with the use of small molecules that bind to the protein of interest. The alteration of the protein function allows you to discover the biological processes that the protein is involved in. Screening the small molecules for desired phenotypes or targeting them to a single protein allows you to find the specific biological processes (1).
PTPN2 Chemical Genetics
Chemical genetics databases like PubChem allow us to identify biological activities of small molecules that interact with PTPN2. My search in PubChem allowed me to identify these small molecules interacting with PTPN2. Of particular interest, inhibition of PTPN2 (TCPTP) with several molecules was found.
Analysis
Chemical genetics is an extremely useful tool for drug discovery. Use of large chemical libraries can aid in discovery of novel interactions that are screened for interactions with your protein. The interaction and inhibition of my PTPN2 protein found with some of the molecules above can potentially impact new drug discovery for Crohn's Disease. The impaired interaction with mutant PTPN2 in Crohn's Disease could restore wild-type function with the use of these different targets, especially PTPN2 inhibitors.