Computational Design of ASiP as Drug to Treat Melanoma
Engineering
Thesis
Motivation:
Currently, a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma has a fatal prognosis with a life expectancy of 6 - 12 months. Melanoma has a unique feature in that it is resistant to chemotherapy because melanosomes sequester the treatment agents. For Melanocortin Receptor 1 (MC1R), a cell treated with a-MSH will have greater melanosome production whereas treatment with ASiP decreases melanosome production below basal levels. ASiP would function as a drug, in tandem with cisplatin, by reducing the number of melanosomes present in the cell, which would allow the chemotherapeutic to reach its intended target.
GOAL:
Engineer Agouti Signaling Protein (ASiP) for optimal selectivity and binding affinity to Melanocortin Receptor 1 (MC1R) so that it can be delivered in tandem with cisplatin to increase treatment efficacy for melanoma.
