Collaborative research aims to advance cancer treatment involving leading research centers from five countries

Presenting the objectives of the scientific project, Associate Professor Hayarpi Simonyan, Head of the Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, stated that the research focuses on identifying and designing novel inhibitors targeting the ATIC enzyme, which plays a key role in one of the stages of cancer development. 

"At the Institute of Pharmacy, in collaboration with our Polish colleagues, we are synthesizing potential inhibitors of the ATIC enzyme, which will subsequently undergo testing in the partner countries. For instance, in Poland, the synthesized compounds will be subjected to in vitro studies on model normal cells and selected cancer cell lines. In the United States, in vivo studies will be conducted using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. In Australia, in silico studies will be carried out to design novel ATIC enzyme inhibitors, while in Italy, spectroscopic studies will be conducted to assess the binding potential of the synthesized compounds with biomedical targets. These studies will determine whether the synthesized compounds can play a beneficial role in cancer treatment," explained Hayarpi Simonyan.

The research will last for four years. As part of the program, the Institute of Pharmacy will host another researcher from Poland, after which Anna Mkrtchyan, the Director of the institute, and Associate Professor Hayarpi Simonyan will visit the University of Opole for an experience exchange. 

"The primary goal of the researchers' exchange is to acquire new skills that are not directly related to their professional field. Together with Anna Mkrtchyan, I will visit the University of Opole for one month to participate in in vitro research, specifically to study the effects of the compounds we have synthesized on cancer cell lines. We will then visit Coastal Carolina University, USA, to take part in in vivo research," said Hayarpi Simonyan.   

Dr. Paweł Lenartowicz, a researcher in the Institute of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Opole, introduced the research being conducted at YSU and the expected results. He emphasized that the program aims to enhance the research level and innovative potential of academic and research institutions in five countries by facilitating the exchange of professional knowledge and skill development among researchers.     

"The main goal of the research is to deepen our understanding of the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway in both healthy and cancerous cells. This objective can be achieved through the design and synthesis of new, selective inhibitors of the ATIC enzyme dimerization, which become active during cancer development. Ultimately, the results of this research can contribute to more effective cancer treatment," said Paweł Lenartowicz, adding that the current phase of the research, conducted as part of an internship, is focused on selecting and optimizing methods for synthesizing peptide analogs, as well as creating a "library" of specially designed peptides.     

Regarding the importance of collaboration with YSU Institute of Pharmacy, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Opole, Dr. Przemysław Domaszewski, emphasized that the internship at YSU contributes to the expansion of knowledge through the exchange of experience.  

"We focus on developing methods for the stereoselective synthesis of non-standard amino acids and their unsaturated derivatives. The research also aims to identify the most effective methods for combining amino acids with target peptides. A key outcome of this research will be the synthesis of the first series of peptides. Their biological activity will be tested on cancer cell lines," he said, emphasizing that in addition to this, conducting several pilot reactions in the project's later phases will facilitate the modification of peptide structures based on the results of biological studies.

It is important to highlight that YSU Institute of Pharmacy, as a beneficiary partner, is involved in the research conducted under the European Commission-funded "Horizon Europe" Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges (MSCA Staff Exchanges) program, as part of the grant project titled "Disrupting Purine De Novo Biosynthesis to Fight Cancer – From Molecules to Cells to In Vivo Studies (PurHumanDrome)."