Unraveling the Structure and Dynamics of OR2AT4 as a Drug Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

In this project, we will be investigating a potential therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is a type of blood cancer and the five year survival rate is less than 30%. We will be studying a receptor called OR2AT4, which has been found in the white blood cells of AML patients. This receptor has been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation when activated, making it a promising target for AML treatment. However, designing effective drugs has been difficult because we do not have an accurate structure for this receptor. We will be using computer simulations to study the structure of OR2AT4 and how it interacts with a natural odorant called sandalore, which activates the receptor. By doing so, we hope to provide a more reliable structure for OR2AT4 that can be used to design more effective drugs for AML treatment.

Faculty Supervisor:

Subha Kalyaanamoorthy

Student:

Partner:

Sungkyunkwan University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: