Despite the importance of MTAs for medical and basic research applications, their molecular mechanisms of action often remain elusive. MTA s like taxol efficiently block cell entry into mitosis and are among the most potent chemotherapeutic drugs used for the treatment of different types of cancers. Our research activities are dedicated to the structural analysis of tubulin interactions with microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs).
The elucidation and further exploration of these interactions at atomic resolution are pivotal to both basic and applied research in this field, and have important implications for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We use X-Ray crystallography in combination with biochemical and biophysical methods to provide the molecular mechanisms of protein interactions implicated in the regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton.
