: Chemistry Articles
Editorial: Retooling chemical probesIncreased transparency and consistency in reporting well-validated chemical probes will further enhance the impact of this exciting and rapidly advancing area of chemical biology. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 6 #3, pp157-157 |
Commentary: The art of the chemical probeChemical biologists frequently aim to create small-molecule probes that interact with a specific protein in vitro in order to explore the role of the protein in a broader biological context (cells or organisms), but a common understanding of what makes a high-quality probe is lacking. Here I propose a set of principles to guide probe qualification. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 6 #3, pp159-161 |
Commentary: Rethinking screeningBioactive compounds are most frequently identified via high-throughput screening campaigns. This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the most popular screening approaches and the utility of compounds derived from them. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 6 #3, pp162-165 |
Commentary: The (un)targeted cancer kinomeThe complexity of cancer signaling and the resulting difficulties in target selection have strongly biased kinase drug discovery towards clinically validated targets. Recently, novel kinase targets that are uncharacterized have emerged from genome sequencing and RNAi studies. Chemical probes are urgently needed to functionally annotate these kinases and to stimulate new drug discovery efforts. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 6 #3, pp166-169 |
News and Views: Phenotypic screening: Fishing for neuroactive compoundsA high-throughput phenotypic screen in zebrafish embryos provides distinctive signatures by which neuroactive chemicals can be classified. These ?behavioral barcodes? provide a systems approach to elucidating the mechanistic neuropharmacology of drugs and novel compounds. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 6 #3, pp172-173 |
News and Views: Synthetic chemistry: An upfront investmentOrganic synthesis plays a leading role in the discovery of small molecules for the exploration of biological systems. Therefore, the development of efficient strategies for the preparation of these molecules is a necessary aspect of the small-molecule approach to chemical biology. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 6 #3, pp174-175 |
News and Views: Stem cells: Metabolism regulates differentiationA reverse genetic engineering approach identifies metabolic enzymes and their cellular pathways as potential regulators of myoblast differentiation. Targeting these metabolic nodes has provocative implications for drug discovery and therapeutic efficacy. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 6 #3, pp176-177 |
