Harnessing the Power of Structural Oncology

Abstract: Microscopy has evolved through centuries of desire to see the unseen world. Modern technologies have pushed the limits of what's possible, inspiring the field of structural biology. Coupled with advances in biochemistry, scientists can now study the fine details of tiny intruders in the body as well as the molecular culprits of disease. Despite these monumental achievements, human health still suffers from persistent dysfunctions in biological molecules. Through cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging technology we can create more translatable models to uncover the atomic details of macromolecules gone awry. For instance, the tumor suppressor p53 is one of the most popular proteins in cancer research, yet there is little structural information about its complete 3D organization. The Center for Structural Oncology (CSO) at Penn State University is working to address these impactful uncertainties. Using a wealth of cryo-EM resources in the CSO, we capture dynamic snapshots of p53 assemblies while preserving their disease-related context for drug discovery and therapeutic development. With these tools in hand, the CSO is working to engineer new molecular paradigms in creating a world without cancer.