BATS

Date/Time:

May 5, 2023 - 12:00 PM

Location:

Hosts:

Bevin Engelward

Speaker:

Title:

Mucin Glycans are Host-Derived Immunomodulators of Neutrophils

Abstract:

Mucus is a hydrogel that coats >2000 ft2 of human epithelial surfaces. In addition to constant exposure to environmental insults, mucus also houses the microbiome, providing various sources of inflammation. However, how the immune system tolerates the abundance of immunostimulatory cues without perpetual inflammation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that glycans displayed on mucins, the main proteins in mucus, are potent host-derived immunomodulators of neutrophil activation, revealing a potential mechanism underlying mucosal homeostasis.

Speaker:

Title:

Beyond the Inhibition Paradigm: Modulating Transcription Through Protein Degradation

Abstract:

Targeted protein degradation offers a novel approach for treating disease where conventional small molecules have struggled to have meaningful clinical impact. Degrader molecules harness our cells’ natural housekeeping system to selectively remove disease-causing proteins from the body. I will discuss the design and characterization of highly selective and potent degrader molecules against the cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9). The selective degradation of CDK9 presents an attractive strategy to attenuate transcriptional addiction and provide relief for patients with aggressive cancers.