Spotlighting Biologically Active Fe Chelators within Cells (2010-2012)
Abstract
Compounds that chelate iron have emerged as a new approach to cancer chemotherapy potentially circumventing the problem of acquired drug resistance. In previous projects we developed chelators exhibiting high activity against cancer cell proliferation, but their cellular targets are unknown. In this project we will graft fluorescent tags onto known active iron chelators and follow their path into the cell with fluorescence microscopy. Fulfilment of these aims will, for the first time, reveal the cellular targets of these exciting compounds and establish that their activity is indeed linked to Fe chelation within the cell. The outcomes of this project will be a molecular understanding of the mode of action of a novel anti-cancer drug.
