Genomics and Proteomics in Drug Discovery and Development
Genomics and Proteomics in Drug Discovery and Development
For the pharmaceutical industry, the number of years to bring a drug from
discovery to market is approximately 15 years, costing up to US$500
million per individual drug.
Genomic and Proteomic technologies have been developed over the last several years.
Being able to compare levels of gene and protein expression between diseased and normal
cells or cells treated with compounds, which vary in their efficacy and toxicity, could prove
valuable:
a) identifying new drug targets
b) optimizing the choice of lead compound candidates by more closely predicting their
success or failure
Genomics
The proteome varies with various factors like health or disease, the nature of each
tissue, the stage of cell development, and effects of drug treatments.
Cytotoxicity testing,
Target isolation and Docking of small
Toxicological
purification molecules
investigations
There are over 30 model organisms for which whole genomes were sequenced, and
more than hundreds of organisms are being sequenced.
The obtained data resources are helpful for functional predictions of genes,
especially for pathogenic organisms, and are useful for screening drug targets.
For instance, this kind of whole-genome sequence information, integrated from
multiple pathogenic organisms, can be used to screen:
race -specific genes
virulence genes
common genes of pathogenic organisms (conserved genes) specific bacterial or viral enzyme
genes
bacterial membrane -translocation proteins
tissue-
specific
expression
analyze regulatory
gene databases network of
function a gene
select
candidate
drug target
genes
Analysis of gene expression profiles
DNA microarray containing 97% of the predicted open reading frames to monitor
changes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene expression in response to the anti-
tuberculosis drug isoniazid.
The results showed that isoniazid induced several genes that encode proteins that are
physiologically relevant to the drug’s mode of action, including an operonic cluster
of 5 genes encoding type II fatty acid synthase enzymes and fbpC, which encodes
trehalose dimycolyl transferase.
Other genes, not apparently within directly affected biosynthetic pathways, also
were induced. These genes, efpA, fadE23, fadE24, and ahpC, likely mediate
processes that are linked to the toxic consequences of the drug.
Insights gained from this approach may define new drug targets.
Gene reporter assays
Microarrays
Northern Blotting
PCR
CONCLUSION
Knowledge of all the human genes and their functions may allow effective
preventive measures.
The cause of common fatal diseases has been identified by genomics and it shows
the potential to identify individuals who are particularly susceptible to a given
disease long before that disease becomes apparent.
It has positively impacted the drug research strategy and drug discovery
development processes.
The process has been made simpler and economical. Further innovations in this
area are expected, which should take drug discovery research to a new level.
Genomic Approach to Drug
Discovery
Application of proteomics in drug
target discovery