What is Chemical Genetics?Chemical genetics refers to the process of using small molecules to investigate biological processes at a cellular level. Screens in chemical genetics can normally be classified into two categories, either a forward, phenotype-oriented approach, or a reverse, target-oriented approach [1]. Forward approaches involve high-throughput screening of a chemical library, where compounds are chosen based on their ability to cause a desired phenotype, and a cellular target is identified (Figure 1). Reverse approaches take a purified known protein of interest, subject it to a chemical library screening, and identify small molecules which cause altered regulation of the protein of interest (Figure 1).
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Figure 1: Common flow of chemical genetic research.
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Discussion of Chemical Genetics applications
Concerning the applications of chemical genetics, this technique serves useful in identifying potential drug targets, as if the case of the forward approach, as well as in identifying potential small molecules which can be incorporated into pharmaceutical drugs, which is done in the reverse approach. In future research, chemical genetics will be efficient and useful in discovering new small molecules which can reduce the expression of mutated GFAP in Alexander disease. A discovery which could lead to a viable therapeutic to combat the neurodegenerative symptoms in patients with juvenile and adult onset, as those patients have the chance to receive treatments.
References
[1] Flaumenhaft, R. (2007). 3.07 - Chemical Biology. In J. B. Taylor & D. J. Triggle (Eds.), Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry II (pp. 129–149). Oxford: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-045044-X/00080-8
[2] Skop, A. (2018). Lab 6: Chemical Genetics. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from http://genetics564.weebly.com/chemical-genetics.html
[2] Skop, A. (2018). Lab 6: Chemical Genetics. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from http://genetics564.weebly.com/chemical-genetics.html