PROJECT #18104 RESEARCH FOR CANCER
FOLDING PERFORMANCE PROFILE

PROJECT SUMMARY

We are simulating publicly available protein and small molecule structures of the currently very hot cancer target KRas, see https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/amgen-s-lumakras-becomes-first-fda-approved-kras-inhibitor-for-lung-cancer-patients for recent developments. Folding@home has previously looked at this protein (in project 10490), and the following part of the description is copied from there:

This project is "studying a small protein called KRAS, which forms a key link in growth signaling and cancer. This gene is something like a molecular switch with a timer. When it is bound to a molecule called GDP, it is off, and does not signal that the cell should grow. However, other proteins can cause it to swap its GDP for a GTP, turning KRAS on. In the on state, it signals that the cell should grow and divide. Normally, after some time, KRAS, with the aid of some partners, will chemically convert its GTP to GDP and return to its inactive state.

In many cancers, this protein becomes mutated, and cannot return to its off state. The result? The cells continue to divide without limit. What’s worse, cancers with this protein mutated tend to have much poorer prognoses. As a result, scientists have been trying to target this protein for decades."

We are investigating the dynamic behavior of KRas with these publicly disclosed inhibitors so that we can apply this knowledge to our own drug design. At the same time, we are further testing the adaptive sampling methodology. All data is being made publicly available, and insights from methodology developments will be shared. 

This is a project run by Roivant Sciences (formerly Silicon Therapeutics) as was officially announced in this press release: https://foldingathome.org/2021/04/20/maximizing-the-impact-of-foldinghome-by-engaging-industry-collaborators/

PROJECT INFO

Manager(s): Rafal Wiewiora

Institution: Roivant Sciences (Silicon Therapeutics)

Project URL: roivant.com

PROJECT WORK UNIT SUMMARY

Atoms: 19,723

Core: OPENMM_22

Status: Public