Dale F. Mierke

The major thrust of the Mierke research group is the identification and development of molecules to inhibit protein/protein interaction towards therapeutic intervention in several different diseases. We employ an array of biophysical techniques for the structural characterization of the targets (namely nuclear magnetic resonance) followed by in vitro screening of compounds for inhibitory biological function, using NMR and fluorescence anisotropy. 

We are currently designing molecules that inhibit formation of the DISC (death Inducing signaling complex) important in the regulation of apoptosis, with particular efforts placed on blocking the recruitment of cFLIP to the DISC, and thereby restating the extrinsic apoptosis signaling. Another project entails screening for direct inhibitors of the GTPase Rac1 oncogenic protein, employing a novel NMR-based GTP turnover assay. A final project aims at the identification of molecules to inhibit the NEMO/IKK association and thereby a novel method for therapeutic intervention.