Hayley Prescott

Citation

Thesis Title
Studies Toward Evaluating Gcn2 as a Drug Target

Read article at Massey Research Online:

The protein kinase Gcn2 is a key component for cellular homeostasis during amino acid deprivation and a diverse range of cellular stress conditions. There is convincing evidence that Gcn2 supports cancer cell proliferation and tumour growth, and that Gcn2 inhibition impedes tumour growth. Consequently, Gcn2 has garnered attention as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer and of particular interest, is the discovery of Gcn2 inhibiting compounds. Ms Prescott combined computational and experimental analytical methods to identify Gcn2 inhibitors, uncover a novel binding site on the surface of Gcn2 for the targeted discovery of inhibiting compounds, and also examine the effects of Gcn2 inhibition on cancer cells. Ms Prescott’s research has made a considerable contribution toward the evaluation of Gcn2 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer.

Supervisors
Associate Professor Evelyn Sattlegger
Dr Martin Dickens