Human protein-protein interaction networks and the value for drug discovery

Drug Discov Today. 2007 Sep;12(17-18):709-16. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2007.07.011. Epub 2007 Aug 28.

Abstract

Systematic genome-wide and pathway-specific protein-protein interaction screens have generated a putative, organizing framework of the spatial interconnectivity of a large number of human proteins, including numerous therapeutically relevant disease-associated proteins. The intrinsic value for drug discovery is that these physical protein-protein interaction networks may contribute to a mechanistic understanding of the pathophysiology of disease and can aid in the identification and prioritization of tractable targets and generate hypotheses on how to best drug non-tractable, disease-associated targets. Here, we review the 'therapeutic potential' of the 1st generation sub-genome-scale human interaction networks and disease-associated protein networks generated by yeast two-hybrid screens and affinity purification-mass spectrometry approaches.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Protein Array Analysis
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods*
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Proteins