Targeting SLC transporters: small molecules as modulators and therapeutic opportunities

Avner Schlessinger, Nicole Zatorski, Keino Hutchinson, Claire Colas

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Solute carrier (SLCs) transporters mediate the transport of a broad range of solutes across biological membranes. Dysregulation of SLCs has been associated with various pathologies, including metabolic and neurological disorders, as well as cancer and rare diseases. SLCs are therefore emerging as key targets for therapeutic intervention with several recently approved drugs targeting these proteins. Unlocking this large and complex group of proteins is essential to identifying unknown SLC targets and developing next-generation SLC therapeutics. Recent progress in experimental and computational techniques has significantly advanced SLC research, including drug discovery. Here, we review emerging topics in therapeutic discovery of SLCs, focusing on state-of-the-art approaches in structural, chemical, and computational biology, and discuss current challenges in transporter drug discovery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)801-814
Number of pages14
JournalTrends in Biochemical Sciences
Volume48
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2023

Keywords

  • drug design
  • ligand discovery
  • membrane protein
  • protein structure prediction

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