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About

Our laboratory applies medicinal chemistry and chemical biology approaches to basic and translational research. We collaborate closely with researchers, both at the institute and externally, to undertake multidisciplinary research programs encompassing chemistry, structural biology, high throughput screening, biochemistry and biology.

A core research goal of our laboratory is to use small molecule probes to understand the key pathways—apoptosis and necroptosis—that govern whether a cell lives or dies. Cell survival or death is an important contributor to many diseases. Our research aims to novel therapies for cancers, inflammatory conditions, ischaemic brain injury and stroke.

Publications

Selected publications from Prof Guillaume Lessene

Emery‐Corbin SJ, Yousef JM, Adhikari S, Sumardy F, Nhu D, van Delft MF, Lessene G, Dziekan J, Webb AI, Dagley LF. Improved drug target deconvolution with PISA‐DIA using an extended, overlapping temperature gradient. Proteomics. 2024;24(16):10.1002/pmic.202300644

Wu X, Go M, Nguyen JV, Kuchel NW, Lu BGC, Zeglinski K, Lowes KN, Calleja DJ, Mitchell JP, Lessene G, Komander D, Call ME, Call MJ. Mutational profiling of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease reveals requirements for function, structure, and drug escape. Nature Communications. 2024;15(1):10.1038/s41467-024-50566-9

Yuan Z, van Delft MF, Li MX, Sumardy F, Smith BJ, Huang DCS, Lessene G, Khakam Y, Jin R, He S, Smith NA, Birkinshaw RW, Czabotar PE, Dewson G. Key residues in the VDAC2-BAK complex can be targeted to modulate apoptosis. PLOS Biology. 2024;22(5):10.1371/journal.pbio.3002617

Chüeh AC, Tse JWT, Dickinson M, Ioannidis P, Jenkins L, Togel L, Tan B, Luk I, Davalos-Salas M, Nightingale R, Thompson MR, Williams BRG, Lessene G, Lee EF, Fairlie WD, Dhillon AS, Mariadason JM. Correction: ATF3 Repression of BCL-XL Determines Apoptotic Sensitivity to HDAC Inhibitors Across Tumor Types.Clinical Cancer Research. 2023;29(18):10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-2100

Davies K, Meng Y, Fitzgibbon C, Young S, Garnish S, Horne C, Luo C, Garnier J, Liang L, Cowan A, Samson A, Lessene G, Sandow J, Czabotar P, Murphy J. Dissecting the RIPK3/MLKL necroptotic molecular switch. Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations and advances. 2023;79(a2):10.1107/s2053273323087788

Pierotti CL, Jacobsen AV, Grohmann C, Dempsey RK, Etemadi N, Hildebrand JM, Fitzgibbon C, Young SN, Davies KA, Kersten WJA, Silke J, Lowes KN, Sabroux HJ, Huang DCS, van Delft MF, Murphy JM, Lessene G. The VEGFR/PDGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, ABT-869, blocks necroptosis by targeting RIPK1 kinase. Biochemical Journal. 2023;480(9):10.1042/bcj20230035

Wang Z, Hu H, Heitink L, Rogers K, You Y, Tan T, Suen CLW, Garnham A, Chen H, Lieschke E, Diepstraten ST, Chang C, Chen T, Moujalled D, Sutherland K, Lessene G, Sieber OM, Visvader J, Kelly GL, Strasser A. The anti-cancer agent APR-246 can activate several programmed cell death processes to kill malignant cells. Cell Death & Differentiation. 2023;30(4):10.1038/s41418-023-01122-3

Wang Z, Hu H, Heitink L, Rogers K, You Y, Tan T, Suen CLW, Garnham A, Chen H, Lieschke E, Diepstraten ST, Chang C, Chen T, Moujalled D, Sutherland K, Lessene G, Sieber OM, Visvader J, Kelly GL, Strasser A. Correction to: The anti-cancer agent APR-246 can activate several programmed cell death processes to kill malignant cells. Cell Death & Differentiation. 2023;30(4):10.1038/s41418-023-01137-w

Gardner CR, Davies KA, Zhang Y, Brzozowski M, Czabotar PE, Murphy JM, Lessene G. From (Tool)Bench to Bedside: The Potential of Necroptosis Inhibitors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2023;66(4):10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01621

Moujalled DM, Brown FC, Chua CC, Dengler MA, Pomilio G, Anstee NS, Litalien V, Thompson E, Morley T, MacRaild S, Tiong IS, Morris R, Dun K, Zordan A, Shah J, Banquet S, Halilovic E, Morris E, Herold MJ, Lessene G, Adams JM, Huang DCS, Roberts AW, Blombery P, Wei AH. Acquired mutations in BAX confer resistance to BH3-mimetic therapy in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2023;141(6):10.1182/blood.2022016090

Lab research projects

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