Reginald McNulty, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, and Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, will be giving a talk on “Unlocking the Dual Role of NLRP3: Innovative Drug Inhibition and Unexpected Glycosylase Activity for Therapeutic Advancements”

Zoom link: https://gc-cuny.zoom.us/j/91032629703. Meeting ID:  910 3262 9703. Passcode: ASRC+CCNY

ABSTRACT

NLRP3, a key mediator of the innate immune response, is traditionally recognized for its role in inflammasome activation. Recent discoveries by our lab, however, have unveiled a dual functionality that extends beyond immunological processes, encompassing novel enzymatic activity akin to that of glycosylases and opening new avenues for therapeutic interventions. This presentation will explore groundbreaking research on NLRP3’s involvement in both drug inhibition mechanisms and its enzymatic activity, highlighting its potential in the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. By employing structural biology coupled with immunological techniques, we have identified unique aspects of NLRP3’s interaction with oxidized DNA, suggesting a secondary, previously unrecognized glycosylase-like function. These findings not only challenge the existing paradigm but also pave the way for pioneering drug development targeting autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The implications of these discoveries could lead to the development of more effective treatments, with NLRP3 acting as a multifunctional target for drug design. This talk will detail the experimental journey, from hypothesis to validation, that reveals the unexpected roles of NLRP3 and discusses the therapeutic potential these new insights may harbor.