New drug discovery One major development to come from the study of human genes and proteins has been the identification of potential new drugs for the treatment of disease. This relies on genome and proteome information to identify proteins associated with a disease, which computer software can then use as targets for new drugs. For example, if a certain protein is implicated in a disease, its 3D structure provides the information to design drugs to interfere with the action of the protein. A molecule that fits the active site of an enzyme, but cannot be released by the enzyme, inactivates the enzyme. This is the basis of new drug-discovery tools, which aim to find new drugs to inactivate proteins involved in disease. As genetic differences among individuals are found, researchers expect to use these techniques to develop personalized drugs that are more effective for the individual.
nEw drug DiScoVeRY onE MAjoR dEvelOpmEnT tO come from the sTudy of hUman Genes anD PrOteInS has BEen The IDeNTificaTiOn Of PotentiaL nEw drUgs fOr tHe treaTMenT of DisEaSE. ThIs relies On genoMe And prOtEome iNformaTiOn tO identify ProtEins aSsOciATEd with A dIsEAsE, WhICH CoMPuteR softWare cAn ThEn use As taRgets for nEw drugs. foR ExAmplE, If a certain ProTein IS impLIcaTed iN a diseASE, Its 3D structurE PRovIdes the inForMAtion To DesIgN dRugs to interfEre witH the actioN OF The pROTein. A moleculE thaT fITs the aCtive sITe oF aN eNzyme, but caNnOt be ReleASEd By The eNZyme, iNactivates the EnzyMe. tHIS Is ThE bASis of neW druG-discovery toOls, WHIcH AIm to fInd neW drUGS to iNaCTiVate PRoteins InvoLved in diseASe. As GENEtic difFeREnCes aMong IndiViDUals aRe fOund, researcheRS expeCt TO usE theSE techNiquEs tO DeVeloP perSonaliZeD drUgs ThAt are MOre efFeCtIvE for tHe indIVIduaL.