Meinox family of proteins as drug targetsSmall molecules differ in important ways from other types of drug compounds (e.g., proteins, or biologics). For example, small molecules developed for oncology therapies penetrate the cell wall and target the inside of the cell. Once inside, the small molecule can fight cancer by inducing cell death and modulating transcription factors.
MEINOX technologies aim to develop a library of first-in-class, selective small molecule inhibitors of MEINOX family, in particular oncogenic MEIS, PBX, TGIF2 proteins and their co-factor HOXA9. Lead compounds are being studied for the targeting various cancers.
Meinox is a contraction of Meis and Knox subfamily of the TALE family of homeoproteins. Studies showed that both MEIS1 and pKNOX1 competitively heterodimerize with PBX1 protein and their activity determine tumorigenic fate of the cell. MEIS proteins as drug target: A review |
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Our founder and president, Dr. Fatih Kocabas, established MEINOX as a startup company to develop and commercialize small molecule inhibitors of MEINOX family. Our team includes experts in project management (ODTÜ), drug discovery (İTÜ), and cancer biology (GYTÜ). We seek to share our expertise and proprietary MEINOXi small molecule platforms that can be deployed in collaboration with strategic partners to develop next generation therapeutics for various cancer and malignancies.
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MEIS PROTEINSMEIS proteins includes MEIS1, MEIS2 and MEIS3 proteins. MEIS proteins have been shown to interact with PBX and HOXA9 proteins. MEIS proteins are known as an oncogene and overexpressed in various cancers including leukemia.
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PBX PROTEINSPBX (Pre-B-cell leukemia transcription factor) proteins include PBX1, PBX2 and PBX3 proteins. E2a-Pbx1 HD fusion protein is an oncogene driving inappropriate expression and producing acute myeloid leukemia.
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TGIF PROTEINSTFIG (TG-Interacting factor) proteins include TGIF1, TGIF2, TGIF2LX and TGIF2LY proteins. TGIF2 proteins is identified as an oncogene in medullablastuma. TGIF is essential for mammary and lung tumorigeneis.
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HOXA9 PROTEINHOXA9 protein is highly expressed in leukemia and shown to be the single most predictive of marker for poor prognosis. HOXA9 and MEIS1 synergize to produce aggressive leukemia.
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SCIENTIFIC FOUNDERFatih Kocabas is Associate Professor Dr. at Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University. He received his B.S. degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Orta Dogu Technical University and his Ph.D. in Genetics and Development from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, USA. He developed MEINOX (MEIS, PBX and HOXA9) reporter assays and identified small molecule MEIS inhibitors.
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