Chemistry

Many of the therapeutics for multiple myeloma currently on the market interfere with healthy processes in the body and produce severe side effects. Alisa’s thesis project focuses on two isomers that have been found to inhibit the GGTase II enzyme, which plays a role in the formation of the cancer. If a therapeutic can be developed to directly target this particular enzyme, it would eliminate many of the unwanted side effects produced by current therapeutics. Unfortunately, not much is yet understood about these isomers, so Alisa is working to develop a fluorescent tag to attach to the isomers and track their behavior and movement in the human body. This undertaking will lead to a greater understanding of these isomers and serve as a necessary stepping stone to the successful development of GGTase II-targeting therapeutics.