In addition, we will need to evaluate whether these types of molecules are amenable to synthesis before derivatives can be considered as feasible therapeutic agents. Natural products have traditionally been the driving force behind drug discovery. They offer a unique and powerful approach to probing cellular function. By studying the interaction of a biologically-active natural product with its cellular target, we can gain an understanding of the functional role of the target on a molecular level. In addition to providing insight into biological function, natural products are still our primary source of therapeutic target validation.
Nature sets the precedence for target validation.
Natural products have lead the way for the therapeutic targeting of transcription, translation, signal transduction and a plethora of other enzymatic functions. The cellular targets elucidated in these investigations include protein, DNA and the ribosome. Although the ribosome is largely made up of RNA, a substantial portion of it is protein and the exact level of contact between the two remains ambiguous. In the age of retro viruses, RNA has become a target of increasing importance. The study proposed here will allow us to answer these questions.