Innovative Approaches for Investigations on Protein Interactions
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1179
Special Issue Editors
Interests: drug target identification; protein–drug interaction; bioanalytical mass spectrometry; pharmacokinetics; proteomics; bioactive natural compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: proteins; outer membrane vesicles; drug delivery; protein engineering; structural biology; antioxidants; natural compounds; bioremediation; mass spectrometry; targeted drug monitoring; biomarkers
Interests: proteomics; drug discovery; target identification; mass spectrometry; proteins-proteins interaction; proteins-molecule interaction; cell culture; 3D cell model
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Proteins are key cellular components. Their wide variety and the plasticity of their structure–function paradigm make them essential in all biological functions in cells. Indeed, the biological effects of bioactive molecules are often a consequence of protein–protein (PP) or protein–ligand (PL) interactions.
Unravelling the complexity of PP and PL interactions is also vital for the development of biotechnological applications for exploiting these interactions. In recent years, key protein regulators have been identified as lead macromolecules engineered for optimizing drug delivery and as potential targets of drugs and therapeutics. Moreover, PP and PL interaction studies are essential for assessing the interactomic profiles of proteins in response to bioactive molecules, as well as for elucidating drugs action mechanism. Observing variations in the interactomic profiles of defined proteins or pathways is also a promising means of biomarker discovery, allowing us to characterize pathological proteomic patterns in biological matrixes.
Protein interactions can be investigated through different biochemical techniques, ranging from cell-free to cell-based assays. These different experimental settings could be used in combination with mass-spectrometry (MS)-based or immunometric detection methods. The use of antibodies for immune-capturing strategies (IP and co-IP) is an invaluable tool for investigating proteins’ interactomes. However, MS-based proteomic techniques are very attractive methods, as they allow for the simultaneous determination of multiple proteins and their targets. Moreover, different MS-based applications have emerged that are specifically designed to investigate the interactions between proteins and specific ligands; some examples include the DARTS assay, LiP assay and CETSA assay, specifically exploiting variations in proteins’ sensitivity to proteases or their thermal stabilization in the presence of ligand binding. Each of these strategies present advantages and drawbacks, including the limitations of targeted analysis in some cases and the risk of off-target identification. Therefore, we recommend validating interaction data by using an orthogonal technique.
In conclusion, many methodological approaches are available that investigate the landscape of PP and PL interactions. These techniques allow us to shed light on metabolic pathways, identify promising biomarkers, and unravel the action mechanisms of drugs and bioactive molecules, aiding drug development and drug discovery from early stages to target validation. This Special issue will include original research and review articles concerning innovative applications and advances in current strategies for the investigation of protein–protein and protein–drug interactions in all the cited fields of interest.
Dr. Fabrizio Dal Piaz
Guest Editor
Dr. Francesca Mensitieri
Dr. Maria Laura Bellone
Guest Editor Assitants
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- protein–protein and protein–ligand interactions
- proteomics
- innovative approaches
- LC-MS/MS
- immunometric techniques
- interactome
- drug discovery and development
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
