DeepRed1 - A Novel Theranostic in Photodynamic Therapy

DeepRed1 is a protein derived from the light harvesting complex of the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae. It is a remarkable protein in two respects: first, it is one of the most electron-efficient biological compounds yet identified and second, it can function using a wide variety of carotenoid and chlorophyll co-factors. This project aims to demonstrate the utility of DeepRed1 as a multifunctional theranostic in photodynamic therapy (PDT). It has three objectives; to prove (i) that the protein's superior light-scavenging capabiliites will allow PDT to be undertaken at greater tissue depths than is currently possible; (2) that this is a generic capability, which can be achieved with multiple differing phototoxic co-factors, and, (3) still further substitutions of those co-factors will also allow physicians to both diagnose disease and monitor responses to therapy as part of the same clinical process. The content of the project will involve screening DeepRed1 fusion proteins reconstituted with various natural and unnatural co-factors in cancer cell lines and mice. What is innovative about this project is that represents a completely fresh approach to PDT. That is to say, instead of attempting to maximize the phototoxicity of a particular chemical compound, it seeks to provide a generic method to bind such molecules in a biological matrix which itself can then be further functionalised using the many, powerful methods of protein engineering.