Venetoclax

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Poster text:

Title: Structural biology guides the development of a new cancer therapeutic

Panel 1 (top left):
Two protein models labelled Bcl-xL (green) and Bcl-2 (orange).

Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL are two closely related proteins that keep healthy cells alive. Many cancers make a lot of one or the other to grow and spread.

Panel 2 (bottom left):
Shows the two protein models (green Bcl-xL and orange Bcl-2) each with a dark blue molecule bound into a pocket in their structure, with arrows pointing down to two checklists:

• Green (Bcl-xL) column: ✓ Treats cancer, ✓ Kills platelets

• Orange (Bcl-2) column: ✓ Treats cancer, ✗ Kills platelets

Panel 3 (right side):
A sequence of protein models showing the binding pocket being targeted:

• Top row: green and orange protein models each with a pale wedge-shaped cavity highlighted

• Middle row: the same two proteins now shown with a blue/red diamond-shaped molecule fitted into that cavity

• Arrows lead down to a labelled chemical structure diagram: Venetoclax

Image descriptions:

• The two large "blob" models (green and orange) are space-filling protein structures, rendered as clusters of rounded atoms/spheres, representing the 3D shapes of Bcl-xL and Bcl-2.

• In Panel 2, a dark navy zig-zag ribbon-like molecule is shown nestled into a groove on each protein surface, illustrating how a natural binding partner attaches.

• In Panel 3's middle row, a blue-and-red kite/diamond-shaped abstract shape sits in a groove on each protein, representing the binding site being targeted by drug design.

• The final chemical structure diagram of Venetoclax is a detailed line/stick diagram of interconnected rings and atoms (the drug's actual molecular structure).