doelwiteiwit

Doelwiteiwit is a term used in pharmacology to denote a protein that serves as the primary target for a drug or therapeutic intervention. The concept is central to drug discovery and disease research, where altering the activity of a target protein is expected to yield a therapeutic effect. In Dutch, the concept is commonly written as doelwit-eiwit or doelwit-proteïne, but doelwiteiwit may be encountered in certain texts or discussions. A target protein is chosen because its function contributes to disease mechanisms or desirable biological outcomes when modulated.

Target proteins are often enzymes, receptors, ion channels, transporters, or signaling molecules that regulate cellular processes. Identification involves systems biology, genomics, proteomics, and disease models to find proteins whose modulation changes disease-relevant pathways. Validation requires evidence that engaging the protein with a molecule produces a measurable biological effect, using assays of target engagement, cellular models, and animal studies. Drug discovery then seeks compounds with sufficient potency, selectivity, and favorable pharmacokinetic properties, while minimizing off-target effects and toxicity.

Examples of well-known doelwit-eiwitten include PD-1, a immune checkpoint protein targeted in cancer immunotherapy; EGFR, a receptor tyrosine kinase targeted in various cancers; and HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme inhibited by statins to reduce cholesterol synthesis. The framework also covers non-traditional modalities such as biologics, gene therapies, or RNA-based interventions that aim to affect a chosen target protein. Ongoing advances in structural biology, proteomics, and computational design continue to expand the repertoire of potential doelwit-eiwitten.