The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) aims to make meaningful improvements to the translational science process, with a focus on streamlining the bench-to-bedside research pipeline. The Analytical Chemistry Core (ACC) at NCATS provides essential support to these efforts by offering analytical support to a range of projects across biology and chemistry. With a dedicated budget set by the intramural research program, the ACC does not rely on a fee-for-service model to operate and engages in collaborations with intramural and extramural partners. This affords the ACC the flexibility to develop innovative technology, tools, and methods with a goal of increasing efficiency and productivity. A strength of the ACC is our expertise and experience in the application of ligand- and protein-observed NMR spectroscopy to study protein-ligand binding. As such, we started a collaboration with Dr. Monika Konaklieva at American University to develop small molecule modulators of the lecithin:cholesterol acyltranferase (LCAT) enzyme. LCAT is essential for converting cholesterol into a form that HDL particles can efficiently pack to become HDL-C particles for transport. Low HDL-C levels are associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Novel therapies to improve LCAT function are needed for the treatment of rare diseases like familial LCAT deficiency (FLD) and may provide benefit to other cardiovascular diseases. Working with the Konaklieva group has provided us the ability to implement our NMR expertise on a novel research project while also expanding our repertoire of NMR-based target engagement assays.
