Dissecting intricate protein signalling in cell requires precision control of the function and abundance of proteins on demand. Advanced genetic technology yields very limited information of short-lived primary cells in response to acute stress. For example, the synergistic functions of platelet, neutrophil and macrophage in the process of thromboinflammation remain elusive. In contrast, chemical biology is making a huge translational impact to solve this contemporary challenge in dynamic pathophysiology.
In this project, we will design and create a conditional knock-out system that leverages the potency of PROTACs and photosensitive molecular probes, which will enable the investigation of transient protein functions in leukocytes and platelets responding to thrombotic cues.