{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-08-20T20:46:43.577Z", "family": "Varga", "given": "Marek", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0002-9685-8145", "affiliations": ["EaStCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9ST, United Kingdom."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/707532fc225c49d1b2d4f9bec632e13f.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/707532fc225c49d1b2d4f9bec632e13f"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "172755f770e243579d9d401b29efec67", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/172755f770e243579d9d401b29efec67.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/172755f770e243579d9d401b29efec67"}}, "title": "Giving an Enzyme Scissors: Serotonin Derivatives as Potent Organocatalytic Switches for DNA Repair Enzyme OGG1.", "authors": [{"family": "Varga", "given": "Marek", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0002-9685-8145", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/707532fc225c49d1b2d4f9bec632e13f.json"}}, {"family": "Ortis", "given": "Florian", "initials": "F"}, {"family": "Del Prado", "given": "Alicia", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0002-5480-0367", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/7625321e94ab4cb5ba256de247cd0fcd.json"}}, {"family": "Eddershaw", "given": "Alice", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0002-8381-4135", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/bef07e3914ad492d99119e687845f3c4.json"}}, {"family": "Scaletti Hutchinson", "given": "Emma", "initials": "E", "orcid": "0000-0002-8741-8981", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/77be7f5d51564a75a753579e976c7c72.json"}}, {"family": "Hank", "given": "Emily C", "initials": "EC", "orcid": "0000-0002-3777-4697", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/2b412977f2364bef9ec63aa5e552331a.json"}}, {"family": "Zhou", "given": "Kaixin", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Rudolfov\u00e1", "given": "Nat\u00e1lie", "initials": "N"}, {"family": "Dodaro", "given": "Alessia", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Wiita", "given": "Elis\u00e9e", "initials": "E"}, {"family": "Alml\u00f6f", "given": "Ingrid", "initials": "I"}, {"family": "Karsten", "given": "Stella", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Mamonov", "given": "Kirill", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Ahmed", "given": "Sara H", "initials": "SH"}, {"family": "Bentley", "given": "Kirsty", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Wallner", "given": "Olov", "initials": "O"}, {"family": "Homan", "given": "Evert J", "initials": "EJ"}, {"family": "Scobie", "given": "Martin", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Helleday", "given": "Thomas", "initials": "T", "orcid": "0000-0002-7384-092X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/385586c159494955a9a72c3381e3ad47.json"}}, {"family": "Prejan\u00f2", "given": "Mario", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0002-9140-6246", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3149d1c394e5447b873012134ed902ac.json"}}, {"family": "Stenmark", "given": "P\u00e5l", "initials": "P", "orcid": "0000-0003-4777-3417", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/9791bc0d7463417899d6953b5ca1bac3.json"}}, {"family": "de Vega", "given": "Miguel", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-1285-7549", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/6196fa790b4645c3acef45a87cdac3d0.json"}}, {"family": "Watson", "given": "Allan J B", "initials": "AJB", "orcid": "0000-0002-1582-4286", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/991264ae319e4e95a51e0b47b995c66e.json"}}, {"family": "Michel", "given": "Maurice", "initials": "M"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2025-11-13", "journal": {"title": "J Med Chem", "issn": "1520-4804", "volume": "68", "issue": "21", "pages": "22455-22483", "issn-l": "0022-2623"}, "abstract": "The base excision repair enzyme 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1) plays a central role in maintaining genome integrity and mediating cellular responses to oxidative stress. As such, it represents an attractive target for pharmaceutical modulation. Small-molecule organocatalytic switches (ORCAs) greatly enhance the rate of OGG1-catalyzed cleavage of DNA abasic sites, thereby accelerating DNA repair. Here, we present the discovery and hit-to-lead optimization of a novel class of highly potent serotonin-derived ORCAs with greatly improved pharmacokinetic properties. Biochemical assays, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics simulations point toward a water-mediated mechanism of activation, distinct from previously proposed Br\u00f8nsted base-assisted models. These findings establish serotonin-based ORCAs as promising chemical probes and potential leads for therapeutic modulation of OGG1 in oxidative stress-driven diseases.", "doi": "10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c01454", "pmid": "41092057", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC12621200"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T08:10:54.321Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T08:10:54.746Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "5c5bfa7eea964cf7961bdec3453b5d92", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/5c5bfa7eea964cf7961bdec3453b5d92.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/5c5bfa7eea964cf7961bdec3453b5d92"}}, "title": "Small-molecule activation of OGG1 increases oxidative DNA damage repair by gaining a new function.", "authors": [{"family": "Michel", "given": "Maurice", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-3261-2493", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/6f4696e361fe4aa3823d263674d1a498.json"}}, {"family": "Ben\u00edtez-Buelga", "given": "Carlos", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Calvo", "given": "Patricia A", "initials": "PA"}, {"family": "Hanna", "given": "Bishoy M F", "initials": "BMF", "orcid": "0000-0001-7027-6553", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/61301102836e44d189f5628bb33c1335.json"}}, {"family": "Mortusewicz", "given": "Oliver", "initials": "O", "orcid": "0000-0002-4290-4994", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/6f546fe8f2c54824b942f7f88976e3bd.json"}}, {"family": "Masuyer", "given": "Geoffrey", "initials": "G", "orcid": "0000-0002-9527-2310", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/c62ba219d3e34662aaa458dbd361cf31.json"}}, {"family": "Davies", "given": "Jonathan", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0002-4986-8594", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/e74e0781a72d480c8e705a9a824e5e5a.json"}}, {"family": "Wallner", "given": "Olov", "initials": "O", "orcid": "0000-0002-6481-237X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3601a5a4d88f4452b6d1ac5f22c79d9f.json"}}, {"family": "Sanjiv", "given": "Kumar", "initials": "K", "orcid": "0000-0002-5415-9952", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/f96227a0cfd8467ca6e8ac1146dda00a.json"}}, {"family": "Albers", "given": "Julian J", "initials": "JJ", "orcid": "0000-0001-9579-6360", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8278cc4e9e7e4bde823f672b1982591d.json"}}, {"family": "Casta\u00f1eda-Zegarra", "given": "Sergio", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0002-2808-6788", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3438015dbc1d41b797a02c25a37fef60.json"}}, {"family": "Jemth", "given": "Ann-Sofie", "initials": "AS", "orcid": "0000-0002-7550-1833", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/51f26d370fb74994b8e2b4fa1c9c2f7a.json"}}, {"family": "Visnes", "given": "Torkild", "initials": "T", "orcid": "0000-0003-1047-988X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/9fef10d6a8604971a6ad1849b9f8b029.json"}}, {"family": "Sastre-Perona", "given": "Ana", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0002-4502-3025", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/7d1f1df32dbd449c8f10a5ce0872a6b3.json"}}, {"family": "Danda", "given": "Akhilesh N", "initials": "AN"}, {"family": "Homan", "given": "Evert J", "initials": "EJ", "orcid": "0000-0002-9057-1848", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3a68aa16414c4c159c52a5e75d5537c1.json"}}, {"family": "Marimuthu", "given": "Karthick", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Zhenjun", "given": "Zhao", "initials": "Z", "orcid": "0000-0003-1976-0790", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/019926f6c3d649ea9b04b7b37956dfda.json"}}, {"family": "Chi", "given": "Celestine N", "initials": "CN"}, {"family": "Sarno", "given": "Antonio", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0002-9308-8018", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/22883e442f534ba99f2917cf45d95b3d.json"}}, {"family": "Wiita", "given": "Elis\u00e9e", "initials": "E"}, {"family": "von Nicolai", "given": "Catharina", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0002-7116-2635", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/b6a7ea3d84de4bcb9366c5dcb5b36779.json"}}, {"family": "Komor", "given": "Anna J", "initials": "AJ", "orcid": "0000-0003-4806-4233", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5c3ee8bcb2ee41f1982b48bfed84b76f.json"}}, {"family": "Rajagopal", "given": "Varshni", "initials": "V"}, {"family": "M\u00fcller", "given": "Sarah", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0002-9923-3298", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5012b873ff66448eb2e0ae2e284f7b5b.json"}}, {"family": "Hank", "given": "Emily C", "initials": "EC", "orcid": "0000-0002-3777-4697", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/2b412977f2364bef9ec63aa5e552331a.json"}}, {"family": "Varga", "given": "Marek", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0002-9685-8145", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/707532fc225c49d1b2d4f9bec632e13f.json"}}, {"family": "Scaletti", "given": "Emma R", "initials": "ER", "orcid": "0000-0002-8741-8981", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/77be7f5d51564a75a753579e976c7c72.json"}}, {"family": "Pandey", "given": "Monica", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0002-5783-5995", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/1d5af32166634f20b29a5f1ed9e12c43.json"}}, {"family": "Karsten", "given": "Stella", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0001-6191-4314", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/3a27ec21e4a34600aa24a7213372e19c.json"}}, {"family": "Haslene-Hox", "given": "Hanne", "initials": "H"}, {"family": "Loevenich", "given": "Simon", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0001-5424-8755", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/6a06b60008414ef09b0c1e360ae1d10f.json"}}, {"family": "Marttila", "given": "Petra", "initials": "P", "orcid": "0000-0002-0115-8067", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/4ed95784f80a45d9abb072fbb74fc225.json"}}, {"family": "Rasti", "given": "Azita", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Mamonov", "given": "Kirill", "initials": "K", "orcid": "0000-0001-5971-4305", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/2aeb36f9611f4c03883b8def30565da1.json"}}, {"family": "Ortis", "given": "Florian", "initials": "F", "orcid": "0000-0002-0458-5187", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/a2e13b716bc349eb9dac083d7f801549.json"}}, {"family": "Sch\u00f6mberg", "given": "Fritz", "initials": "F", "orcid": "0000-0003-0092-0627", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/7f10b06057e94d03a44967cce431c1a8.json"}}, {"family": "Loseva", "given": "Olga", "initials": "O"}, {"family": "Stewart", "given": "Josephine", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "D'Arcy-Evans", "given": "Nicholas", "initials": "N"}, {"family": "Koolmeister", "given": "Tobias", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "Henriksson", "given": "Martin", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Michel", "given": "Dana", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "de Ory", "given": "Ana", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Acero", "given": "Lucia", "initials": "L", "orcid": "0000-0001-8101-5412", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/af80832b8d8c4019bea17c15fa7651e2.json"}}, {"family": "Calvete", "given": "Oriol", "initials": "O", "orcid": "0000-0002-2623-2876", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/0ee0251167344b24b97b971b8c750795.json"}}, {"family": "Scobie", "given": "Martin", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0002-7073-8495", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/bdce0df415d54e9d84a4fcbb4d1350e5.json"}}, {"family": "Hertweck", "given": "Christian", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0002-0367-337X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/2b1f3fa37a7d4378b06381c2e68a10cb.json"}}, {"family": "Vilotijevic", "given": "Ivan", "initials": "I", "orcid": "0000-0001-6199-0632", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/eec3fc0f230046ccbe7ff46b2da70792.json"}}, {"family": "Kalder\u00e9n", "given": "Christina", "initials": "C", "orcid": "0000-0001-7004-7048", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/e9c7121a5e14414b8bace2708e8add2f.json"}}, {"family": "Osorio", "given": "Ana", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0001-8124-3984", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/6ecd4cc9c17d43009703efb95d979e09.json"}}, {"family": "Perona", "given": "Rosario", "initials": "R", "orcid": "0000-0002-2973-5153", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5b116837f5c346d49e70ad5eb28d7afb.json"}}, {"family": "Stolz", "given": "Alexandra", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0002-3340-439X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/4bde36f21953479a8762c1c858b4c451.json"}}, {"family": "Stenmark", "given": "P\u00e5l", "initials": "P", "orcid": "0000-0003-4777-3417", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/9791bc0d7463417899d6953b5ca1bac3.json"}}, {"family": "Berglund", "given": "Ulrika Warpman", "initials": "UW", "orcid": "0000-0002-6372-1396", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/8b6cab92fb2c4597a0c04777095f80db.json"}}, {"family": "de Vega", "given": "Miguel", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0003-1285-7549", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/6196fa790b4645c3acef45a87cdac3d0.json"}}, {"family": "Helleday", "given": "Thomas", "initials": "T", "orcid": "0000-0002-7384-092X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/385586c159494955a9a72c3381e3ad47.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2022-06-24", "journal": {"title": "Science (New York, N.Y.)", "issn": "1095-9203", "volume": "376", "issue": "6600", "pages": "1471-1476", "issn-l": "0036-8075"}, "abstract": "Oxidative DNA damage is recognized by 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1), which excises 8-oxoG, leaving a substrate for apurinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) and initiating repair. Here, we describe a small molecule (TH10785) that interacts with the phenylalanine-319 and glycine-42 amino acids of OGG1, increases the enzyme activity 10-fold, and generates a previously undescribed \u03b2,\u03b4-lyase enzymatic function. TH10785 controls the catalytic activity mediated by a nitrogen base within its molecular structure. In cells, TH10785 increases OGG1 recruitment to and repair of oxidative DNA damage. This alters the repair process, which no longer requires APE1 but instead is dependent on polynucleotide kinase phosphatase (PNKP1) activity. The increased repair of oxidative DNA lesions with a small molecule may have therapeutic applications in various diseases and aging.", "doi": "10.1126/science.abf8980", "pmid": "35737787", "labels": [], "xrefs": [], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T11:59:29.051Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T11:59:30.134Z"}]}