• Period: July 2026 ~ Present

• Education

Mar 2021 ~ Present, B.S., Department of Biological Systems Science, Hannam University 

• Project

(1) APLNR-targeting peptide design

• Summary

As an undergraduate researcher, I am participating in APLNRboost, a subproject of SenoPanel, and focusing on the structure-guided and AI-driven design of peptide agonists targeting the apelin receptor (APLNR). APLNR is a G protein-coupled receptor involved in vascular homeostasis, cardiovascular function, energy metabolism, and aging-related physiological regulation. In this project, I analyze active, inactive, and native peptide-bound APLNR structures to investigate ligand-binding features and receptor activation mechanisms. I also integrate structural comparison, sequence analysis, previous studies, and receptor–ligand interaction data to identify key binding sites associated with peptide selectivity, binding orientation, and agonistic activity. Based on the identified hotspots, I plan to generate and optimize peptide candidates using AI-based protein design tools such as RFdiffusion and ProteinMPNN. The designed candidates will be evaluated according to their interactions with key receptor residues, binding positions within the orthosteric pocket, structural stability, and potential to stabilize the active conformation of APLNR. Ultimately, this project aims to develop selective and functionally active APLNR peptide agonists and contribute to the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies for aging-related physiological dysfunction.

• Contact: maplestory796@gmail.com