Minying Cai, PhD

Research Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry

mcai@arizona.edu

Links

Department Profile

NCBI Bibliography

Dr. Minying Cai is currently a research professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. She has been working in the Chemistry & Biochemistry department for more than 20 years and has more than 100 publications and numerous patents in the area of novel drug discovery for obesity, diabetes, cancer, pain and neuro-disorder diseases. Dr. Cai received the Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. Before that, she was a well developed researcher in Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica; Shanghai Research Center of Biotechnology in Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Cancer Focus

Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer in the United States. Recent breakthroughs of BRAF-V600E inhibitors and PD-1 inhibitors have successfully prolonged the median overall survival for malignant melanoma patients. Nevertheless, tumor cells eventually relapse and become resistant to these treatments. We are developing new technologies and new therapeutics to block the cancer resistance. Our lately designed molecules can specifically prevent melanoma. In collaboration with other investigators worldwide, we aim to identify and develop molecule modulators of membrane proteins and signaling proteins for the therapeutic treatment of melanoma without resistance.

Research Program Role

Clinical and Translational Oncology Program

Display Name

Minying Cai, PhD

Publications

Replacement of Arg with Nle and modified D-Phe in the core sequence of MSHs, Ac-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH, leads to hMC1R selectivity and pigmentation.

Mowlazadeh Haghighi S, Zhou Y, Dai J, Sawyer JR, Hruby VJ, Cai M. 2018. Replacement of Arg with Nle and modified D-Phe in the core sequence of MSHs, Ac-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH, leads to hMC1R selectivity and pigmentation. Eur J Med Chem. 151:815–823. doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.04.021.

Design of MC1R Selective γ-MSH Analogues with Canonical Amino Acids Leads to Potency and Pigmentation.

Zhou Y, Mowlazadeh Haghighi S, Zoi I, Sawyer JR, Hruby VJ, Cai M. 2017. Design of MC1R Selective γ-MSH Analogues with Canonical Amino Acids Leads to Potency and Pigmentation. J Med Chem. 60:9320–9329. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01295.

Novel approaches to the design of bioavailable melanotropins.

Zhou Y, Cai M. 2017. Novel approaches to the design of bioavailable melanotropins. Expert Opin Drug Discov. 12:1023–1030. doi:10.1080/17460441.2017.1351940.

Structural Insights into Selective Ligand-Receptor Interactions Leading to Receptor Inactivation Utilizing Selective Melanocortin 3 Receptor Antagonists.

Cai M, Marelli UK, Mertz B, Beck JG, Opperer F, Rechenmacher F, Kessler H, Hruby VJ. 2017. Structural Insights into Selective Ligand-Receptor Interactions Leading to Receptor Inactivation Utilizing Selective Melanocortin 3 Receptor Antagonists. Biochemistry. 56:4201–4209. doi:10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00407.

Characterization of TCP-1 probes for molecular imaging of colon cancer.

Liu Z, Gray BD, Barber C, Bernas M, Cai M, Furenlid LR, Rouse A, Patel C, Banerjee B, Liang R, et al. 2016. Characterization of TCP-1 probes for molecular imaging of colon cancer. J Control Release. 239:223–30. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.08.033.

The Melanocortin Receptor System: A Target for Multiple Degenerative Diseases.

Cai M, Hruby VJ. 2016. The Melanocortin Receptor System: A Target for Multiple Degenerative Diseases. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 17:488–96. doi:10.2174/1389203717666160226145330.

Systematic Backbone Conformational Constraints on a Cyclic Melanotropin Ligand Leads to Highly Selective Ligands for Multiple Melanocortin Receptors.

Cai M, Marelli UK, Bao J, Beck JG, Opperer F, Rechenmacher F, McLeod KR, Zingsheim MR, Doedens L, Kessler H, et al. 2015. Systematic Backbone Conformational Constraints on a Cyclic Melanotropin Ligand Leads to Highly Selective Ligands for Multiple Melanocortin Receptors. J Med Chem. 58:6359–67. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00102.

Design of peptide and peptidomimetic ligands with novel pharmacological activity profiles.

Hruby VJ, Cai M. 2013. Design of peptide and peptidomimetic ligands with novel pharmacological activity profiles. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 53:557–80. doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010510-100456.

Utilize conjugated melanotropins for the earlier diagnosis and treatment of melanoma.

Cai M, Liu Z, Qu H, Fan H, Zheng Z, Hruby VJ. 2011. Utilize conjugated melanotropins for the earlier diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. Eur J Pharmacol. 660:188–93. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.01.032.