The main protagonists are enzymes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Place of action: the human body. The goal: to impersonate the UPS protein E3 ligase and catch substrates in time for ubiquitination. Sound mysterious? We are truly pleased to announce that preparations for a new educational project of IIMCB for schoolchildren, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science grant, have already started. The grant is being implemented under the leadership of Dr. Wojciech Pokrzywa, Head of the Laboratory of Protein Metabolism; the coordinator of the educational project is Natalia Szulc, a PhD student and Fulbright Junior Research Award recipient.

The project aims to create an educational computer game that will explain in an accessible way the mechanism of action of modern anticancer drugs e.g. of the PROTAC type. The game's protagonists will be the enzymes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and their substrates. The player will aim to impersonate the UPS protein E3 ligase and catch its substrates in time for their ubiquitination and targeting for 26S proteasome-dependent degradation. For example, with a power-up - a PROTAC-type drug - the E3 ligase will be able to ubiquitinate proteins that have not previously been its substrates - such as oncoproteins.

Each step of the action the player takes will be preceded by a short instruction. Then, after each step of the action, a description of the biological mechanism that occurred as a result of the action taken will be displayed. The game will have an encyclopedic section, with detailed information on each issue covered and the protagonist as well. After completing the game, the player will have the opportunity to test his knowledge in a quiz. The game will be available in Polish and English, and its target audience will be high school students in Poland. The game aims to introduce the mechanisms of modern anti-cancer drugs and consolidate confidence in medicine and science. The game is expected to be developed by the end of July 2024.