Front view of Dihydrofolate Reductase Sculpture showing methotrexate
Dihydrofolate Reductase with Methotrexate
Mammalian dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a key target for treating forms of cancer. To learn how inhibitors of the enzyme are bound the structure bacterial DHFR with bound methotrexate was determined. The sculpture shows the result of that structure determination. The sculpture was by David Matthews, who had determined the structure. In the model, the protein is rendered in brass and copper and stands 10 inches high. The methotrexate is made of laser-cut, stainless steel.