The present invention provides methods and compositions of synthetic novel genes to manipulate signaling pathways of the immune system.

Disclosed herein are methods and compounds for profiling a lysine reactive protein. Also described herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for identifying a small molecule fragment ligand that interacts with a reactive lysine residue.

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions, probes, polypeptides, assays, and kits for identifying a cysteine containing protein as a binding target for a small molecule fragment. Also disclosed herein are methods, compositions, and probes for mapping a biologically active cysteine site on a protein and screening a small molecule fragment for interaction with a cysteine containing protein.

Provided nucleic acid-based expression construct for the target cell-specific production of a therapeutic protein, such as a pro-apoptotic protein, within a target cell, including a target cell that is associated with aging, disease, or other condition, in particular a target cell that is a senescent cell or a cancer cell. Also provided are formulations and systems, including fusogenic lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations and systems, for the delivery of nucleic acid-based expression constructs as well as methods for making and using such nucleic acid-based expression constructs, formulations, and systems for reducing, preventing, and/or eliminating the growth and/or survival of a cell, such as a senescent cell and/or a cancer cell, which is associated with aging, disease, or other condition as well as methods for the treatment of aging, disease, or other conditions by the in vivo administration of a formulation, such as a fusogenic LPN formulation, comprising an expression construct for the target cell-specific production of a therapeutic protein, such as a pro-apoptotic protein, in a target cell that is associated with aging, disease, or other condition, in particular a target cell that is a senescent cell or a cancer cell.