Patent ID: 8669065
Filing Date: 2014-03-11
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying molecules that selectively bind to a lipid binding site of a native integral membrane bound protein, comprising: (i) providing a solubilized integral membrane protein in a detergent and having a native folding conformation, wherein the integral membrane protein is an ion channel having a native lipid binding site; (ii) providing a soluble lipid mimetic probe that binds to the integral membrane protein at the native lipid binding site and causes a change in fluorescence of a fluorophore when bound as compared to unbound; (iii) screening the solubilized integral membrane protein for binding to a plurality of compounds, wherein the screening is carried by individually contacting each particular compound with solubilized integral membrane protein in the presence of the soluble lipid mimetic probe and detecting whether a change in fluorescence occurs, thereby identifying the compound as an agent that selectively binds the integral membrane protein.