Patent ID: 6960447
Filing Date: 2005-11-01
Classification: C07K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method to isolate and characterize a membrane-bound receptor along with its microenvironment which method comprises providing a solid support coupled to a ligand which specifically binds said receptor, wherein said ligand is a cognate binding agent other than a lectin; treating said solid support with a sample comprising nucleated cells or organelles thereof comprising said membrane-bound receptors, and which cells or organelles have not been surface-treated, wherein a complex is formed between said membrane-bound receptor and the ligand thus generating a ligand/receptor complex comprising the receptor and its microenvironment, wherein the microenvironment includes additional non-covalently associated cellular components, which complex is coupled to solid support through the ligand thus providing a complexed solid support; separating the complexed solid support from the remainder of the sample; subjecting the separated complexed solid support to a force sufficient to dissociate the receptor and its microenvironment from the membrane but insufficient to disrupt the ligand/receptor complex, thus obtaining complexed solid support coupled to a ligand/receptor complex whereby the receptor retains its microenvironment but is separated from the membrane, removing the ligand/receptor complex comprising the receptor and its microenvironment from the complexed solid support; and analyzing the microenvironment of the receptor, wherein the microenvironment is analyzed by chromatographic analysis or mass spectrometry, whereby a membrane-bound receptor along with its microenvironment is isolated and characterized.