Patent ID: 7544466

Claim:
A method for assaying ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) activity in an in vitro, cell-free format comprising: combining in vitro recombinant mammalian ghrelin O-acyltransferase, a ghrelin substrate of the acyltransferase, octanoyl-CoA, and a small molecule candidate agent, wherein the ghrelin substrate or the octanoyl moiety comprises a label, whereby the acyltransferase catalyses the covalent transfer of the octanoyl of the octanoyl-CoA to the ghrelin substrate to form labeled octanoyl-ghrelin substrate; and isolating and quantifying the labeled octanoyl-ghrelin substrate to specifically determine the amount of acylation of the ghrelin substrate by the acyltransferase in the presence of the agent.