Patent ID: 7282347

Claim:
A method for detecting if a compound modulates an intracellular protein interaction comprising the steps of: (a) providing a cell that contains two heterologous conjugates, the first heterologous conjugate comprising a first protein of interest conjugated to a detectable group, the second heterologous conjugate comprising a second protein of interest conjugated to a phosphodiesterase type 4, isoform A, splice variant 4B (PDE4A4), said PDE4A4 being characterized to form cytoplasmic aggregates in the presence of rolipram, wherein the PDE4A4 of the second heterologous conjugate specifically binds to an internal structure within the cell; (b) detecting the intracellular distribution of the detectable group, wherein an intracellular distribution of said detectable group that mimics the intracellular distribution of PDE4A4 is indicative of binding between the two proteins of interest; (c) repeating step (b) with and without the compound; a change in intracellular distribution of the detectable group with and without the compound being indicative of the compound modulating said protein interaction.