Patent ID: 8034572

Claim:
An in vitro method for identifying a molecule, which interferes with the interaction between a glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor family ligand (GFL) selected from the group consisting of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin (NRTN), artemin (ARTN), and combinations thereof, and a heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) selected from the group consisting of syndecan-3, oligomerized syndecan-3, and combinations thereof, by screening a library of molecules against a matrix anchored complex comprising at least one immobilized glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor family ligand (GFL) and at least one heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), wherein the interfering molecule is isolated based on its capacity to replace a glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor family ligand (GFL) in said anchored complex.