Patent ID: 7524638

Claim:
An assay process for identifying a compound that specifically binds to an OSGPR114 receptor, wherein said OSGPR114 receptor comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% identity to SEQ ID NO:3, that can induce oleoyl lysophosphatidic acid stimulation of G-protein activity in cells, said process comprising: providing either (a) two samples of cells expressing on their cell surface the OSGPR114 receptor, or (b) two samples of a membrane preparation from said cells; contacting one sample with a lysophosphatidic acid ligand known to bind to the receptor, under conditions suitable for binding of said ligand to the receptor, in the presence of a test compound; contacting the second sample with said ligand, under conditions suitable for binding of said ligand to the receptor, in the absence of the test compound; measuring the specific binding of the ligand to the receptor in the presence of the compound; measuring the specific binding of the ligand to the receptor in the absence of the compound; and comparing the binding in the presence and in the absence of the compound being tested, wherein a difference in comparison indicates that the compound binds to the OSGPR114 receptor.