Fluorescence based reporter construct for the direct detection of TGF-beta receptor activation and modulators thereof

摘要

The invention comprises a fusion protein as sensor for TGF-beta receptor activity, a method for detecting receptor activity and to screening compounds for modulators of receptor activity. The fusion protein comprises a type I TGF-beta receptor, a circularly permutated fluorescent protein moiety (cpFP) and an activation state specific receptor binding domain, binding specifically to either the activated or inactive form of the TGF-beta receptor. An activation specific interaction between the receptor and the activation state specific receptor binding domain modulates the fluorescence of the cpFP inserted in between. Thus, activation of the receptor can be detected directly by a change in fluorescence of the cpFP.