DETECTING RECEPTOR OLIGOMERIZATION

摘要

Methods are provided for detecting formation of oligomeric complexes of molecules on the surface of cell membranes. These methods employ pairs of tagged probes and cleaving probes, each of which binds specificly to a cell surface molecule. The tagged probe includes a molecular tag that is linked t o a first binding compound through a cleavable linkage, and the cleaving probe includes a second binding agent and a cleavage-inducing moiety that can clea ve the linkage when within a defined proximity thereto. Binding of the two prob es to cell surface molecules that have formed an oligomeric complex results in release of the molecular tag from the binding compound, providing a measure of formation of the complex.