NOXIOUS HEAT RECEPTOR

摘要

The invention relates to a method of screening for compounds which interact with a heteromeric ion channel comprising an association of Vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) ion channel subunits and Vanilloid receptor like 3 (VRL3) ion channel subunits. The invention also relates to an isolated heteromeric protein or polypeptide comprising an association of VR1 and VRL3 sequences, to fusion proteins comprising amino acid sequences of VR1 and VRL3 and to the use of such proteins and polypeptides in screening for compounds which activate the polypeptides (activators, agonists or channel openers), inhibit the activity of the polypeptides (inhibitors, antagonists or channel blockers) or which enhance or diminish the binding interactions of the polypeptides with other molecules, e.g. accessory proteins, ligands or co-factors. Such compounds will show utility in therapy, including prophylaxis, of various types of pain or the pain associated with certain diseases.