METHOD OF ASSAYING COMPOUNDS WHICH AFFECT THE ACTIVITY OF G PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTORS BASED ON MEASUREMENT OF RECEPTOR OLIGOMERIZATION

摘要

This invention is a new method of assaying compounds that modulate the activity of G protein-coupled receptors based on measurement of changes in the relative proportions of monomeric to multimeric receptor polypeptides. More specifically, techniques are described herein which permit the prediction of the pharmacological efficacy of drug candidates based solely on the ability of the candidate compounds to alter the ratio of receptor monomer to homooligomeric forms of the receptor. This method provides a novel means of assaying compounds as potential therapeutic drugs at G protein-coupled receptors which is greatly simplified and more generally applicable than existing methods.