Pharmacology

Biography

Biography: Owen Underwood

Abstract

GPCRs are large in both number and their portion of approved drug targets. However, studying these proteins biophysically has been made all the more difficult by their membrane environment. Most methods of biophysical study rely on lengthy purification steps of large volumes of protein, separated from their lipid environment and the large number of associated molecules that inhabit this cellular fraction. Drug discovery requires higher throughput tools that work without purification, however, are sensitive to small changes in the GPCR systems. We developed ThermoBRET™ and its associated technology, ModuMelt™, to detect GPCR stabilisation by both orthosteric and allosteric ligands. We can use these technologies to report ligand affinity without the need for protein purification or known ligands. We can take this a step further, using identified ligands to assess the effect of allosteric ligands on orthosteric ligand affinity, in a manner that can identify dependency of the allosteric ligand on the orthosteric ligand chosen. Similarly, we have developed SolThermoBRET, a method of applying similar principles to soluble proteins, allowing the detection of ligands and binders. Once complete we can take the study of target receptors and compounds forward into more detail pharmacology, using BRET-based biosensors to more.