Membrane protein laser detection technology developed

Vanderbilt University researchers have developed a new laser technology to detect cell membrane proteins and other kinds of interactions between biological molecules. The test will be in the drug development process plays an important role.
About 7000 kinds of human proteins, of which 30% of the cell membrane to control the operation of cellular and molecular mechanisms of signal 60% -70% protein produced by these films, so the current market, about half of the drugs are targeting membrane proteins. However, because membrane proteins difficult to purify, scientists study their structure in the face many difficulties. Most of the existing means of detection membrane is membrane proteins isolated from their environment, or use different methods such as fluorescent labels to be modified to analyze their activity. These methods are not only expensive and time-consuming, but also may affect the target membrane protein function.
Research Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University professor of chemistry 达里尔波恩霍 and general research team led by Scripps Research Institute, has developed called "backscatter interferometry" (BSI) of the new laser technology , can accurately detect a variety of membrane proteins and the nature of the binding force between molecules.

BSI is very simple to operate, as long as the two molecules mixed into a small box filled with liquid microscope, similar to bar code scanner with a bouquet of red laser irradiation, we can measure the binding force between them. Box of the right to adjust the geometry, the laser interference pattern is generated, and this interference pattern of the reaction between molecules is very sensitive. If the molecules start to interact, patterns began to change.
To test the accuracy of BSI, the researchers created a small protein containing synthetic membrane GM1, cholera toxin to enter cells, the main object is the combination of this small protein. Cholera toxin B, they mixed these membranes, the binding force detection results obtained by other means consistent. To further confirm that they also used a breast cancer-related and natural membranes and 3, respectively, with pain, inflammation and the neurotransmitter GABA (used for relaxation, sleep and adjust tension) membrane proteins related to inspection, to contain These membrane proteins and the corresponding binding molecules mixed, with the value measured BSI technology and also the results obtained by other methods, like.
In addition, the technology has broad prospects for commercialization, Vanderbilt University on the new laser detection technique has been patented and has received three approval. They also set up a company, a molecular sensing exclusive development of new technologies.