Deteremination of intracellular protein-protein interactions by colocalization with cytoplasmic inclusions

Summary Viral inclusion bodies are formed in transfected mammalian cells to enable an endogenous assay for protein-protein or nucleic acid-protein interactions. Inclusion bodies are generated by transfecting a cell with a vector encoding a protein fused with a modified reovirus protein/GFP hybrid. A second protein is expressed in the cell and interaction with the first protein is observed if the second protein is recruited to the viral inclusion body. Through this method, libraries of small molecules can be rapidly screened for modulation of protein-protein or protein-nucleic acid interactions.

Applications The platform can provide cellular models to explore protein-protein or nucleic acid-protein interactions in a mammalian screening system.

By tethering a protein of interest to an inclusion body, a simple protocol for detecting in-vivo protein-protein interactions in mammalian cells is possible. Fewer false positives may arise since the technology does not rely on the transcription-activator system used in yeast two-hybrid screening systems. The invention may also detect protein-protein interactions involving secondary modifications (e.g. phosphorylation, acetylation, proteolysis) that cannot be detected in yeast-based systems. For Further Information Please Contact the Director of Business Development Alex Szidon Email: [email protected] Telephone: (617) 495-3067

Inventor(s): Nibert, Max L.

Type of Offer: Licensing



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