Enhanced Analysis of Transmembrane Proteins - Isis Project No 3311
Highly reliable method to manufacture proteoliposomes and proteoliposome nanoarrays bearing known quantities of functional, unaggregated transmembrane proteins; applications include those within drug R&D, drug delivery and diagnostic programmes.
Markerting Opportunity
Membrane proteins in the lipid bilayer exhibit behaviour closer to in vivo than their purified counterparts do. This invention is a new and reliable method to determine the protein structure and function using reconstituted membrane proteins. This technology will be of interest to companies engaged in transmembrane protein drug discovery, protein nanoarrays, diagnostics and drug delivery technologies. It will have utility in areas where transmembrane receptor density is of known critical importance, such as learning and memory.
The Oxford Invention
Transmembrane protein analysis often involves reconstitution of the protein into a lipid bilayer, so the protein can be observed in its natural conformation. Existing methods of reconstituting proteins in to bilayers suffer from the problem of protein aggregation or other issues that reduce the numbers of functional proteins that can be studied or utilised. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) and University of Oxford Scientists have developed a method by which proteoliposomes displaying non-aggregated transmembrane proteins can easily be made. Furthermore, these highly uniform functional proteoliposomes can be used in the manufacture of protein nanoarrays. Improvements over existing methods include:
- Increased functionality of transmembrane proteins held unaggregated in the bilayer;
- Excellent reliability – proteins separate by an average distance in the bilayer, such distance chosen by the operator;
- Economical to run due to lower cost of reagents and the reduced need for protein;
- Easier protocol to follow.
These proteoliposomes could be used to study drug/target interactions of individual proteins or as a drug delivery technology; the protein nanoarrays could be integrated into drug screens, used for diagnostic or pharmacogenomic purposes.
Atomic force microscopy images showing proteins (small white dots) reconstituted into a bilayer (yellow) held on a substrate (brown) by a conventional method (left panel) and the improved methodology described here (right panel). The proteins are well distributed in the right hand panel, but present in few locations in the left hand panel.
Patent Status
The invention is the subject of a US patent application. Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developing the commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager below.
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