42 results about "Integral membrane protein" patented technology

The present invention is directed to the use of a compound stimulating deubiquitinating activity in a cell for the manufacture of a medicament for enhancing the expression of integral membrane proteins on the cell surface. Especially, the invention is directed to the use of such compound for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease of condition selected from the group consisting of cystic fibrosis, diabetes insipidus, hypercholesterinaemia and long QT-syndrome-2.

The present invention describes a single-protein production (SPP) system in living E. coli cells that exploits the unique properties of an mRNA interferase, for example, MazF, a bacterial toxin that is a single stranded RNA- and ACA-specific endoribonuclease, which efficiently and selectively degrades all cellular mRNAs in vivo, resulting in a precipitous drop in total protein synthesis. Concomitant expression of MazF and a target gene engineered to encode an ACA-less mRNA results in sustained and high-level (up to 90%) target expression in the virtual absence of background cellular protein synthesis. Remarkably, target synthesis continues for at least 4 days, indicating that cells retain transcriptional and translational competence despite their growth arrest. SPP technology works well for yeast and human proteins, even a bacterial integral membrane protein. This novel system enables unparalleled signal to noise ratios that should dramatically simplify structural and functional studies of previously intractable but biologically important proteins. The present invention also provides an optimized condensed single protein production system.

The invention provides a biocompatible silicone implant that can be securely affixed to living tissue through interaction with integral membrane proteins (integrins). A silicone article containing a laser-activated surface is utilized to make the implant. One example is an implantable prosthesis to treat blindness caused by outer retinal degenerative diseases. The device bypasses damaged photoreceptors and electrically stimulates the undamaged neurons of the retina. Electrical stimulation is achieved using a silicone microelectrode array (MEA). A safe, protein adhesive is used in attaching the MEA to the retinal surface and assist in alleviating focal pressure effects. Methods of making and attaching such implants are also provided.

Bringing membrane proteins into aqueous solution generally requires the use of detergents or other amphiphilic agents. The invention provides a new class of amphiphiles, each of which includes a multi-fused ring system as a lipophilic group. These new amphiphiles confer enhanced stability to a range of membrane proteins in solution relative to conventional detergents, leading to improved structural and functional stability of membrane proteins, including integral membrane proteins. Accordingly, the invention provides new amphiphiles for biochemical manipulations and characterization of membrane proteins. These amphiphiles display favorable behavior with membrane proteins and can be used to aid the solubilization, isolation, purification, stabilization, crystallization, and / or structural determination of membrane proteins.

Disclosed are high throughput assay systems and methods for identifying agents that alter the level of surface expression of integral membrane proteins, such as cardiac ion channels, in mammalian cells. Also disclosed are therapeutic methods of using agents identified using such methods.