Functional GPCRs Embedded in a Cell Membrane

Correctly-folded Functional Membrane Proteins

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and other membrane proteins play critical roles in a wide variety of physiological processes, and mutations in GPCRs are implicated in many diseases. GPCR receptors must be embedded in a cell membrane to fold correctly and are difficult to express in traditional recombinant expression systems. The most common method used to study GPCRs is to overexpress them in transfected mammalian cell lines. However, the transfected cells also contain endogenous receptors, making it a challenge to interpret experimental results.

CDI Labs now offers a viral-based expression technology to express individual GPCRs and other proteins embedded in a cell membrane. Purified virions displaying correctly-folded proteins are printed onto glass to create VirD arrays. This method eliminates the problem of endogenous cell receptors found when using traditional methods, and yields much cleaner data.