Invention:
This invention is a split protein system that functions as a biotechnological chemically-induced dimerization (CID) tool. These CID systems are useful for biological research to control numerous outputs in living organisms such as inducing the activation of a specific protein, protein localization, and inducing transcription. This novel CID system can be used to stabilize a newly designed ternary complex.
Background:
Chemically Induced Dimerization (CID) is a biotechnological method where two or more proteins can bind each other and form a ternary or higher complex only in the presence of a specific small molecule or other dimerizing ligand. These CID systems are used in biological research to control numerous outputs in living organisms such as inducing the activation of a specific protein, protein localization, and inducing transcription. These different ligands in CID systems can be engineered to induce activation of protein outcomes that can be used to control a variety of signaling pathways and their related physiological outputs and thus be used to study biology and treat diseases. The present invention features a novel approach for the engineering of new CID systems based on the recognition that ligand binding may stabilize a newly designed ternary complex.
Applications:
- Study activation of proteins for controlling signaling pathways and outcomes
- Develop novel therapeutics based on protein activation and control of signaling pathways
Advantages:
- New tool for designing and building ternary complexes for targeted protein activation
- New tool for designing and building protein:ligand complexes for protein engineering technology
- Builds on split luciferase assay technology
