Companies involved in yeast interaction technologies (Dualsystems www.dualsystems.com) and chemical synthesis (AFChemPharm http://www.afchempharm.co.uk)) have entered into partnership with the Membrane Protein Lab (Maynooth University) in the context of protein target identification/characterisation and drug discovery in major disease areas (DDIPI).

The partners will derive innovative technology development, advanced computational tools and new targets and drugs. The relationships will continue as the new technology is brought to market and developed further and the new drugs pass through the various stages of optimisation.

 The studies are focused on several important systems for human health:

  1. G-protein coupled receptors;  the melanocortin 4 receptor in respect of obesity where small molecule pharmacological chaperones have been discovered, ligands for the adrenergic receptor sub-types targeting Parkinson’s disease, CD97 ligands for the treatment of immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and GPR 21 and 105 antagonists for type 2 diabetes.
  2. The retinol binding protein (RBP) receptor has been implicated in type 2 diabetes and natural human mutants give rise to severe and ultimately lethal tissue abnormalities. Small molecules targeting this receptor and its interactions are powerful anti-diabetic agents which also counteract body weight gain. More recently interactions with proteins of previously unknown function have been discovered. These interactions now suggest a new mechanism of action whereby the vital but potentially toxic (at high levels) of vitamin A are managed in humans. The Figure below illustrates a Heat Map (A), frequency significance (B) and  Volcano plot (C) of the interaction results from high technology mass spectrometry.