Methods for characterizing interaction sites on target proteins

摘要

The present invention relates to improved and integrated methods for the characterisation of an interaction site on a target protein that modulates the phenotype of a mammalian cell, such as a phenotype other than death and/or reduced growth. Such methods of the present invention include those to identify a target protein modulates such a phenotype of a mammalian cell, and optionally to characterise an interaction site on said target protein. Such identification and characterisation methods are useful in the development of research tools and/or therapeutics, such protein/peptide or small molecule therapeutics. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to methods of: identification of a ligand, such as a small molecule ligand, that binds to such a target protein; and identification a compound being a candidate modulator of said phenotype of a mammalian cell. The invention further relates to peptides or proteins, or fragments, variants and/or derivatives thereof) comprising certain amino acid sequences, nucleic acids encoding such peptides or proteins and uses of such peptides or proteins or of such nucleic acids.