METHOD TO IDENTIFY LIGANDS FOR SIGMA-1 RECEPTORS

摘要

An assay for identifying ligands of the σι receptor based on a fusion protein comprising the σι receptor flanked by two fluorophores, so that said fluorophores are capable of producing constitutive FRET when no ligand is bound to the σι receptor. The fusion protein of the invention also allows the simultaneous determination whether the newly determined ligand is an agonist or an antagonist. Said fusion protein has been expressed in a cell, giving rise to a new cellular model useful for identifying σι receptor ligands, and additionally for discriminating between agonists and antagonists.