Continuous, Directed Evolution of Human Opioid Receptors in Yeast

Cell-based biosensors are living cells that have been genetically engineered to detect and measure different chemicals of interest. Similar to the cells in our nose that allow us to smell isoamyl-alcohol (banana), or allyl thiol (garlic), biosensors use protein receptors and produce a measurable read-out such as fluorescence to determine the amount of target molecule present. We have developed a biosensor in brewer’s yeast that is capable of detecting different opioids, such as morphine and codeine which are very important pain-medications. These sensors offer a reliable and low-cost method to screen through thousands of chemicals and can help identify promising candidates during drug design campaigns without relying on expensive analytical methods and animal testing. This project’s goal is to engineer these opioid receptors in yeast so that they can detect additional types of opioids at lower concentrations. In a partnership with a world-leading protein engineering group at the University of California, Irvine, we will modify the structures of the three human opioid receptors in our yeast sensors using advanced techniques and expand the capabilities of our drug-screening platform. This project stands to contribute to the development of safer, cheaper, and less addictive medicines.

Faculty Supervisor:

Vincent Martin

Student:

Partner:

University of California at Irvine

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Concordia University

Program: