Optimizing G protein-coupled receptor assays for autoimmune diagnostics

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane proteins and are involved in various disease including hypertension and airway diseases. With >30% of the prescription drugs targeting GPCRs, they have immense therapeutic importance. The detection of antibodies against GPCRs in these diseases has been a challenging task due to the lack of efficient detection assays, which are easy to use and economically available. The company Acudex has a long-term interest in the development of GPCR assays for autoimmune diseases. The proposed project is focused on the validation of the detection assays for two GPCRs, Angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) and Endothelin type A receptor (ETAR) and identification of the binding site(s) for antibodies on these GPCRs. Validation of the assay will be done by using a known antibody and serum samples from kidney transplanted patients. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Peter Nickerson

Student:

Appalaraju Jaggupilli

Partner:

Acudex-Canada Inc

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: