Method for identifying agonists or antagonists of the G protein-coupled receptor mas-like 1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for identifying a compound which stimulates or attenuates the activity of the G protein-coupled receptor mas-like 1.

1 . A method for identifying a chemical compound which binds specifically to the G protein-coupled receptor mas-like 1 comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a mas-like 1 receptor medium, wherein said mas-like 1 receptor medium is selected from the group consisting of: at least one cell which expresses said mas-like 1 receptor on its surface, and a preparation of cells which express the mas-like 1 receptor on their surface;    b) providing at least one candidate chemical compound;    c) contacting said mas-like 1 receptor medium with said candidate chemical compound; and    d) measuring the binding of said candidate chemical compound to said mas-like 1 receptor.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said cell is selected from a group consisting of: 
 CHO cells, CHO-K1 cells, and HEK cells.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said preparation of cells is prepared from cells selected from a group consisting of: CHO cells, CHO-K1 cells, and HEK cells.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said preparation of cells comprises a membrane fraction of a cell extract.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 e) providing at least one competitive chemical compound which binds to said mas-like 1 receptor, wherein said competitive chemical compound differs from said candidate chemical compound; and    f) contacting said mas-like 1 receptor medium with said competitive chemical compound.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of: 
 g) measuring the binding of said competitive chemical compound to said mas-like 1 receptor.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of: 
 g) measuring the binding of said candidate chemical compound to said mas-like 1 receptor in the presence of said competitive chemical compound.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said competitive chemical compound is selected from the group consisting of: substance P, a cleavage product of substance P, and the neuropeptide FF.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said mas-like 1 receptor can initiate a second messenger signal cascade, wherein said measuring step (d) comprises the steps of: 
 i) measuring the concentration of said second messenger in said mas-like 1 receptor medium in the absence of said candidate compound; and  
 ii) measuring the concentration of said second messenger in said mas-like 1 receptor medium in the presence of said candidate compound.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of identifying said candidate compound as a mas-like 1 activator if said measuring step (ii) yields a higher concentration than said measuring step (i).  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of identifying said candidate compound as a mas-like 1 inhibitor if said measuring step (ii) yields a lower concentration than said measuring step (i).  
     
     
         12 . A pharmaceutical preparation comprising a compound which has been identified by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 12 , further comprising a component selected from the group consisting of: substance P, a cleavage product of substance P, and neuropeptide FF.  
     
     
         14 . A mixture comprising the mas-like 1 receptor specifically bound to a component selected from the group consisting of: substance P, a cleavage product of substance P, and the neuropeptide FF.