SK1144/996. Research Tool: MU-Opioid Receptor Splice Variants

Summary of Invention

Morphine elicits its response through the mu-opioid receptor. The gene encoding this receptor undergoes alternative splicing, which may be a mechanism for regulating receptor function. Clinically, patients display widely varying sensitivities towards mu-opioid receptor binding drugs and their side effects, which may be explained by unique characteristics of these variants.

This invention centers around a number of human ì-opioid receptor (hMOR) splice variants and provides stable cell lines expressing these variants for research. These cell lines could be used for research and/or discovery of novel therapeutic compounds. Further, this may be useful for sale and distribution to the research community working in the field of the characterization of the receptors encoded by these hMOR splice variants.

Advantages

May be utilized as a research tool:

• For high-throughput drug screening to identify novel agonists and antagonists
• For binding experiments or generation and confirmation of antibodies against this receptor

Area of Application

Available for licensing as a research tool

Stage of Development

Ready for research use. Stable cell lines in HEK and/or CHO cells expressing the following splice variants are available: hMOR-1P, -1Y, -1O, -1B1, -1B2, -1B3, -1B4, -1B5. Information about other, non-patented stable cell lines expressing additional splice variants available upon request.

Lead Inventor

Dr. Gavril Pasternak

Patent Information

U.S. patents issued:

• 7,087,714
• 7,585,941

References

• Pan L, et al. (2005) Neuroscience. 133(1):209-20
• Pan YX, et al. (2003) Biochem Biophys Res Commun. Feb 21;301(4):1057-61

Contact Information

Jeanne Farrell, PhD
Tel: 212-639-6181, Fax: 212-717-3439
E-mail: farrelj1@mskcc.org