Coupling ion channels to receptors for biomolecule sensing
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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Capturing the Interaction Kinetics of an Ion Channel Protein with Small Molecules by the Bio-layer Interferometry Assay
Published on: March 7, 2018
Christophe J Moreau1, Julien P Dupuis, Jean Revilloud
1Laboratoire des Protéines Membranaires, Institut de Biologie Structurale (CEA, CNRS, UJF), 41 rue Jules Horowitz, 38027 Grenoble, France.
Abstract:
Nanoscale electrical biosensors are promising tools for diagnostics and high-throughput screening systems. The electrical signal allows label-free assays with a high signal-to-noise ratio and fast real-time measurements. The challenge in developing such biosensors lies in functionally connecting a molecule detector to an electrical switch. Advances in this field have relied on synthetic ion-conducting pores and modified ion channels that are not yet suitable for biomolecule screening. Here we report the design and characterization of a novel bioelectric-sensing platform engineered by coupling an ion channel, which serves as the electrical probe, to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a family of receptors that detect molecules outside the cell. These ion-channel-coupled receptors may potentially detect a wide range of ligands recognized by natural or altered GPCRs, which are known to be major pharmaceutical targets. This could form a unique platform for label-free drug screening.
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