Mammalian methadone-specific opioid receptor gene and uses
US6280973A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 22, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12N2799/023
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to a novel-mammalian methadone-specific opioid receptor protein and genes that encode such a protein. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization and pharmacological use of mammalian methadone-specific opioid receptor proteins. The invention specifically provides isolated complementary DNA copies of mRNA corresponding to the rat homologue of the mammalian methadone-specific opioid receptor gene. Also provided are recombinant expression constructs capable of expressing the mammalian methadone-specific opioid receptor genes of the invention in cultures of transformed prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as such cultures of transformed cells that synthesize the mammalian methadone-specific opioid receptor proteins encoded therein. The invention also provides methods for screening compounds in vitro that are capable of binding to the mammalian methadone-specific opioid receptor proteins of the invention, and further characterizing the binding properties of such compounds in comparison with known opioid receptor agonists and antagonists.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.