Neurexin is a presynaptic protein known to be involved in autism and other cognitive disorders. The native ligand to neurexin is its post synaptic partner neuroligin. Black widow spider venom is the only other small molecule known to bind to neurexin till date. Using a simple engineered protein-based bacterial biosensor, we have found that a novel small molecule binds strongly to neurexin. We have further confirmed the result by doing a saturated transfer difference NMR. Here we present the working of the novel biosensor along with some preliminary results from the NMR experiment to determine the structure of the ligand-bound neurexin protein. Due to the modular structure of the biosensor protein, we were able to swap out different receptors and rapidly generate new biosensors. The biosensor can be used as a tool for high-throughput screening of chemicals with therapeutic properties.

Detection of novel therapeutic compounds using a simple protein-based bacterial biosensor

247th National Meeting (2014)

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