EV-SELEX speeds GPCR drug discovery by capturing receptor-bound DNA aptamers

Article excerpt

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most abundantly expressed proteins in the human body, regulating diverse physiological processes ranging from pain perception to hormone signaling. Owing to their central roles in health and disease, GPCRs are the targets of a majority of new drugs under development. Despite their importance, discovering drug candidates that bind to GPCRs with high affinity and specificity remains a major challenge, slowing the development of safer therapeutics.