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Target Identification
Target identification is the process of identifying the direct molecular target (e.g., protein or nucleic acid) of a small molecule, which is approached by direct biochemical methods, genetic interactions or computational inference. It has a very important role in small molecule probing and drug discovery, and is required to fully characterize on-target and off-target effects and to understand a drug's mechanism of action.
Generally, there are two scenarios for which you want to perform a drug identification analysis. The first scenario is you "have a drug of efficacy but the target is unknown". The other is you "need to find a target for new drug discovery and development". In either scenario, CD BioSciences offers satisfying solutions grounded in a number of different strategies and technologies to meet your needs.
Our Target Identification Strategies
"Want A Compound"
In a target-based drug discovery process, target identification is also known as target discovery, where a druggable target needs to be established before a drug screening. That is, a gene or a protein with known functions in a disease process is identified to generate drug screening assays.
CD BioSciences offers strategies to identify druggable targets in the "Want A Compound" scenario including but not limited to the following.
Gene Expression Profiling
Detecting and comparing expressions of genes in normal conditions with those in pathological or diseases conditions by mRNA-seq, microarrays, etc.
Protein Detection
Detecting, quantifying and comparing expression levels of proteins in normal conditions with those in pathological or diseases conditions by mass spectrometry, antibody array, etc.
Gene-disease Association Analysis
Data mining to identify genetic mutations or polymorphisms associated with disease using bioinformatics.
Forward Genetic Screening
Identifying genes responsible for a particular phenotype using RNAi or CRISPR screening.
Analysis of signaling pathways
Analyzing disease related signaling pathways and identifying druggable targets.
"Have A Compound"
In a phenotype-based drug discovery process, target identification is also known as target deconvolution, where the determination of the molecular target is after the drug has been proved to exert the desired effect.
CD BioSciences offers strategies to identify drug targets in the "Have A Compound" scenario including but not limited to the following.
Genetic Manipulation
Identifying gene manipulations with the ability to reverse drug's effect by RNAi (i.e., shRNA, siRNA library) screening or CRISPR (i.e., CRISPR KO, CRISPRi, CRISPRa) screening.
Antibody Competition
Identifying proteins after blocked by antibodies can reverse the drug's effects.
In vitro Pulldown
In vitro pulldown using the drug (with tag) as bait to capture proteins or other molecules bound to them and identifying with mass spectrometry.
Pathway Screening
Identifying pathways with our Cell Signaling Pathway Reporter Screening.
Advantages of Drug Target Identification
- It allows the identification of the drug target and uncovers the drug's mechanism of action (MOA).
- It provides evidence to support the drug's efficacy and safety (e.g., whether it has off-target effects).
- It allows the future discovery of therapeutics that act at the specific target of interest.
Features
CD BioSciences offers cost-effect, high quality and hassle-free drug target identification services to our clients worldwide. We guarantee to deliver our results on time. Please feel free to contact us.
For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.