Many of the processes occurring in multi-cellular organisms are regulated via a complex network of extra-cellular signals and cell surface receptors. Attachment of the signal compound to its specific cell surface receptor results in conveying a signal through the receptor to the interior of the cell to start a reaction(s) until the signal is switched off. There is a large variety of signals, such as hormones, oligosaccharides, lipids, proteins and so on, while all of the receptors are of the protein transmembrane type, such as G protein-coupled receptors and receptor-tyrosine kinases. An effective way to elucidate the stimulatory mechanisms is by using compounds that have only the region(s) critical for linkage to the receptor and usually covalently bound to a reporter group such a fluorescent tag or an enzyme forming a conjugate. Identification in signal compounds of the regions critical for binding to their receptors, has allowed the development of agonist and antagonist compounds of those receptors that may have potential therapeutic applications Following is a description of some of these compounds, their structures and mode of action.
Use of conjugates in elucidating the roles on the different components that participate in signal transduction is a powerful tool in the development of new therapeutic agents to up-regulate or down-regulate certain biological responses. The design and production of these compounds frequently requires a deep knowledge of the chemistry used in their synthesis. BioSynthesis, with 25 years of experience in the areas of peptide and nucleic acid synthesis is well positioned to assist any researcher in the design and production of these agents.
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