title: Using Biosensors to Study Free Fatty Acid Receptor Pharmacology and Function.
abstract: The free fatty acid (FFA) family of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) has generated significant interest for exploiting its members as potential drug targets. However, unravelling the complex pharmacology of this family of receptors has proven challenging. In recent years the use of biosensor technologies capable of assessing biological functions in living cells, and in real time, has greatly enhanced our ability to study GPCR pharmacology and function. These include genetically encoded sensors that change the intensity or wavelength of light emitted from a bioluminescent or fluorescent protein in response to a stimulus, as well as non-genetically encoded sensors able to measure more global cellular changes, such as mass redistribution within a cell. This chapter will examine how these sensors can be used to study GPCRs, and in particular how they are helping uncover the pharmacology of the FFA family of receptors.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK. Brian.Hudson@Glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hudson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019393:Arrestin / Q000032:analysis; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019393:Arrestin; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
keywords: Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET); Biosensor; Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET); Free fatty acid; G protein coupled receptor (GPCR); Label-free biosensor