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Asama R, Liu CJS, Tominaga M, Cheng YR, Nakamura Y, Kondo A, Wang HY, Ishii J. Droplet-based microfluidic platform for detecting agonistic peptides that are self-secreted by yeast expressing a G-protein-coupled receptor. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:104. [PMID: 38594681 PMCID: PMC11005146 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02379-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-cell droplet microfluidics is an important platform for high-throughput analyses and screening because it provides an independent and compartmentalized microenvironment for reaction or cultivation by coencapsulating individual cells with various molecules in monodisperse microdroplets. In combination with microbial biosensors, this technology becomes a potent tool for the screening of mutant strains. In this study, we demonstrated that a genetically engineered yeast strain that can fluorescently sense agonist ligands via the heterologous expression of a human G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and concurrently secrete candidate peptides is highly compatible with single-cell droplet microfluidic technology for the high-throughput screening of new agonistically active peptides. RESULTS The water-in-oil microdroplets were generated using a flow-focusing microfluidic chip to encapsulate engineered yeast cells coexpressing a human GPCR [i.e., angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1)] and a secretory agonistic peptide [i.e., angiotensin II (Ang II)]. The single yeast cells cultured in the droplets were then observed under a microscope and analyzed using image processing incorporating machine learning techniques. The AGTR1-mediated signal transduction elicited by the self-secreted Ang II peptide was successfully detected via the expression of a fluorescent reporter in single-cell yeast droplet cultures. The system could also distinguish Ang II analog peptides with different agonistic activities. Notably, we further demonstrated that the microenvironment of the single-cell droplet culture enabled the detection of rarely existing positive (Ang II-secreting) yeast cells in the model mixed cell library, whereas the conventional batch-culture environment using a shake flask failed to do so. Thus, our approach provided compartmentalized microculture environments, which can prevent the diffusion, dilution, and cross-contamination of peptides secreted from individual single yeast cells for the easy identification of GPCR agonists. CONCLUSIONS We established a droplet-based microfluidic platform that integrated an engineered yeast biosensor strain that concurrently expressed GPCR and self-secreted the agonistic peptides. This offers individually isolated microenvironments that allow the culture of single yeast cells secreting these peptides and gaging their signaling activities, for the high-throughput screening of agonistic peptides. Our platform base on yeast GPCR biosensors and droplet microfluidics will be widely applicable to metabolic engineering, environmental engineering, and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ririka Asama
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Cher J S Liu
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Masahiro Tominaga
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Yu-Ru Cheng
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Bacchus Bio Innovation Co., Ltd., 6-3-7 Minatojima-Minami, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Hsiang-Yu Wang
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
| | - Jun Ishii
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
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Jain AR, Britton ZT, Markwalter CE, Robinson AS. Improved ligand-binding- and signaling-competent human NK2R yields in yeast using a chimera with the rat NK2R C-terminus enable NK2R-G protein signaling platform. Protein Eng Des Sel 2020; 32:459-469. [PMID: 32400863 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The tachykinin 2 receptor (NK2R) plays critical roles in gastrointestinal, respiratory and mental disorders and is a well-recognized target for therapeutic intervention. To date, therapeutics targeting NK2R have failed to meet regulatory agency approval due in large part to the limited characterization of the receptor-ligand interaction and downstream signaling. Herein, we report a protein engineering strategy to improve ligand-binding- and signaling-competent human NK2R that enables a yeast-based NK2R signaling platform by creating chimeras utilizing sequences from rat NK2R. We demonstrate that NK2R chimeras incorporating the rat NK2R C-terminus exhibited improved ligand-binding yields and downstream signaling in engineered yeast strains and mammalian cells, where observed yields were better than 4-fold over wild type. This work builds on our previous studies that suggest exchanging the C-termini of related and well-expressed family members may be a general protein engineering strategy to overcome limitations to ligand-binding and signaling-competent G protein-coupled receptor yields in yeast. We expect these efforts to result in NK2R drug candidates with better characterized signaling properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav R Jain
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Zachary T Britton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy St, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.,AstraZeneca, Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Chester E Markwalter
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy St, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Anne S Robinson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy St, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Jain AR, Robinson AS. Functional Expression of Adenosine A 3 Receptor in Yeast Utilizing a Chimera with the A 2AR C-Terminus. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4547. [PMID: 32604732 PMCID: PMC7352405 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The adenosine A3 receptor (A3R) is the only adenosine receptor subtype to be overexpressed in inflammatory and cancer cells and therefore is considered a novel and promising therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases and cancer. Heterologous expression of A3R at levels to allow biophysical characterization is a major bottleneck in structure-guided drug discovery efforts. Here, we apply protein engineering using chimeric receptors to improve expression and activity in yeast. Previously we had reported improved expression and trafficking of the chimeric A1R variant using a similar approach. In this report, we constructed chimeric A3/A2AR comprising the N-terminus and transmembrane domains from A3R (residues 1-284) and the cytoplasmic C-terminus of the A2AR (residues 291-412). The chimeric receptor showed approximately 2-fold improved expression with a 2-fold decreased unfolded protein response when compared to wild type A3R. Moreover, by varying culture conditions such as initial cell density and induction temperature a further 1.7-fold increase in total receptor yields was obtained. We observed native-like coupling of the chimeric receptor to Gai-Gpa1 in engineered yeast strains, activating the downstream, modified MAPK pathway. This strategy of utilizing chimeric receptor variants in yeast thus provides an exciting opportunity to improve expression and activity of "difficult-to-express" receptors, expanding the opportunity for utilizing yeast in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav R. Jain
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA;
| | - Anne S. Robinson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA;
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Hashi H, Nakamura Y, Ishii J, Kondo A. Modifying Expression Modes of Human Neurotensin Receptor Type 1 Alters Sensing Capabilities for Agonists in Yeast Signaling Biosensor. Biotechnol J 2017; 13:e1700522. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Hashi
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
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Di Roberto RB, Chang B, Trusina A, Peisajovich SG. Evolution of a G protein-coupled receptor response by mutations in regulatory network interactions. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12344. [PMID: 27487915 PMCID: PMC4976203 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
All cellular functions depend on the concerted action of multiple proteins organized in complex networks. To understand how selection acts on protein networks, we used the yeast mating receptor Ste2, a pheromone-activated G protein-coupled receptor, as a model system. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Ste2 is a hub in a network of interactions controlling both signal transduction and signal suppression. Through laboratory evolution, we obtained 21 mutant receptors sensitive to the pheromone of a related yeast species and investigated the molecular mechanisms behind this newfound sensitivity. While some mutants show enhanced binding affinity to the foreign pheromone, others only display weakened interactions with the network's negative regulators. Importantly, the latter changes have a limited impact on overall pathway regulation, despite their considerable effect on sensitivity. Our results demonstrate that a new receptor–ligand pair can evolve through network-altering mutations independently of receptor–ligand binding, and suggest a potential role for such mutations in disease. Co-evolution of a new receptor-ligand pair will affect the downstream signal transduction network. Here, the authors use experimental evolution of yeast mating receptor Ste2 to show the effect of enhanced binding affinity and weakened interactions with the network's negative regulators on protein evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël B Di Roberto
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5
| | - Belinda Chang
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5
| | - Ala Trusina
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark
| | - Sergio G Peisajovich
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5
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Liu R, Wong W, IJzerman AP. Human G protein-coupled receptor studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochem Pharmacol 2016; 114:103-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Nakamura Y, Hashimoto T, Ishii J, Kondo A. Dual-color reporter switching system to discern dimer formations of G-protein-coupled receptors using Cre/loxP
site-specific recombination in yeast. Biotechnol Bioeng 2016; 113:2178-90. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Takamichi Hashimoto
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology; Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada; Kobe 657-8501 Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
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Abstract
Transmembrane (TM) helices of integral membrane proteins can facilitate strong and specific noncovalent protein-protein interactions. Mutagenesis and structural analyses have revealed numerous examples in which the interaction between TM helices of single-pass membrane proteins is dependent on a GxxxG or (small)xxx(small) motif. It is therefore tempting to use the presence of these simple motifs as an indicator of TM helix interactions. In this Current Topic review, we point out that these motifs are quite common, with more than 50% of single-pass TM domains containing a (small)xxx(small) motif. However, the actual interaction strength of motif-containing helices depends strongly on sequence context and membrane properties. In addition, recent studies have revealed several GxxxG-containing TM domains that interact via alternative interfaces involving hydrophobic, polar, aromatic, or even ionizable residues that do not form recognizable motifs. In multipass membrane proteins, GxxxG motifs can be important for protein folding, and not just oligomerization. Our current knowledge thus suggests that the presence of a GxxxG motif alone is a weak predictor of protein dimerization in the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G Teese
- Lehrstuhl für Chemie der Biopolymere, Technische Universität München , 85354 Freising, Germany.,Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) , 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Dieter Langosch
- Lehrstuhl für Chemie der Biopolymere, Technische Universität München , 85354 Freising, Germany.,Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) , 81377 Munich, Germany
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Nakamura Y, Ishii J, Kondo A. Applications of yeast-based signaling sensor for characterization of antagonist and analysis of site-directed mutants of the human serotonin 1A receptor. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 112:1906-15. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada Kobe 657-8501 Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada Kobe 657-8501 Japan
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Schonenbach NS, Hussain S, O'Malley MA. Structure and function of G protein‐coupled receptor oligomers: implications for drug discovery. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 7:408-27. [DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S. Schonenbach
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Sunyia Hussain
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Michelle A. O'Malley
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
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Nakamura Y, Ishii J, Kondo A. Construction of a yeast-based signaling biosensor for human angiotensin II type 1 receptor via functional coupling between Asn295-mutated receptor and Gpa1/Gi3 chimeric Gα. Biotechnol Bioeng 2014; 111:2220-8. [PMID: 24890663 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Revised: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor (AGTR1) is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Its natural ligand, Ang II, is an important effector molecule controlling blood pressure and volume in the cardiovascular system, and is consequently involved in various diseases such as hypertension and heart failure. Thus, the signaling mediator, AGTR1, is a significant molecular target in medicinal and therapeutic fields. Yeast is a useful organism for sensing GPCR signaling because it provides a simplified version of the complicated machinery used by mammalian cells for signal transduction. Although yeast cells can successfully transmit a signal through a variety of human GPCRs expressed in the cell membrane, there have been no reports of the functional activation of AGTR1-mediated signaling in yeast cells. In the present study, we introduced a single mutation into human AGTR1 and used yeast-human chimeric Gα to exert the functional activation of AGTR1 in yeast cells. The engineered yeast cells expressing AGTR1 mutated at Asn295 and the chimeric Gα successfully transmitted the signal inside the yeast cells in response to Ang II peptide and its analogs (Ang III and Ang IV peptides) added to the assay medium. Further, we demonstrated that the autocrine Ang II peptide and its analog, produced and secreted by the engineered yeast cells, could by themselves promote AGTR1-mediated signaling. This means that screening for agonistic peptides with various sequences from a self-produced genetic library would be a viable strategy. Thus, the constructed yeast biosensor, integrating an Asn295-mutated AGTR1 receptor, will be valuable in the design of drugs to treat AGTR1-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
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Nakamura Y, Ishii J, Kondo A. Bright fluorescence monitoring system utilizing Zoanthus sp. green fluorescent protein (ZsGreen) for human G-protein-coupled receptor signaling in microbial yeast cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82237. [PMID: 24340008 PMCID: PMC3855394 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are currently the most important pharmaceutical targets for drug discovery because they regulate a wide variety of physiological processes. Consequently, simple and convenient detection systems for ligands that regulate the function of GPCR have attracted attention as powerful tools for new drug development. We previously developed a yeast-based fluorescence reporter ligand detection system using flow cytometry. However, using this conventional detection system, fluorescence from a cell expressing GFP and responding to a ligand is weak, making detection of these cells by fluorescence microscopy difficult. We here report improvements to the conventional yeast fluorescence reporter assay system resulting in the development of a new highly-sensitive fluorescence reporter assay system with extremely bright fluorescence and high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. This new system allowed the easy detection of GPCR signaling in yeast using fluorescence microscopy. Somatostatin receptor and neurotensin receptor (implicated in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, respectively) were chosen as human GPCR(s). The facile detection of binding to these receptors by cognate peptide ligands was demonstrated. In addition, we established a highly sensitive ligand detection system using yeast cell surface display technology that is applicable to peptide screening, and demonstrate that the display of various peptide analogs of neurotensin can activate signaling through the neurotensin receptor in yeast cells. Our system could be useful for identifying lead peptides with agonistic activity towards targeted human GPCR(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
- * E-mail:
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