Achla Gupta, PhD

My research interests include the investigation of G-protein coupled receptor heterodimerization/oligomerization using antibodies as tools. I have generated an antibody against mu-delta heterodimers using subtractive immunization. This antibody recognize mu-delta heterdimers by ELISA in vitro and as well as in vivo. I have also generated selective monoclonal antibodies against the N-terminal region of opioid receptors. We have used N-terminal selective antibodies to investigate the structural changes occurring during opioid receptor activation. Interestingly, antibody recognition was found to be modulated only by agonists and not antagonists in a dose-dependent manner. The antibodies were able to distinguish agonist-mediated conformational changes between wild-type and constitutively active mutant receptors. Based on these results, I have generated conformation-sensitive polyclonal antibodies against a similar region in the N-terminus of other members of the rhodopsin family (cannabinoid and adrenergic receptors). Interestingly, these antibodies were also able to recognize active conformations of the endogenous receptors. These antibodies provide a potential tool for identifying and characterizing new compounds of therapeutic interest.