Biological systems reverse chemical genetics

To date, complex proteins with biological activity (6), for use in X-ray crystal structure analysis (7) and ELISA systems (8), and for the development of animal drugs (9) have successfully been produced by using this system. Therefore, the Kaiko-baculovirus protein production system has broad applicability across the field of reverse chemical genetics for the analysis of protein function on the basis of interactions with chemical compounds. 

To summarize, as shown in Table 6-2, in a forward chemical-genetic screen, scientists start with a phenotype to find the protein or proteins responsible for it, and in a reverse chemical-genetic screen, the starting point is a protein of interest. Completing the trio of arrows in the discovery cycles in both cases provides valuable tools for the dissection of biological systems and mechanisms. 

In reverse genetics the aim is to start from a gene product (i.e. protein) of interest and determine what it does in a biological system. In the reverse chemical genetic variation, instead of using mutation to perturb the system, a small molecule is used. The kinds of chemicals suitable for this purpose are generally much the same as those described in Section 14.5.1 for forward chemical genetics for all the same reasons. 

The ability of small molecules to interact with biological macromolecules such as proteins in a selective, often reversible, and dose-dependent manner, and to exert specific effects, has led to them being regarded as powerful tools for the study of biological systems. The use of small molecules in this manner to selectively perturb biological function underpins the whole of medicinal chemistry as well as forming the basis for the field of chemical genetics. ... 

---