Our core technology
CETSA
CETSA® is based on the same biophysical principle as traditional thermal shift assays (TSAs) but leverages on the fact that melting of proteins can be studied also in intact cells.
The very basis for thermal shift assays, cellular or not, is that the thermal stability of proteins can change if their environment is altered. Target engagement is assessed by incubating and heat shocking cells in presence versus in absence of a compound. If the compound has bound to its target protein, the protein becomes more, or less, resistant to heat. This results in a shift in its melt profile – a thermal shift.
When you know the melt profile of your target protein, target engagement potencies (concentration response) can be determined by exposing cells to multiple concentrations of a compound.