The application of FAST-NMR for the identification of novel drug discovery targets

The continued success of genome sequencing projects has resulted in a wealth of information, but 40-50% of identified genes correspond to hypothetical proteins or proteins of unknown function. The functional annotation screening technology by NMR (FAST-NMR) screen was developed to assign a biological function for these unannotated proteins with a structure solved by the protein structure initiative. FAST-NMR is based on the premise that a biological function can be described by a similarity in binding sites and ligand interactions with proteins of known function. The resulting co-structure and functional assignment may provide a starting point for a drug discovery effort.