Case Study: TRPM2 Membrane Protein

TRPM2 is a large, calcium-conducting ion channel involved in neurodegeneration and cancer. With a complex tetrameric structure and a molecular weight of ~170 kDa, it remains exceptionally hard to isolate and analyse using traditional drug screening tools—limiting both ligand discovery and our understanding of TRPM2’s biological role.

Using CARMS, we conducted a direct binding screen of natural compounds against semi-purified TRPM2. Unlike conventional techniques, CARMS enables binder detection without requiring complete purification or secondary assay formats—streamlining the workflow and preserving protein integrity. This approach led to the identification of a novel TRPM2-binding molecule, whose binding affinity was benchmarked against clotrimazole, a known modulator.

The screen yielded a novel TRPM2-binding compound with clean control results and no false positives. Completed in less than two weeks, the study highlights CARMS as a rapid, precision-first platform for unlocking challenging drug targets.