Detection of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) - 
Detection of mRNA in the nervous system when no (reliable) antibodies are available 

IHC is a well-established method for a broad range of applications from discovery to diagnostic and prognostic testing. However, raising antibodies to G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) can be challenging due to difficulties obtaining suitable antigen accessibility amongst other reasons as GPCRs are transmembrane proteins that can be expressed at low levels and tend to be unstable when purified.. Ion channels, another class of membrane proteins, also constitute a challenging class of targets for antibody discovery since they must remain membrane-associated to maintain their native conformation. The RNAscope technology is an ideal method to visualize these targets within their morphological context in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Examples for the chromogenic and fluorescent detection of GPCRs and ion channels can be found in our image gallery.

Watch our Video: "Detection of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the nervous system using the RNAscope in situ hybridization assay"

References:​

• Hutchings C, Koglin M, Marshall F. Therapeutic antibodies directed at G protein-coupled receptors. mAbs 2010; 2(6), 594-606.