Chemically induced dimerization

[2] The first small molecule CID system was developed in 1993 and used FK1012, a derivative of the drug tacrolimus (FK506), to induce homo-dimerization of FKBP.

Adding the chemical dimerizing agent brings both constructs into proximity with each other and induces interactions between the proteins of interest.

CID has been used to regulate and monitor gene transcription, signal transduction and post translational modifications in proteins.

Recently, CID has also been used to create a basic component of biocomputers, logic gates, from genetically manipulated cells.

Each set of proteins can be induced to dimerize by the addition of a separate chemical.

Schematic of chemically induced dimerization. Two proteins that do not normally interact (top) bind in the presence of a dimerizing agent (bottom).