Abstract: This application described compounds that can act as opioid receptor ligands, and compositions comprising the compounds and cytochrome P450 inhibitors, which can be used in the treatment of, for example, pain and pain related disorders.

Abstract: A chimeric phosphorylation indicator (CPI) as provided herein can contain a donor molecule, a phosphorylatable domain, a phosphoaminoacid binding domain (PAABD), and an acceptor molecule. Where the phosphorylatable domain is phosphorylatable by protein kinase C (PKC), the CPI is a c-kinase activity reporter (CKAR). Donor and acceptor molecules may be, independently, fluorescent proteins such as non-oligomerizing fluorescent proteins. A CPI can contain a phosphorylatable polypeptide and a fluorescent protein; the phosphorylatable polypeptide may be contained within the sequence of the fluorescent protein, or the fluorescent protein may be contained within the sequence of the phosphorylatable polypeptide. The spatiotemporal properties of the PKC signal pathway may be tested with CKAR, calcium-sensing fluorophores and FRET-based translocation assays. Polynucleotides encoding such CPIs, and kits containing the indicators and/or the polynucleotides, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to nicotinic acid receptor ligands and, in particular, to ligands that have a relative efficacy for activating a G-protein-coupled receptor function (e.g., signaling) that is greater than their relative efficacy for stimulating ?-arrestin function (e.g., recruitment and/or signaling). The invention further relates to the use of such “biased ligands” to decrease triglycerides levels and to potentially increase high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in patients and potentially lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) and/or very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels. In addition, the invention relates to methods of identifying such “biased ligands”.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to protein trafficking, and, in particular, to a method of measuring protein trafficking to and from a plasma membrane.