Thermal Melt With You

This parody (written by Greg Crowther) is sung to the tune of "I Melt With You" (written and performed by Modern English).

Thermal melting -- also known as Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) and other names -- is a method used to identify compounds that bind to and stabilize a protein of interest, and thus raise its melting temperature (T_m). Its feasibility as a high-throughput screening method was first demonstrated in a 2001 paper by Pantoliano et al.

The line "Since 3D modeling won't do" refers to the relatively poor performance of structural models in predicting which compounds will bind to a protein. The line "Your pocket's open wide" refers to an active site or other pocket where a compound could conceivably bind.

This song was written for one of my favorite audiences: the biotechnology students at Glacier Peak High School who annually visit the University of Washington.

You’re a protein from a pathogen,
And I’m a scientist who knows your T-sub-m.
You’re in solution, and you’re tumbling all around,
But my new method will heat you up and break you down.

I’ll start a thermal melt with you;
I see a difference in stability when ligands bind.
Since 3D modeling won’t do,
I’ll start a thermal melt with you.

To raise my throughput, I use a protocol
First introduced by the team of Pantoliano et al.
Most compounds don’t bind, but picture my delight
At a well where your melting curve is shifted to the right!

I’ll start a thermal melt with you;
I see a difference in stability when ligands bind.
I’ll find the ones that stick like glue;
I’ll start a thermal melt with you.

Your pocket’s open wide....

I’ll start a thermal melt with you;
I see a difference in stability when ligands bind.
This works with other proteins too, but
I’ll start a thermal melt with you.

Your pocket’s open wide....

I’ll start a thermal melt with you;
I see a difference in stability when ligands bind.
Since 3D modeling won’t do,
I’ll start a thermal melt with you.

I’ll start a thermal melt with you.
I’ll start a thermal melt with you.
I’ll start a thermal melt with you.
I’ll start a thermal melt with you.