Clontech Laboratories announced the release of the iDimerize inducible dimerization systems. Based on the ARGENT technology developed by ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, the iDimerize systems enable precise, real-time control of protein-protein interactions using specific cell-permeable chemical ligands, called dimerizers. Any cellular process that can be activated or inactivated by protein-protein interactions can be controlled in real time by dimerizers, either in vitro or in vivo, by fusing the proteins of interest to specific dimerization domains. The iDimerize systems are based, in part, on technology and intellectual property initially developed by faculty at Harvard and Stanford Universities and further developed and optimized by ARIAD scientists to create the ARGENT technology. Inducible dimerization is a powerful tool to validate the specific role of a protein in disease: More than 400 scientific publications have described uses of this versatile technology in diverse research areas, including functional analysis of signaling proteins (e.g. protein kinases) and of non-signaling proteins (e.g. cell-adhesion molecules). Since dimerizers are compatible with in vivo use, numerous dimerizer-inducible mouse models of disease have also been developed. Previously, the ARGENT systems were only available to academic investigators upon request through a web-based MTA program established by ARIAD. In forming their exclusive partnership, ARIAD and Clontech now make these systems broadly available to all researchers for in vitro and in vivo use in the research market. Clontech plans to expand the utility of the original systems by combining them with other key core technologies, such as the Living Colors fluorescent proteins and Lenti-X viral expression systems. Clontech Laboratories, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc., 800-662-2566, www.clontech.com