Assays


Workflow using BacMam and LanthaScreen® TR-FRET enabling systems


Figure 6 Example workflow for custom assay development using BacMam and LanthaScreen® TR-FRET enabling systems from Life Technologies


create assays in more relevant cell systems, such as human primary cells” (Figure 6).


“Cisbio offers customised assay solutions based on its proprietary HTRF® technology (www.htrf.com) to enhance and accelerate the HTS drug discovery process,” said François Degorce of Cisbio Bioassays. The Tag-lite platform is a combination of HTRF® detection with SNAP-tag self-labelling technology (New England Biolabs). “Tag-lite enables the investi- gation of biological events at the cell membrane by offering plasmid generation encoding for tagged receptors, custom design and synthesis of fluorescent ligands for binding assays, generation of multimode cell lines, delivery of pre-labelled ready-to-use cells for receptor ligand binding and internalisation assays. This unique solution enables researchers to address the whole biological complexity of mem- brane receptors, from structure to function, through a customised approach” (Figure 7).


“At BioFocus, we have developed more than 350 assays for drug and target discovery,” said William Spearing, Marketing Communications Manager. “As technologies advance, more approaches for difficult targets become available for screening. Every BioFocus assay is optimised for the specific application required, ranging from fragment screening using biophysical methods to identify low molecular weight hits, to phe- notypic screening in disease relevant assays. For a dis- ease such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which affects motor neurons specifically, BioFocus is screen- ing in human stem cell-derived motor neurons, which has only become a possibility with the recent advances in stem cell biology” (Figure 8).


Conclusion


Assay development time has improved over the past several years due to the skill of screening sci-


Drug Discovery World Summer 2010


Figure 7: Cisbio provides Tag-lite plasmids, multimode Tag-lite cell line, pre-labelled Tag-lite cells and Tag-lite ligands customised on request


57


entists, robust and precise automated instruments, and high quality compounds and reagents. HTS directors use several strategies to speed develop- ment time including more communication with other departments, developing platform approach- es where possible, and outsourcing production of protein and stable cell lines. Unfortunately, road- blocks to improved assay development persist. Producing proteins and cell lines internally is slow


Workflow using the Tag-Lite platform


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