Validation of a High-Throughput Calcium Mobilization Assay for the Human Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-150
Author(s):  
Ann M. Decker ◽  
Kelly M. Mathews ◽  
Bruce E. Blough ◽  
Brian P. Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Calcium Mobilization ◽  
Hit Rate ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Trace Amine ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Calcium Mobilization Assay

The human trace amine-associated receptor 1 (hTAAR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is widely expressed in monoaminergic nuclei in the central nervous system and has therapeutic potential for multiple diseases, including drug addiction and schizophrenia. Thus, identification of novel hTAAR1 ligands is critical to advancing our knowledge of hTAAR1 function and to the development of therapeutics for a wide range of diseases. Herein we describe the development of a robust, 3-addition high-throughput screening (HTS) calcium mobilization assay using stable CHO-Gαq16-hTAAR1 cells, which functionally couple hTAAR1 to the promiscuous Gαq16 protein and thus allow signal transduction to occur through mobilization of internal calcium. Our previously established 96-well hTAAR1 assay was first miniaturized to the 384-well format and optimized to provide an assay with a Z′ factor of 0.84, which is indicative of a robust HTS assay. Using the 3-addition protocol, 22,000 compounds were screened and yielded a ~1% agonist hit rate and a ~0.2% antagonist hit rate. Of the antagonist hits, two confirmed hits are the most potent hTAAR1 antagonists identified to date (IC50 = 206 and 281 nM). While scientists have been studying hTAAR1 for years, the lack of suitable hTAAR1 antagonists has been a major roadblock for studying the basic pharmacology of hTAAR1. Thus, these new ligands will serve as valuable tools to study hTAAR1-mediated signaling mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and in vivo functions.

scholarly journals Towards High-Throughput Chemobehavioural Phenomics in Neuropsychiatric Drug Discovery

Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Henry ◽  
Donald Wlodkowic
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Innovative Methods ◽  
Approaches To Study ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Screening Approaches

Identifying novel marine-derived neuroactive chemicals with therapeutic potential is difficult due to inherent complexities of the central nervous system (CNS), our limited understanding of the molecular foundations of neuro-psychiatric conditions, as well as the limited applications of effective high-throughput screening models that recapitulate functionalities of the intact CNS. Furthermore, nearly all neuro-modulating chemicals exhibit poorly characterized pleiotropic activities often referred to as polypharmacology. The latter renders conventional target-based in vitro screening approaches very difficult to accomplish. In this context, chemobehavioural phenotyping using innovative small organism models such as planarians and zebrafish represent powerful and highly integrative approaches to study the impact of new chemicals on central and peripheral nervous systems. In contrast to in vitro bioassays aimed predominantly at identification of chemicals acting on single targets, phenotypic chemobehavioural analysis allows for complex multi-target interactions to occur in combination with studies of polypharmacological effects of chemicals in a context of functional and intact milieu of the whole organism. In this review, we will outline recent advances in high-throughput chemobehavioural phenotyping and provide a future outlook on how those innovative methods can be utilized for rapidly screening and characterizing marine-derived compounds with prospective applications in neuropharmacology and psychosomatic medicine.

scholarly journals Computationally guided high-throughput design of self-assembling drug nanoparticles

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Reker ◽  
Yulia Rybakova ◽  
Ameya R. Kirtane ◽  
Ruonan Cao ◽  
Jee Won Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Drug Loading ◽  
Food Additives ◽  
Drug Nanoparticles ◽  
Self Assembling ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Approved Drugs

AbstractNanoformulations are transforming our capacity to effectively deliver and treat a myriad of conditions. However, many nanoformulation approaches still suffer from high production complexity and low drug loading. One potential solution relies on harnessing co-assembly of drugs and small molecular excipients to facilitate nanoparticle formation through solvent exchange without the need for chemical synthesis, generating nanoparticles with up to 95% drug loading. However, there is currently no understanding which of the millions of possible combinations of small molecules can result in the formation of these nanoparticles. Here we report the development of a high-throughput screening platform coupled to machine learning to enable the rapid evaluation of such nanoformulations. Our platform identified 101 novel self-assembling drug nanoparticles from 2.1 million pairings derived from 788 candidate drugs with one of 2686 excipients, spanning treatments for multiple diseases and often harnessing well-known food additives, vitamins, or approved drugs as carrier materials – with potential for accelerated approval and translation. Given their long-term stability and potential for clinical impact, we further characterize novel sorafenib-glycyrrhizin and terbinafine-taurocholic acid nanoparticles ex vivo and in vivo. We anticipate that this platform could accelerate the development of safer and more efficacious nanoformulations with high drug loadings for a wide range of therapeutics.

scholarly journals Pattern Recognition Analysis of Endogenous Cell Metabolites for High Throughput Mode of Action Identification: Removing the Postscreening Dilemma Associated with Whole-Organism High Throughput Screening

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 335-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J.W. Hole ◽  
Peter W.A. Howe ◽  
Paul D. Stanley ◽  
Stephen T. Hadfield
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Acetolactate Synthase ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Data Types ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Endogenous Metabolites

Although whole-organism HTS can give clear indications of in vivo activity, typically few clues are given as to the mechanism of action (MOA), and determining the MOA for large numbers of active compounds can be costly and complex—an alternative approach is required. This report demonstrates that it is possible to conduct relatively high throughput MOA characterization of HTS hits utilizing a single sample preparation and analytical method. By monitoring a wide range of endogenous cellular metabolites via 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the MOA of herbicides can be predicted using computational methods to compare the metabolite perturbation patterns. Herbicides that induce a characteristic pattern of metabolic perturbation in maize include inhibitors of acetolactate synthase, acetyl co-enzyme A carboxylase, protoporphyrinogen oxidase, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, and phytoene desaturase. In soya, photosystem II inhibitors can also be detected, further demonstrating that this method is not limited to inhibitors of enzymes that directly act upon endogenous metabolites, or a single species. The methods, including data analysis, can be readily automated, enabling relatively high throughput MOA elucidation of whole-organism screen hits. Additionally, for compounds with a novel MOA, this approach may lead to MOA identification faster than traditional metods. It is envisaged that application of these data analysis methods to other data types—for example, transcription (mRNA) or translation (protein) profilesis likely to permit higher throughput with smaller sample requirements, along with ability to discriminate MOAs that are not adequately discriminated based upon endogenous metabolite profiles.

The Medicinal Chemistry of Therapeutic Peptides: Recent Developments in Synthesis and Design Optimizations

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 2330-2355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anutthaman Parthasarathy ◽  
Sasikala K. Anandamma ◽  
Karunakaran A. Kalesh
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
The Past ◽  
Recombinant Production ◽  
Tremendous Progress ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Therapeutic Peptides ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Delivery Strategies

Peptide therapeutics has made tremendous progress in the past decade. Many of the inherent weaknesses of peptides which hampered their development as therapeutics are now more or less effectively tackled with recent scientific and technological advancements in integrated drug discovery settings. These include recent developments in synthetic organic chemistry, high-throughput recombinant production strategies, highresolution analytical methods, high-throughput screening options, ingenious drug delivery strategies and novel formulation preparations. Here, we will briefly describe the key methodologies and strategies used in the therapeutic peptide development processes with selected examples of the most recent developments in the field. The aim of this review is to highlight the viable options a medicinal chemist may consider in order to improve a specific pharmacological property of interest in a peptide lead entity and thereby rationally assess the therapeutic potential this class of molecules possesses while they are traditionally (and incorrectly) considered ‘undruggable’.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a System to Screen for Stimulators of Non-Specific DNA Nicking by HIV-1 Integrase: Application to a Library of 50,000 Compounds

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malgorzata Sudol ◽  
Jennifer L Fritz ◽  
Melissa Tran ◽  
Gavin P Robertson ◽  
Julie B Ealy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Solution Phase ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Endonuclease Activity ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Hit Rate ◽  
Dna Nicking ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
Stimulation Of

Background: In addition to activities needed to catalyse integration, retroviral integrases exhibit non-specific endonuclease activity that is enhanced by certain small compounds, suggesting that integrase could be stimulated to damage viral DNA before integration occurs. Methods: A non-radioactive, plate-based, solution phase, fluorescence assay was used to screen a library of 50,080 drug-like chemicals for stimulation of non-specific DNA nicking by HIV-1 integrase. Results: A semi-automated workflow was established and primary hits were readily identified from a graphic output. Overall, 0.6% of the chemicals caused a large increase in fluorescence (the primary hit rate) without also having visible colour that could have artifactually caused this result. None of the potential stimulators from this moderate-size library, however, passed a secondary test that included an inactive integrase mutant that assessed whether the increased fluorescence depended on the endonuclease activity of integrase. Conclusions: This first attempt at identifying integrase stimulator compounds establishes the necessary logistics and workflow required. The results from this study should encourage larger scale high-throughput screening to advance the novel antiviral strategy of stimulating integrase to damage retroviral DNA.

scholarly journals High-throughput screening and rational design of biofunctionalized surfaces with optimized biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Fang ◽  
Junjian Chen ◽  
Ye Zhu ◽  
Guansong Hu ◽  
Haoqian Xin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Click Reaction ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Biomaterial Surfaces

AbstractPeptides are widely used for surface modification to develop improved implants, such as cell adhesion RGD peptide and antimicrobial peptide (AMP). However, it is a daunting challenge to identify an optimized condition with the two peptides showing their intended activities and the parameters for reaching such a condition. Herein, we develop a high-throughput strategy, preparing titanium (Ti) surfaces with a gradient in peptide density by click reaction as a platform, to screen the positions with desired functions. Such positions are corresponding to optimized molecular parameters (peptide densities/ratios) and associated preparation parameters (reaction times/reactant concentrations). These parameters are then extracted to prepare nongradient mono- and dual-peptide functionalized Ti surfaces with desired biocompatibility or/and antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. We also demonstrate this strategy could be extended to other materials. Here, we show that the high-throughput versatile strategy holds great promise for rational design and preparation of functional biomaterial surfaces.

scholarly journals 68Ga-Radiolabeling and Pharmacological Characterization of a Kit-Based Formulation of the Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRP-R) Antagonist RM2 for Convenient Preparation of [68Ga]Ga-RM2

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1160
Author(s):  
Adrien Chastel ◽  
Delphine Vimont ◽  
Stephane Claverol ◽  
Marion Zerna ◽  
Sacha Bodin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Mobilization ◽  
Pharmacological Characterization ◽  
Peptide Receptor ◽  
Gastrin Releasing Peptide ◽  
Production Route ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
One Year ◽  
Calcium Mobilization Assay

Background: [68Ga]Ga-RM2 is a potent Gastrin-Releasing Peptide-receptor (GRP-R) antagonist for imaging prostate cancer and breast cancer, currently under clinical evaluation in several specialized centers around the world. Targeted radionuclide therapy of GRP-R-expressing tumors is also being investigated. We here report the characteristics of a kit-based formulation of RM2 that should ease the development of GRP-R imaging and make it available to more institutions and patients. Methods: Stability of the investigated kits over one year was determined using LC/MS/MS and UV-HPLC. Direct 68Ga-radiolabeling was optimized with respect to buffer (pH), temperature, reaction time and shaking time. Conventionally prepared [68Ga]Ga-RM2 using an automated synthesizer was used as a comparator. Finally, the [68Ga]Ga-RM2 product was assessed with regards to hydrophilicity, affinity, internalization, membrane bound fraction, calcium mobilization assay and efflux, which is a valuable addition to the in vivo literature. Results: The kit-based formulation, kept between 2 °C and 8 °C, was stable for over one year. Using acetate buffer pH 3.0 in 2.5–5.1 mL total volume, heating at 100 °C during 10 min and cooling down for 5 min, the [68Ga]Ga-RM2 produced by kit complies with the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia. Compared with the module production route, the [68Ga]Ga-RM2 produced by kit was faster, displayed higher yields, higher volumetric activity and was devoid of ethanol. In in vitro evaluations, the [68Ga]Ga-RM2 displayed sub-nanomolar affinity (Kd = 0.25 ± 0.19 nM), receptor specific and time dependent membrane-bound fraction of 42.0 ± 5.1% at 60 min and GRP-R mediated internalization of 24.4 ± 4.3% at 30 min. The [natGa]Ga-RM2 was ineffective in stimulating intracellular calcium mobilization. Finally, the efflux of the internalized activity was 64.3 ± 6.5% at 5 min. Conclusion: The kit-based formulation of RM2 is suitable to disseminate GRP-R imaging and therapy to distant hospitals without complex radiochemistry equipment.

scholarly journals A Microfluidic Spheroid Culture Device with a Concentration Gradient Generator for High-Throughput Screening of Drug Efficacy

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 3355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanyoung Lim ◽  
Sungsu Park
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Concentration Gradient ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
3D Cell Culture ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Spheroid Culture ◽  
Gradient Generator ◽  
Micro Channels

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture is considered more clinically relevant in mimicking the structural and physiological conditions of tumors in vivo compared to two-dimensional cell cultures. In recent years, high-throughput screening (HTS) in 3D cell arrays has been extensively used for drug discovery because of its usability and applicability. Herein, we developed a microfluidic spheroid culture device (μFSCD) with a concentration gradient generator (CGG) that enabled cells to form spheroids and grow in the presence of cancer drug gradients. The device is composed of concave microwells with several serpentine micro-channels which generate a concentration gradient. Once the colon cancer cells (HCT116) formed a single spheroid (approximately 120 μm in diameter) in each microwell, spheroids were perfused in the presence of the cancer drug gradient irinotecan for three days. The number of spheroids, roundness, and cell viability, were inversely proportional to the drug concentration. These results suggest that the μFSCD with a CGG has the potential to become an HTS platform for screening the efficacy of cancer drugs.

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