Evaluation of transporter-mediated hepatic uptake in a non-radioactive high-throughput assay: a study of kinetics, species difference and plasma protein effect

Xenobiotica ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Li ◽  
Amr Nouraldeen ◽  
Alan G. E. Wilson
2021 ◽  
pp. 247255522110006
Author(s):  
Lesley-Anne Pearson ◽  
Charlotte J. Green ◽  
De Lin ◽  
Alain-Pierre Petit ◽  
David W. Gray ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents a significant threat to human health. Despite its similarity to related coronaviruses, there are currently no specific treatments for COVID-19 infection, and therefore there is an urgent need to develop therapies for this and future coronavirus outbreaks. Formation of the cap at the 5′ end of viral RNA has been shown to help coronaviruses evade host defenses. Nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14) is responsible for N7-methylation of the cap guanosine in coronaviruses. This enzyme is highly conserved among coronaviruses and is a bifunctional protein with both N7-methyltransferase and 3′-5′ exonuclease activities that distinguish nsp14 from its human equivalent. Mutational analysis of SARS-CoV nsp14 highlighted its role in viral replication and translation efficiency of the viral genome. In this paper, we describe the characterization and development of a high-throughput assay for nsp14 utilizing RapidFire technology. The assay has been used to screen a library of 1771 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. From this, we have validated nitazoxanide as a selective inhibitor of the methyltransferase activity of nsp14. Although modestly active, this compound could serve as a starting point for further optimization.


2021 ◽  
pp. 247255522110006
Author(s):  
Michael D. Scholle ◽  
Zachary A. Gurard-Levin

Arginase-1, an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of L-arginine to L-ornithine, is implicated in the tumor immune response and represents an interesting therapeutic target in immuno-oncology. Initiating arginase drug discovery efforts remains a challenge due to a lack of suitable high-throughput assay methodologies. This report describes the combination of self-assembled monolayers and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry to enable the first label-free and high-throughput assay for arginase activity. The assay was optimized for kinetically balanced conditions and miniaturized, while achieving a robust assay (Z-factor > 0.8) and a significant assay window [signal-to-background ratio > 20] relative to fluorescent approaches. To validate the assay, the inhibition of the reference compound nor-NOHA (Nω-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine) was evaluated, and the IC50 measured to be in line with reported results (IC50 = 180 nM). The assay was then used to complete a screen of 175,000 compounds, demonstrating the high-throughput capacity of the approach. The label-free format also eliminates opportunities for false-positive results due to interference from library compounds and optical readouts. The assay methodology described here enables new opportunities for drug discovery for arginase and, due to the assay flexibility, can be more broadly applicable for measuring other amino acid–metabolizing enzymes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 184 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Shan Han ◽  
Peter Quashie ◽  
Thibault Mesplede ◽  
Hongtao Xu ◽  
Kevork Mekhssian ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 656-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Maher ◽  
Nyan-Tsz Wu ◽  
Hong Ao

Many high-throughput ion channel assays require the use of voltage-sensitive dyes to detect channel activity in the presence of test compounds. Dye systems employing Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between 2 membrane-bound dyes are advantageous in combining high sensitivity, relatively fast response, and ratiometric output. The most widely used FRET voltage dye system employs a coumarin fluorescence donor whose excitation spectrum is pH dependent. The authors have validated a new class of voltage-sensitive FRET donors based on a pyrene moiety. These dyes are significantly brighter than CC2-DMPE and are not pH sensitive in the physiological range. With the new dye system, the authors demonstrate a new high-throughput assay for the acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) family. They also introduce a novel method for absolute calibration of voltage-sensitive dyes, simultaneously determining the resting membrane potential of a cell. ( Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2007:656-667)


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra R. Dukic ◽  
David W. McClymont ◽  
Kjetil Taskén

Connexin 43 (Cx43), the predominant gap junction (GJ) protein, directly interacts with the A-kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP) Ezrin in human cytotrophoblasts and a rat liver epithelial cells (IAR20). The Cx43-Ezrin–protein kinase (PKA) complex facilitates Cx43 phosphorylation by PKA, which triggers GJ opening in cytotrophoblasts and IAR20 cells and may be a general mechanism regulating GJ intercellular communication (GJIC). Considering the importance of Cx43 GJs in health and disease, they are considered potential pharmaceutical targets. The Cx43-Ezrin interaction is a protein-protein interaction that opens possibilities for targeting with peptides and small molecules. For this reason, we developed a high-throughput cell-based assay in which GJIC can be assessed and new compounds characterized. We used two pools of IAR20 cells, calcein loaded and unloaded, that were mixed and allowed to attach. Next, GJIC was monitored over time using automated imaging via the IncuCyte imager. The assay was validated using known GJ inhibitors and anchoring peptide disruptors, and we further tested new peptides that interfered with the Cx43-Ezrin binding region and reduced GJIC. Although an AlphaScreen assay can be used to screen for Cx43-Ezrin interaction inhibitors, the cell-based assay described is an ideal secondary screen for promising small-molecule hits to help identify the most potent compounds.


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