Molecular Devices announced in February 2006 the launch of its Imap time resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-Fret) homogeneous detection system for its proprietary Imap platform
This system further expands the versatility of Imap by offering both fluorescence polarisation (FP) and TR-Fret detection , allowing researchers to select between two well-known detection methods without changing technologies.
Imap TR-Fret provides advantages over existing products as it is antibody independent and stable for greater than 24 hours.
With no antibodies, the tedious search for a compatible antibody is eliminated and accelerates the assay development process.
Signal stability that is greater than 24 hours allows customers to more efficiently schedule their screens versus alternative TR-Fret detection methods that require more rigorous scheduling of screens.
Furthermore, It also provides additional benefits to Imap FP by allowing greater substrate choice that enables researchers to work with larger substrates such as proteins.
It also provides greater sensitivity, which reduces the amount of enzyme required and ultimately lowers the overall cost to the assay.
Susan Clark, director of reagents marketing at Molecular Devices stated, "The Imap platform is quickly becoming the preferred assay to screen kinase activity as it is applicable to all regions of the human kinome.
"The Imap platform enables our customers to more efficiently develop assays for uncommon and proprietary enzymes with a homogeneous, antibody independent system".
Clark continued, "With the Imap platform binding systems, substrate finder plates, validated substrates, and the FP and TR-Fret detection modes, transitions from assay development, screening and hit evaluation can be accelerated for virtually any kinase with precision and reproducibility".
Kinases are implicated in many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders.
It is estimated that kinase malfunction contributes to more than 400 diseases and that greater than 20% of the drug discovery efforts are focused on protein kinase inhibitors.
Researchers require technologies that will enable them to rapidly develop assays that provide data for these potentially important kinase inhibitors.