World's first non-rad platform for GTP binding assays, new red-emission technology for uHTS imagers, and breakthrough luminescence technologies for GPCR functional screening
PerkinElmer Life Sciences, a provider of drug discovery, life science research and genetic disease screening solutions, has announced the availability of three new cutting edge reagent technologies for high throughput screening: Delfia GTP binding assay kit, the first non-radiometric platform for GTP binding; Image FlashPlate, a new red-emission technology for a wide range of uHTS imaging readers; and Britelite and Steadylite HTS, breakthrough luminescence technologies for GPCR functional screening applications.
Delfia GTP binding assay.
The new Delfia platform is the first and only non-radiometric GTP binding assay kit that screens new agonists and confirms secondary assays in drug discovery by monitoring therapeutic-induced changes in GPCR activity.
This is a major advance over current methods because it offers a fast, simple protocol and eliminates the difficulties associated with radioactive-based assays.
The proven Delfia time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) technology combined with robust lanthanide labelling provides excellent sensitivity and features high signal-to-noise ratios with low background.
G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) screening is a primary focus of drug development today.
When a GPCR is activated by binding of a ligand, a signalling pathway is activated in the interior of the cell; guanosine triphosphate (GTP) is an early indicator in that pathway.
Changes in the activity of a GPCR can thus be effectively monitored by measuring GTP levels.
The Delfia GTP binding assay contains GTP that is labelled with the Europium (Eu) chelate.
This Eu-GTP is incubated with cell membrane preparations.
When a ligand or agonist binds to a GPCR, the Eu-GTP binds to the GPCR.
After incubation, the unbound Eu-GTP is washed away and the signal from the Eu-GTP bound to GPCRs is measured using a TRF reader.
"As a leading partner in the drug discovery industry, PerkinElmer is committed to developing breakthrough solutions to the challenges faced by our global drug discovery customers," said John Danner, vice president and general manager, PerkinElmer Life Sciences.
"This exciting new product leverages the extraordinary sensitivity of the DELFIA technology to provide the world's first non-radiometric GTP assay.
In the near future, we plan to utilise our strong liquid handling portfolio to automate this new assay platform, as well as other technologies." Image FlashPlate.
The new Image FlashPlate platform is a next-generation assay platform for HTS laboratories enabling imaging in the desirable red-spectral range.
The Image FlashPlate provides a fast, easy and cost-effective way to increase throughput while achieving more accurate results over more traditional HTS methods.
The Image FlashPlate is a 384 shallow well microplate, coated with a scintillant that emits in the red region, thus combining ultra-miniaturisation with superior sensitivity.
"This breakthrough platform will finally offer HTS labs a choice of reagent technologies for use with their HTS imagers," said Danner.
"Because Image FlashPlate requires no cumbersome beads, users will enjoy significant ease-of-use advantages, time savings in assay preparation and simplified automation.
The Image FlashPlate requires no technology access fees and provides read times five times faster than conventional scintillation assays." The Image FlashPlate is now available in uncoated and streptavidin or WGA coated formats.
Britelite and Steadylite HTS.
Britelite and Steadylite HTS are two new breakthrough luminescence assay systems for reporter gene assays used in functional GPCR screening applications.
The Steadylite HTS reagent platform features a long-lived signal, making it ideal for the batch processing environments typically experienced in large-scale automated screening.
Steadylite HTS also offers excellent sensitivity, thus facilitating miniaturisation and increasing reagent cost savings.
The Britelite platform offers high throughput screening labs superior sensitivity over current offerings, allowing remarkably robust assays with an ultra-bright signal.
Both products offer lab professionals the advantage of one plate preparation, from cell culture to reagent addition and analysis.
In addition, Steadylite HTS and Britelite offer the simplicity and speed of a homogeneous assay protocol and are available in 96-, 384- or 1536-well format.
These new reagent platforms are complementary to PerkinElmer's world-class ViewLux uHTS microplate imager as well as the new EnVision multilabel microplate reader.
"PerkinElmer understands the importance of meeting our customers' needs with these new reagent platforms," said Peter Coggins, president, PerkinElmer Life Sciences.
"Each of these new technologies enables HTS laboratories to perform critical assays more accurately and with greater efficiency of time and cost savings. Additionally, all of these new platforms were developed in response to market needs and customer feedback."
