Application note: Cellular dopamine and intracellular calcium signaling using the next generation HTS microplate reader

This application note highlights the direct optic bottom reading performance of the BMG LABTECH microplate readers in two different cell-based fluorescence intensity assays from Invitrogen.

First, the intracellular calcium response to histamine was measured in HEK 293 cells using the Fluo-4 Direct™ Calcium Assay. Advanced high resolution cell layer scanning shows a correlation with the calcium signal and cell location in the well. Second, arrestin recruitment through activation of the dopamine D1 receptor with dopamine (D1 agonist) was measured using Tango™ D1-bla U2OS cells and a live cell FRET substrate (LiveBLAzer™). The fluorescent signal generated in the cells by the LiveBLAzer™ substrate greatly benefits from the PHERAstar®’s unique bottom read dual emission detection.

This application note proves the PHERAstar’s suitability for GPCR-related drug discovery research that is supported by its direct optic bottom reading; dual emission detection; injection at the point of measurement; high resolution well scanning and orbital averaging.