Abstract
Andrew L. Niles, Jean Humpal-Winter and Michael Bjerke, Promega Corporation
Modulation of the apoptotic cell death process continues to be the focus of intensive pharmaceutical research targeted at the elimination of human infirmities as diverse as reperfusion ischemia, neurodegeneration, and cancers. Exciting advances in automation and screening technologies have drastically improved assay throughput, but have rarely provided an integrated means to identify new chemical entity actives as well as characterize their biological attributes in a convenient format. Herein, we detail the implementation of our Apo-ONE® Homogeneous Caspase-3/7 Assay in apoptotic screen development with adherent and suspension cells, in a mock HTS screen for actives, in a secondary screen for candidate compound potency, and finally in an in vitro toxicology testing application. These successful demonstrations with the Biomek® 2000 automated module, emphasize the assay’s broad flexibility and sensitivity in the drug discovery and development process.