Cell based assay
Ultimately, any potential therapy must have efficacy at the cell, tissue, and human level.
Cell functions are comprised of many interconnecting signaling and feedback pathways. Compound screens based on isolated targets or cell preparations can not consider this complexity. Thus, more complete understanding compound effects requires testing whole living cells. The advantages of using intact, living cells for compound screening includes:
Ultimately, any potential therapy must have efficacy at the cell, tissue, and human level.
Cell functions are comprised of many interconnecting signaling and feedback pathways. Compound screens based on isolated targets or cell preparations can not consider this complexity. Thus, more complete understanding compound effects requires testing whole living cells. The advantages of using intact, living cells for compound screening includes:
Efficacy of compounds can be best predicted by measuring biological behavior:
Toxicity and nonspecific effects can be identified
Drug effects on selective cell types can be distinguished
Drug penetration can be evaluated in whole cell studies
Orphan targets require cell based functional assays
Whole cell assays obviate protein purification & expression steps
Many cell-based assay formats have been developed over the years.
Examples include viral titer assays, second messenger assays like luciferase, and newer fluorescent signal assays.
An optimized assay captures cellular activities such as: