Ion Channel Screening Assays

Aurora Biomed provides a wide range of ion channel assays to quickly and accurately provide results for drug discovery and development research worldwide. A convenient, integrated ordering system facilitates rapid assessment and processing of globally standardized tests. Assays are performed manually by patch clamp or by Qpatch. Cold flux assays are also available for limited compounds or candidates that cannot be screened with manual patch clamp, with a strong linear correlation (R=0.88) and consistently identical drug rank orders between the cold flux and patch clamp methods. Cold flux assays rely on non-radioactive trace ions measured by Aurora’s high-throughput atomic absorbance-based Ion Channel Reader series: ICR 8000 and ICR 12000

Electrophysiological in vitro and in vivo studies required by the FDA are available on either stable cell lines, cells transiently expressing channels of interest, transformed Xenopus oocytes (two-electrode voltage clamp), cardiac myocytes (freshly isolated from rat or guinea pig), or neurons differentiated from human iPS. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The following Ion Channel Screening Assays are available from Aurora:

Cardiac Myocyte Assays

Freshly isolated cardiac myocytes are collected from from rat or guinea pig. Parameters measured:

• IC50 generated from dose-response curves at various frequencies
• Use dependence, voltage-dependence of block
• Custom-made protocols to address specific needs

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Reliable, Reproducible Results

The robustness of Aurora Ion Channel Screening Assays is shown in the below figures. No matter the stage of drug discovery, obtaining quick and accurate results is key to any research assay.

Figure 1: IC50 of flecainide for IhERG in CHO cells expressing hERG channels (Qpatch) and in HEK cells expressing hERG channels (manual patch clamp).

Figure 2: IKv4.2 block by flecainide in HEK cells expressing Kv4.2 channels by manual patch Clamp.

Figure 3: The effects of mexiletine on peak and late INav1.5 measured by Qpatch (in the presence of the sea anemone toxin ATXII)

Scope of Screening Services

Typical test compound screening services are completed as follows, depending on research requirements. Raw data can be sent (without analysis) upon request.