High-throughput screening using beta-lactamase reporter-gene technology for identification of low-molecular-weight antagonists of the human gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor

Assay Drug Dev Technol. 2005 Apr;3(2):143-54. doi: 10.1089/adt.2005.3.143.

Abstract

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) signal via G-proteins to intracellular second messengers. Assays that link transcription of a detectable reporter to promoters that are activated by such signaling cascades are highly sensitive and allow screening for compounds that either activate or inactivate a GPCR of interest. This study describes the development and performance of an antagonistic screen on the human gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R). Compounds (245,000) were tested in a high-throughput screen using a Chinese hamster ovary cell line stably expressing the human GnRH-R and the Ca2+ sensitive reporter nuclear factor activated in T-cells/ activator protein-1-beta-lactamase. In total, 4,160 active compounds were identified. Colored and toxic compounds, as well as dust and compound aggregates, have been depicted as artifacts. To deselect non-target hits, several follow-up assays, including luminescent and fluorescent Ca2+ mobilization assays and radioligand binding, were developed for the GnRH-R. These assays were validated using peptide and low-molecular-weight GnRH-R reference compounds before hits from screening were also profiled in these assays. For several reference compounds the use of different assay technologies resulted in a poor correlation of potency values. In conclusion, beta-lactamase as a primary high-throughput screening assay is a powerful complementation to other screening technologies. The beta-lactamase technology has several advantages, including lack of cell lysis and ratiometric read-out, which augments assay robustness. Based on technology comparison, it is not adequate to assume that the same hits would be found regardless of which assay technology is used.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Molecular Weight
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods*
  • Receptors, LHRH / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, LHRH / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, LHRH
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • beta-Lactamases