Cell-based potassium ion channel screening using the FluxOR assay

J Biomol Screen. 2010 Apr;15(4):441-6. doi: 10.1177/1087057109359807. Epub 2010 Mar 5.

Abstract

FluxOR technology is a cell-based assay used for high-throughput screening measurements of potassium channel activity. Using thallium influx as a surrogate indicator of potassium ion channel activity, the FluxOR Potassium Ion Channel Assay is based on the activation of a novel fluorescent dye. This indicator reports channel activity with a large fluorogenic response and is proportional to the number of open potassium channels on the cell, making it extremely useful for studying K(+) channel targets. In contrast to BTC-AM ester, FluxOR dye is roughly 10-fold more thallium sensitive, requiring much lower thallium for a larger signal window. This also means that the assay is carried out in a physiological, normal-chloride saline. In this article, the authors describe how they used BacMam gene delivery to express Kv7.2 and 7.3 (KCNQ), Kir2.1, or Kv11.1 (hERG) potassium ion channels in U2-OS cells. Using these cells, they ran the FluxOR assay to identify and characterize channel-specific inhibitory compounds discovered within the library (Tocriscreen Mini 1200 and Sigma Sodium/Potassium Modulators Ligand set). The FluxOR assay was able to identify several known specific inhibitors of Kv7.2/7.3 or hERG, highlighting its potential to identify novel and more efficacious small-molecule modulators.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Potassium Channels / analysis*
  • Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / metabolism
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology
  • Transduction, Genetic

Substances

  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Potassium Channels
  • Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying
  • Small Molecule Libraries