A miniaturized homogenous assay of mitochondrial membrane potential

Assay Drug Dev Technol. 2011 Aug;9(4):373-81. doi: 10.1089/adt.2010.0301. Epub 2011 Feb 6.

Abstract

Mitochondrial dysfunction is increasingly associated with disease states. These organelles, responsible for adenosine triphosphate production, have been targeted for improved function in such diseases as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes, and sarcopenia. In addition, the importance of determining if a clinical drug candidate adversely effects mitochondria function, which could lead to overt toxicity, has been recognized. Hence, assays that measure mitochondria activity have become essential in early stage drug development. Limitations of current assays that measure mitochondria membrane potential have prohibited the high-throughput performance necessary to screen current chemical space. Here, we describe a homogeneous assay to measure mitochondria membrane potential that can utilize either adherent or suspension cell types. The assay has been miniaturized to 1,536-well plate format, and was used to perform a fully automated robotic high-throughput screen of a small molecule chemical library.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • CHO Cells
  • Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone / metabolism
  • Coloring Agents / metabolism
  • Cricetinae
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / metabolism
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects*
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects*
  • Miniaturization
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Proton Ionophores / metabolism
  • Rhodamines / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Proton Ionophores
  • Rhodamines
  • tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester
  • Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone