Stepwise Dosing Protocol for Increased Throughput in Label-Free Impedance-Based GPCR Assays

J Vis Exp. 2020 Feb 21:(156). doi: 10.3791/60686.

Abstract

Label-free impedance-based assays are increasingly used to non-invasively study ligand-induced GPCR activation in cell culture experiments. The approach provides real-time cell monitoring with a device-dependent time resolution down to several tens of milliseconds and it is highly automated. However, when sample numbers get high (e.g., dose-response studies for various different ligands), the cost for the disposable electrode arrays as well as the available time resolution for sequential well-by-well recordings may become limiting. Therefore, we here present a serial agonist addition protocol which has the potential to significantly increase the output of label-free GPCR assays. Using the serial agonist addition protocol, a GPCR agonist is added sequentially in increasing concentrations to a single cell layer while continuously monitoring the sample's impedance (agonist mode). With this serial approach, it is now possible to establish a full dose-response curve for a GPCR agonist from just one single cell layer. The serial agonist addition protocol is applicable to different GPCR coupling types, Gq Gi/0 or Gs and it is compatible with recombinant and endogenous expression levels of the receptor under study. Receptor blocking by GPCR antagonists is assessable as well (antagonist mode).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Electric Impedance*
  • Glioma / metabolism*
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Histamine / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Histamine / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Histamine / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Histamine
  • Histamine