Fluorescence-based assays

Methods Mol Biol. 2009:486:97-107. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60327-545-3_7.

Abstract

Fluorescence-based assays are widely used in high-throughput screening due to their high sensitivity, diverse selection of fluorophores, ease of operation, and various readout modes. As a result, fluorescence-based assays have been applied to monitor a broad range of activities in life-science research such as molecular dynamics and interactions, enzymatic activities, signal transduction, cell health, and distribution of molecules, organelles, or cells. This chapter describes two fluorescence-based techniques: total intensity measurement as an indication of cell viability, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer as an indication of protein folding and interactions, to illustrate in detail applications suitable for cell-based high-throughput screening in plate-reader and automated microscope-based formats, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Fluorescence
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • Humans
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Kidney / drug effects*
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria