Title: Cell-Based Assays in Practice: Cell Markers from Autofluorescent Proteins of the GFP-Family
VOLUME: 11 ISSUE: 8
Author(s):Michael Wolff, Simone Kredel, Jorg Wiedenmann, G. Ulrich Nienhaus and Ralf Heilker
Affiliation:Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH&Co. KG, Department of Lead Discovery, Birkendorfer Strasse 65, D-88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany.
Keywords:Fluorescent proteins, High Content Screening, fluorescence microscopy, imaging, anthozoan
Abstract: The more recently discovered anthozoan fluorescent proteins (FPs) and the classic Aequorea victoria Green Fluorescent Protein (avGFP) as well as their derivatives have become versatile tools as live cell markers in fluorescence microscopy. In this review, we show the use of these FPs in drug discovery assays. Assay examples are given for the application of FPs in multiplexed imaging, as photosensitizers, as fluorescent timers, as pulse-chase labels and for robotically integrated compound testing. The development of fast microscopic imaging devices has enabled the application of automated fluorescence microscopy combined with image analysis to pharmaceutical high throughput drug discovery assays, generally referred to as High Content Screening (HCS).
