Label-free integrative pharmacology on-target of drugs at the β(2)-adrenergic receptor

Leaky and waveguide modes in biperiodic holograms

This study details a theoretical analysis of leaky and waveguide modes in biperiodic all-dielectric holograms. By tuning diffraction orders and subsequently confining local density of optical states at two distinct resonance wavelengths, we present a new class of highly sensitive refractive index biosensing platforms that are capable of resolving 35.5 to 41.3 nm/RIU of spectral shift for two separate biological analytes.

Modulation of Drosophila suzukii type 1 tyramine receptor (DsTAR1) by monoterpenes: a potential new target for next generation biopesticides

This study proposes a biochemical and molecular model for the interaction between the Drosophila suzukii type 1 tyramine receptor (DsTAR1) and monoterpenes. A preliminary molecular and functional characterization of DsTAR1 cDNA revealed that a 1.8 kb long ORF codes for a 600 amino acid polypeptide featuring seven transmembrane domains, as expected for a GPCR. A stable HEK 293 cell line expressing DsTAR1 was tested for responsiveness to tyramine (TA) and octopamine (OA). In intracellular calcium mobilization studies, TA led to a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca²⁺]_i (pEC₅₀ ~ 6.40), completely abolished by pre-incubation with the antagonist yohimbine 1 μM. Besides, in dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) studies, TA evoked a positive DMR signal in a concentration-dependent manner (pEC₅₀ ~ 6.80). The recombinant cell line was then used to test three monoterpenes (thymol, carvacrol and α-terpineol) as putative ligands for DsTAR1. The terpenoids showed no agonist effects in both DMR and calcium mobilization assays, but they increased the potency of the endogenous ligand, TA, acting as positive allosteric modulators. Moreover, expression analysis on adults D. suzukii, exposed for 24, 72 or 120 h to a sublethal concentration of the three monoterpenes, showed a downregulation of DsTAR1. This evidence has led to hypothesize that the downregulation of DsTAR1 might be a compensatory mechanism in response to the positive allosteric modulation of the receptor induced by monoterpenes. Therefore, these findings might be useful for the development of a new generation of biopesticides against Drosophila suzukii, targeting TAR1.

Pharmacological profile of the neuropeptide S receptor: Dynamic mass redistribution studies

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is the endogenous ligand of the neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR). NPS modulates several biological functions including anxiety, wakefulness, pain, and drug abuse. The aim of this study was the investigation of the pharmacological profile of NPSR using the dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay. DMR is a label-free assay that offers a holistic view of cellular responses after receptor activation. HEK293 cells stably transfected with the murine NPSR (HEK293mNPSR) have been used. To investigate the nature of the NPS-evoked DMR signaling, FR900359 (Gq inhibitor), pertussis toxin (Gi inhibitor), and rolipram (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) were used. To determine the pharmacology of NPSR, several selective ligands (agonists, partial agonists, antagonists) have been tested. NPS, through selective NPSR activation, evoked a robust DMR signal with potency in the nanomolar range. This signal was predominantly, but not completely, blocked by FR900359, suggesting the involvement of the Gq-dependent signaling cascade. NPSR ligands (agonists and antagonists) displayed potency values in DMR experiments similar, but not identical, to those reported in the literature. Furthermore, partial agonists produced a higher efficacy in DMR than in calcium experiments. DMR can be successfully used to study the pharmacology and signaling properties of novel NPSR ligands. This innovative approach will likely increase the translational value of in vitro pharmacological studies.

NOP receptor pharmacological profile - A dynamic mass redistribution study

The Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide NOP receptor is coupled to pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G proteins (G_i/o) whose activation leads to the inhibition of both cAMP production and calcium channel activity, and to the stimulation of potassium currents. The label free dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) approach has been demonstrated useful for investigating the pharmacological profile of G protein-coupled receptors. Herein, we employ DMR technology to systematically characterize the pharmacology of a large panel of NOP receptor ligands. These are of peptide and non-peptide nature and display varying degrees of receptor efficacy, ranging from full agonism to pure antagonism. Using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the human NOP receptor we provide rank orders of potency for full and partial agonists as well as apparent affinities for selective antagonists. We find the pharmacological profile of NOP receptor ligands to be similar but not identical to values reported in the literature using canonical assays for G_i/o-coupled receptors. Our data demonstrate that holistic label-free DMR detection can be successfully used to investigate the pharmacology of the NOP receptor and to characterize the cellular effects of novel NOP receptor ligands.

Is the Quest for Signaling Bias Worth the Effort?

The question of whether signaling bias is a viable discovery strategy for drug therapy is discussed as a value proposition. On the positive side, bias is easily identified and quantified in simple in vitro functional assays with little resource expenditure. However, there are valid pharmacological reasons why these in vitro bias numbers may not accurately translate to in vivo therapeutic systems making the expectation of direct correspondence of in vitro bias to in vivo systems a problematic process. Presently, in vitro bias is used simply as a means to identify unique molecules to be advanced to more complex therapeutic assays but from this standpoint alone, the value proposition lies far to the positive. However, pharmacological attention needs to be given to the translational gap to reduce inevitable and costly attrition in biased molecule progression.

Discovery of new muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists from Scopolia tangutica

Scopolia tangutica (S. tangutica) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant used for antispasmodics, anesthesia, analgesia and sedation. Its pharmacological activities are mostly associated with the antagonistic activity at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAchRs) of several known alkaloids such as atropine and scopolamine. With our recent identification of four hydroxycinnamic acid amides from S. tangutica, we hypothesized that this plant may contain previously unidentified alkaloids that may also contribute to its in vivo effect. Herein, we used a bioassay-guided multi-dimension separation strategy to discover novel mAchR antagonists from S. tangutica. The core of this approach is to use label-free cell phenotypic assay to first identify active fractions, and then to guide purification of active ligands. Besides four tropanes and six cinnamic acid amides that have been previously isolated from S. tangutica, we recently identified two new tropanes, one new cinnamic acid amide, and nine other compounds. Six tropane compounds purified from S. tangutica for the first time were confirmed to be competitive antagonists of muscarinic receptor 3 (M3), including the two new ones 8 and 12 with IC₅₀ values of 1.97 μM and 4.47 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the cinnamic acid amide 17 displayed 15-fold selectivity for M1 over M3 receptors. These findings will be useful in designing lead compounds for mAchRs and elucidating mechanisms of action of S. tangutica.

A label-free screening approach targeted protease-activated receptor 1 based on dynamic mass redistribution in living cells

Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) antagonists strongly inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and are proved to be effective as anti-thrombotic drugs.

Compound annotation with real time cellular activity profiles to improve drug discovery

INTRODUCTION

In the past decade, a range of innovative strategies have been developed to improve the productivity of pharmaceutical research and development. In particular, compound annotation, combined with informatics, has provided unprecedented opportunities for drug discovery.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, a literature search from 2000 to 2015 was conducted to provide an overview of the compound annotation approaches currently used in drug discovery. Based on this, a framework related to a compound annotation approach using real-time cellular activity profiles for probe, drug, and biology discovery is proposed.

EXPERT OPINION

Compound annotation with chemical structure, drug-like properties, bioactivities, genome-wide effects, clinical phenotypes, and textural abstracts has received significant attention in early drug discovery. However, these annotations are mostly associated with endpoint results. Advances in assay techniques have made it possible to obtain real-time cellular activity profiles of drug molecules under different phenotypes, so it is possible to generate compound annotation with real-time cellular activity profiles. Combining compound annotation with informatics, such as similarity analysis, presents a good opportunity to improve the rate of discovery of novel drugs and probes, and enhance our understanding of the underlying biology.

PTEN deletion potentiates invasion of colorectal cancer spheroidal cells through 3D Matrigel

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog), a tumour suppressor negatively regulating the PI3K signalling pathway, is the second most frequently mutated gene in human cancers. Decreased PTEN expression is correlated with colorectal cancer metastases and poor patient survival. Three dimensional (3D) multicellular spheroid models have been postulated to bridge the gap between 2D cell models and animal models for cancer research and drug discovery. However, little is known about the impact of PTEN deletion on the invasion of colon cancer spheroidal cells through a 3D extracellular matrix, and current techniques are limited in their ability to study in vitro 3D cell models in real-time. Here, we investigated the migration and invasion behaviours of the colon cancer cell line HCT116 and its PTEN-/- isogenic cell line using three different in vitro assays, wound healing, transwell invasion, and label-free single cell 3D(2) invasion assays enabled by a resonant waveguide grating (RWG) biosensor. Light microscopic and RWG imaging showed that PTEN deletion influences the spheroid formation of HCT116 cells at high seeding density, and accelerates the spontaneous transfer from the spheroid to substrate surfaces. In vitro migration and invasion assays showed that PTEN knockout increases the 2D migration speed of HCT116 cells, and the invasion rate of individual cells through Matrigel or cells in the spheroid through 3D Matrigel; moreover, the PI3K inhibitor treatment drastically reduces the invasiveness of both cell lines. This study suggests that PTEN knockout potentiates the invasiveness of colorectal cancer spheroidal cells through a 3D extracellular matrix, and the label-free single cell assay is a powerful tool for investigating cancer cell invasion, in particular using 3D cell models.

Discovery of new targets of phenolic acids in danshen using a label-free cell phenotypic assay

Pharmacological profiling of 10 known phenolic acids in danshen using a label-free cell phenotypic assay in HT-29 and A431 cells revealed that lithospermic acid, salvianolic acid A, B, C and danshensu all displayed agonistic activity towards GPR35.

Label-free functional selectivity assays

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest class of drug targets. Ligand-directed functional selectivity or biased agonism opens new possibility for discovering GPCR drugs with better efficacy and safety profiles. However, quantification of ligand bias is challenging. Herein, we present five different label-free dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) approaches to assess ligand bias acting at the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR). Multiparametric analysis of the DMR agonist profiles reveals divergent pharmacology of a panel of β2AR agonists. DMR profiling using catechol as a conformational probe detects the presence of multiple conformations of the β2AR. DMR assays under microfluidics, together with chemical biology tools, discover ligand-directed desensitization of the receptor. DMR antagonist reverse assays manifest biased antagonism. DMR profiling using distinct probe-modulated cells detects the biased agonism in the context of self-referenced pharmacological activity map.

Label-free single cell kinetics of the invasion of spheroidal colon cancer cells through 3D Matrigel

This article reports label-free, real-time, and single-cell quantification of the invasion of spheroidal colon cancer cells through three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel using a resonant waveguide grating (RWG) imager. This imager employs a time-resolved swept wavelength interrogation scheme to monitor cell invasion and adhesion with a temporal resolution up to 3 s and a spatial resolution of 12 μm. As the model system, spheroids of human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells are generated by culturing the cells in 96-well round-bottom ultralow attachment plates. 3D Matrigel is formed by its gelation in 384-well RWG biosensor microplates. The invasion and adhesion of spheroidal HT29 cells is initiated by placing individual spheroids onto the Matrigel-coated biosensors. The time series RWG images are obtained and used to extract the optical signatures arising from the adhesion after the cells are dissociated from the spheroids and invade through the 3D Matrigel. Compound profiling shows that epidermal growth factor accelerates cancer cell invasion, while vandetanib, a multitarget kinase inhibitor, dose-dependently inhibits invasion. This study demonstrates that the label-free imager can monitor in real-time the invasion of spheroidal cancer cells through 3D matrices.

Label-free cell phenotypic profiling decodes the composition and signaling of an endogenous ATP-sensitive potassium channel

Current technologies for studying ion channels are fundamentally limited because of their inability to functionally link ion channel activity to cellular pathways. Herein, we report the use of label-free cell phenotypic profiling to decode the composition and signaling of an endogenous ATP-sensitive potassium ion channel (K_ATP) in HepG2C3A, a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Label-free cell phenotypic agonist profiling showed that pinacidil triggered characteristically similar dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) signals in A431, A549, HT29 and HepG2C3A, but not in HepG2 cells. Reverse transcriptase PCR, RNAi knockdown, and K_ATP blocker profiling showed that the pinacidil DMR is due to the activation of SUR2/Kir6.2 K_ATP channels in HepG2C3A cells. Kinase inhibition and RNAi knockdown showed that the pinacidil activated K_ATP channels trigger signaling through Rho kinase and Janus kinase-3, and cause actin remodeling. The results are the first demonstration of a label-free methodology to characterize the composition and signaling of an endogenous ATP-sensitive potassium ion channel.

A label-free optical biosensor with microfluidics identifies an intracellular signalling wave mediated through the β(2)-adrenergic receptor

The canonical model of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling states that it is solely initiated at the cell surface. In recent years, a handful of evidence has started emerging from high-resolution molecular assays that the internalized receptors can mediate the third wave of signalling, besides G protein- and β-arrestin-mediated signalling both initiating at the cell surface. However, little is known about the functional consequences of distinct waves of GPCR signalling, in particular, at the whole cell system level. We here report the development of label-free biosensor antagonist reverse assays and their use to differentiate the signalling waves of an endogenous β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) in A431 cells. Results showed that the persistent agonist treatment activated the β2-ARs, leading to a long-term sustained dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) signal, a whole cell phenotypic response. Under the persistent treatment scheme in microplates, a panel of known β-blockers all dose-dependently and completely reversed the DMR signal of epinephrine at a relatively low dose (10 nM), except for sotalol which partially reversed the DMR. Under the perfusion conditions with microfluidics, the subsequent perfusion with sotalol only reversed the DMR induced by epinephrine or isoproterenol at 10 nM, but not at 10 μM. Furthermore, the degree of the DMR reversion by sotalol was found to be in an opposite relation with the duration of the initial agonist treatment. Together, these results suggest that the hydrophilic antagonist sotalol is constrained outside the cells throughout the assays, and the early signalling wave initiated at the cell surface dominates the DMR induced by epinephrine or isoproterenol at relatively low doses, while a secondary and late signalling wave is initiated once the receptors are internalized and contributes partially to the long-term sustainability of the DMR of epinephrine or isoproterenol at high doses.

Label-free drug discovery

Current drug discovery is dominated by label-dependent molecular approaches, which screen drugs in the context of a predefined and target-based hypothesis in vitro. Given that target-based discovery has not transformed the industry, phenotypic screen that identifies drugs based on a specific phenotype of cells, tissues, or animals has gained renewed interest. However, owing to the intrinsic complexity in drug-target interactions, there is often a significant gap between the phenotype screened and the ultimate molecular mechanism of action sought. This paper presents a label-free strategy for early drug discovery. This strategy combines label-free cell phenotypic profiling with computational approaches, and holds promise to bridge the gap by offering a kinetic and holistic representation of the functional consequences of drugs in disease relevant cells that is amenable to mechanistic deconvolution.

Dynamic mass redistribution analysis of endogenous β-adrenergic receptor signaling in neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts

Label-free systems for the agnostic assessment of cellular responses to receptor stimulation have been shown to provide a sensitive method to dissect receptor signaling. β-adenergic receptors (βAR) are important regulators of normal and pathologic cardiac function and are expressed in cardiomyocytes as well as cardiac fibroblasts, where relatively fewer studies have explored their signaling responses. Using label-free whole cell dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assays we investigated the response patterns to stimulation of endogenous βAR in primary neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (NRCF). The EPIC-BT by Corning was used to measure DMR responses in primary isolated NRCF treated with various βAR and EGFR ligands. Additional molecular assays for cAMP generation and receptor internalization responses were used to correlate the DMR findings with established βAR signaling pathways. Catecholamine stimulation of NRCF induced a concentration-dependent negative DMR deflection that was competitively blocked by βAR blockade and non-competitively blocked by irreversible uncoupling of Gs proteins. Subtype-selective βAR ligand profiling revealed a dominant role for β2AR in mediating the DMR responses, consistent with the relative expression levels of β2AR and β1AR in NRCF. βAR-mediated cAMP generation profiles revealed similar kinetics to DMR responses, each of which were enhanced via inhibition of cAMP degradation, as well as dynamin-mediated receptor internalization. Finally, G protein-independent βAR signaling through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was assessed, revealing a smaller but significant contribution of this pathway to the DMR response to βAR stimulation. Measurement of DMR responses in primary cardiac fibroblasts provides a sensitive readout for investigating endogenous βAR signaling via both G protein-dependent and –independent pathways.

Divergent label-free cell phenotypic pharmacology of ligands at the overexpressed β₂-adrenergic receptors

We present subclone sensitive cell phenotypic pharmacology of ligands at the β₂-adrenergic receptor (β₂-AR) stably expressed in HEK-293 cells. The parental cell line was transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged β₂-AR. Four stable subclones were established and used to profile a library of sixty-nine AR ligands. Dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) profiling resulted in a pharmacological activity map suggesting that HEK293 endogenously expresses functional G_i-coupled α₂-AR and G_s-coupled β₂-AR, and the label-free cell phenotypic activity of AR ligands are subclone dependent. Pathway deconvolution revealed that the DMR of epinephrine is originated mostly from the remodeling of actin microfilaments and adhesion complexes, to less extent from the microtubule networks and receptor trafficking, and certain agonists displayed different efficacy towards the cAMP-Epac pathway. We demonstrate that receptor signaling and ligand pharmacology is sensitive to the receptor expression level, and the organization of the receptor and its signaling circuitry.

Label-free cell phenotypic profiling identifies pharmacologically active compounds in two traditional Chinese medicinal plants

Label-free cell phenotypic profiling with three cell lines identified multiple pharmacologically active compounds including niacin in two TCM plants.

Functional selectivity of G-protein-coupled receptors: from recombinant systems to native human cells

In the mid 1990s, it was assumed that a two-state model, postulating an inactive (R) state and an active (R*) state provides the molecular basis for GPCR activation. However, it became clear that this model could not accommodate many experimental observations. Accordingly, the two-state model was superseded by a multi-state model according to which any given ligand stabilizes a unique receptor conformation with distinct capabilities of activating down-stream G-proteins and β-arrestin. Much of this research was conducted with the β2-adrenoceptor in recombinant systems. At the molecular level, there is now no doubt anymore that ligand-specific receptor conformations, also referred to as functional selectivity, exist. This concept holds great potential for drug discovery in terms of developing drugs with higher selectivity for specific cells and/or cell functions and fewer side effects. A major challenge is the analysis for functional selectivity in native cells. Here, I discuss our current knowledge on functional selectivity of three representative GPCRs, the β2-adrenoceptor and the histamine H2- and H4-receptors, in recombinant systems and native human cells. Studies with human neutrophils and eosinophils support the concept of functional selectivity. A major strategy for the analysis of functional selectivity in native cells is to generate complete concentration/response curves with a large set of structurally diverse ligands for multiple parameters. Next, correlations of potencies and efficacies are analyzed, and deviations of the correlations from linearity are indicative for functional selectivity. Additionally, pharmacological inhibitors are used to dissect cell functions from each other.

Microplate-compatible total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy for receptor pharmacology

We report the use of total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy for analyzing receptor pharmacology and the development of a microplate-compatible TIRF imaging system. Using stably expressed green fluorescence protein tagged β₂-adrenergic receptor as the reporter, we found that the activation of different receptors results in distinct kinetic signatures of the TIRF intensity of cells. These TIRF signatures closely resemble the characteristics of their respective label-free dynamic mass redistribution signals in the same cells. This suggests that TIRF in microplate can be used for profiling and screening drugs.

Label-free integrative pharmacology on-target of opioid ligands at the opioid receptor family

Background

In vitro pharmacology of ligands is typically assessed using a variety of molecular assays based on predetermined molecular events in living cells. Many ligands including opioid ligands pose the ability to bind more than one receptor, and can also provide distinct operational bias to activate a specific receptor. Generating an integrative overview of the binding and functional selectivity of ligands for a receptor family is a critical but difficult step in drug discovery and development. Here we applied a newly developed label-free integrative pharmacology on-target (iPOT) approach to systematically survey the selectivity of a library of fifty-five opioid ligands against the opioid receptor family. All ligands were interrogated using dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assays in both recombinant and native cell lines that express specific opioid receptor(s). The cells were modified with a set of probe molecules to manifest the binding and functional selectivity of ligands. DMR profiles were collected and translated to numerical coordinates that was subject to similarity analysis. A specific set of opioid ligands were then selected for quantitative pharmacology determination.

Results

Results showed that among fifty-five opioid ligands examined most ligands displayed agonist activity in at least one opioid receptor expressing cell line under different conditions. Further, many ligands exhibited pathway biased agonism.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that the iPOT effectively sorts the ligands into distinct clusters based on their binding and functional selectivity at the opioid receptor family.

Troubleshooting and deconvoluting label-free cell phenotypic assays in drug discovery

INTRODUCTION

Central to drug discovery and development is to comprehend the target(s), potency, efficacy and safety of drug molecules using pharmacological assays. Owing to their ability to provide a holistic view of drug actions in native cells, label-free biosensor-enabled cell phenotypic assays have been emerging as new generation phenotypic assays for drug discovery. Despite the benefits associated with wide pathway coverage, high sensitivity, high information content, non-invasiveness and real-time kinetics, label-free cell phenotypic assays are often viewed to be a blackbox in the era of target-centric drug discovery.

METHODS

This article first reviews the biochemical and biological complexity of drug-target interactions, and then discusses the key characteristics of label-free cell phenotypic assays and presents a five-step strategy to troubleshooting and deconvoluting the label-free cell phenotypic profiles of drugs.

RESULTS

Drug-target interactions are intrinsically complicated. Label-free cell phenotypic signatures of drugs mirror the innate complexity of drug-target interactions, and can be effectively deconvoluted using the five-step strategy.

DISCUSSION

The past decades have witnessed dramatic expansion of pharmacological assays ranging from molecular to phenotypic assays, which is coincident with the realization of the innate complexity of drug-target interactions. The clinical features of a drug are defined by how it operates at the system level and by its distinct polypharmacology, ontarget, phenotypic and network pharmacology. Approaches to examine the biochemical, cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of drugs are essential to increase the efficiency of drug discovery and development. Label-free cell phenotypic assays and the troubleshooting and deconvoluting approach presented here may hold great promise in drug discovery and development.

Approaches for probing allosteric interactions at 7 transmembrane spanning receptors

In recent years, allosteric modulation of 7 transmembrane spanning receptors (7TMRs) has become a highly productive and exciting field of receptor pharmacology and drug discovery efforts. Positive and negative allosteric modulators (PAMs and NAMs, respectively) present a number of pharmacological and therapeutic advantages over conventional orthosteric ligands, including improved receptor-subtype selectivity, a lower propensity to induce receptor desensitization, the preservation of endogenous temporal and spatial activation of receptors, greater chemical flexibility for optimization of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic parameters, and saturability of effect at target receptors, thus improving safety concerns and risk of overdose. Additionally, the relatively new concept of allosteric modulator-mediated receptor signal bias opens up a number of intriguing possibilities for PAMs, NAMs, and allosteric agonists, including the potential to selectively activate therapeutically beneficial signaling cascades, which could yield a superior tissue selectivity and side effect profile of allosteric modulators. However, there are a number of considerations and caveats that must be addressed when screening for and characterizing the properties of 7TMR allosteric modulators. Mode of pharmacology, methodology used to monitor receptor activity, detection of appropriate downstream analytes, selection of orthosteric probe, and assay time-course must all be considered when implementing any high-throughput screening campaign or when characterizing the properties of active compounds. Yet compared to conventional agonist/antagonist drug discovery programs, these elements of assay design are often a great deal more complicated when working with 7TMRs allosteric modulators. Moreover, for classical pharmacological methodologies and analyses, like radioligand binding and the assessment of compound affinity, the properties of allosteric modulators yield data that are more nuanced than orthosteric ligand-receptor interactions. In this review, we discuss the current methodologies being used to identify and characterize allosteric modulators, lending insight into the approaches that have been most successful in accurately and robustly identifying hit compounds. New label-free technologies capable of detecting phenotypic cellular changes in response to receptor activation are powerful tools well suited for assessing subtle or potentially masked cellular responses to allosteric modulation of 7TMRs. Allosteric modulator-induced receptor signal bias and the assay systems available to probe the various downstream signaling outcomes of receptor activation are also discussed.

Dynamic Mass Redistribution Assay Decodes Differentiation of a Neural Progenitor Stem Cell

Stem cells hold great potential in drug discovery and development. However, challenges remain to quantitatively measure the functions of stem cells and their differentiated products. Here, we applied fluorescent imaging, quantitative real-time PCR, and label-free dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assays to characterize the differentiation process of the ReNcell VM human neural progenitor stem cell. Immunofluorescence imaging showed that after growth factor withdrawal, the neuroprogenitor stem cell was differentiated into dopaminergic neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, thus creating a neuronal cell system. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that the differentiated cell system released dopamine upon depolarization with KCl. In conjunction with quantitative real-time PCR, DMR assays using a G-protein-coupled receptor agonist library revealed that a subset of receptors, including dopamine D1 and D4 receptors, underwent marked alterations in both receptor expression and signaling pathway during the differentiation process. These findings suggest that DMR assays can decode the differentiation process of stem cells at the cell system level.

Aspirin metabolites are GPR35 agonists

Aspirin is widely used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet, anti-pyretic, and cancer-preventive agent; however, the molecular mode of action is unlikely due entirely to the inhibition of cyclooxygenases. Here, we report the agonist activity of several aspirin metabolites at GPR35, a poorly characterized orphan G protein-coupled receptor. 2,3,5-Trihydroxybenzoic acid, an aspirin catabolite, was found to be the most potent GPR35 agonist among aspirin metabolites. Salicyluric acid, the main metabolite of aspirin, was also active. These results suggest that the GPR35 agonist activity of certain aspirin metabolites may contribute to the clinical features of aspirin.

Label-free phenotypic profiling identified D-luciferin as a GPR35 agonist

Fluorescent and luminescent probes are essential to both in vitro molecular assays and in vivo imaging techniques, and have been extensively used to measure biological function. However, little is known about the biological activity, thus potential interferences with the assay results, of these probe molecules. Here we show that D-luciferin, one of the most widely used bioluminescence substrates, is a partial agonist for G protein-coupled receptor-35 (GPR35). Label-free phenotypic profiling using dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assays showed that D-luciferin led to a DMR signal in native HT-29 cells, whose characteristics are similar to those induced by known GPR35 agonists including zaprinast and pamoic acid. DMR assays further showed that D-luciferin is a partial agonist competitive to several known GPR35 agonists and antagonists. D-luciferin was found to cause the phosphorylation of ERK that was suppressed by known GPR35 antagonists, and also result in β-arrestin translocation signal but with low efficacy. These results not only suggest that D-luciferin is a partial agonist of GPR35, but also will evoke careful interpretation of biological data obtained using molecular and in vivo imaging assays when these probe molecules are used.

The development of label-free cellular assays for drug discovery

INTRODUCTION

The need to improve drug research and development productivity continues to drive innovation in pharmacological assays. Technologies that can leverage the advantages of both molecular and phenotypic assays would hold great promise for discovery of new medicines.

AREAS COVERED

This article briefly reviews current label-free platforms for cell-based assays and is primarily focused on fundamental aspects of these assays using dynamic mass redistribution technology as an example. The article also presents strategies for relating label-free profiles to molecular modes of actions of drugs.

EXPERT OPINION

Emerging evidence suggests that label-free cellular assays are phenotypic in nature, yet permit molecular mechanistic deconvolution. Together with unique competency in throughput, sensitivity and pathway coverages, label-free cellular assays allow users to screen drugs against endogenous receptors in native cells (including disease relevant primary cells) and determine the molecular modes of action of drug molecules. However, there are challenges for label-free in both basic research and drug discovery: the deconvolution of the cellular and molecular mechanisms for the biosensor signatures of receptor-drug interactions, new methodologies for data analysis and the development of new biosensor technologies. These challenges will need to be met for the wide adoption of these assays in drug discovery.

Ligand-directed functional selectivity at the mu opioid receptor revealed by label-free integrative pharmacology on-target

Development of new opioid drugs that provide analgesia without producing dependence is important for pain treatment. Opioid agonist drugs exert their analgesia effects primarily by acting at the mu opioid receptor (MOR) sites. High-resolution differentiation of opioid ligands is crucial for the development of new lead drug candidates with better tolerance profiles. Here, we use a label-free integrative pharmacology on-target (iPOT) approach to characterize the functional selectivity of a library of known opioid ligands for the MOR. This approach is based on the ability to detect dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) arising from the activation of the MOR in living cells. DMR assays were performed in HEK-MOR cells with and without preconditioning with probe molecules using label-free resonant waveguide grating biosensors, wherein the probe molecules were used to modify the activity of specific signaling proteins downstream the MOR. DMR signals obtained were then translated into high resolution heat maps using similarity analysis based on a numerical matrix of DMR parameters. Our data indicate that the iPOT approach clearly differentiates functional selectivity for distinct MOR signaling pathways among different opioid ligands, thus opening new avenues to discover and quantify the functional selectivity of currently used and novel opioid receptor drugs.

Label-Free Biosensors for Cell Biology

Label-free biosensors for studying cell biology have finally come of age. Recent developments have advanced the biosensors from low throughput and high maintenance research tools to high throughput and low maintenance screening platforms. In parallel, the biosensors have evolved from an analytical tool solely for molecular interaction analysis to powerful platforms for studying cell biology at the whole cell level. This paper presents historical development, detection principles, and applications in cell biology of label-free biosensors. Future perspectives are also discussed.