Scintillation proximity assay for DNA binding by human p53.

Many DNA binding proteins are known to regulate gene expression. When that binding is altered, a disease state can result. A common method for measuring DNA binding, namely electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) is often used but it is not amenable to rapid screening of many samples. As an alternative method, we have developed a DNA binding assay for the tumor suppressor protein p53 in a 96-well microtiter plate format using scintillation proximity assay (SPA) beads. We have shown this assay to be sensitive (as little as 0.5 ng p53 can be detected), quick (assay completed in as little as 15 min), and easily quantitated using a microtiter plate scintillation counter We also used the assay to analyze the kinetics of the DNA binding to p53. The specificity of this p53 DNA binding SPA was confirmed using competition by oligonucleotides either from the same gene or from mutated versions of this sequence. Thus, SPA is a good alternative to gel shift assays for DNA binding and may be useful for the analysis of multiple tumor cell samples or for high-throughput screens for compounds affecting DNA binding by proteins of interest.

WGA-coated yttrium oxide beads enable an imaging-based adenosine 2a receptor binding scintillation proximity assay suitable for high throughput screening.

Adenosine receptors belong to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors and are involved in a variety of physiologic functions. Traditionally, binding assays to detect adenosine 2a (A2a) antagonists and agonists have used filtration methods that are cumbersome to run and not amenable to HTS. We developed scintillation proximity assays (SPA trade mark ) utilizing HEK293 RBHA2AM cell membranes, either wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-coated yttrium silicate (YSi) or red-shifted yttrium oxide (YO) beads and the A2a-selective radioligand [(3)H]SCH 58261. Both beads gave windows (total binding/nonspecific binding) of >5 and K(d) values of 2-3 nM for the radioligand, in agreement with results obtained by filtration. In contrast, WGA-polyvinyltoluene as well as other bead types had windows of <3 and significant radioligand binding to the uncoated beads. A 384-well WGA-YO bead SPA was optimized utilizing a LEADseeker imaging system and an automated trituration process for dispensing the dense yttrium-based beads. Signals were stable after 4 h, and Z' values were 0.7-0.8. The LEADseeker imaging assay tolerated 2% dimethyl sulfoxide and generated IC(50) values of 3-5 nM for the A2a antagonist CGS 15943, comparable to that obtained by the filtration method. A number of adenosine and xanthine analogues were identified as hits in the Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds (LOPAC). This imaging-based A2a SPA enables HTS and is a major improvement over the filtration method.

Fluorescence-based, high-throughput DNA polymerase assay.

The commonly used DNA polymerase assay is based on the detection of incorporated radiolabeled nucleotides in a DNA elongation reaction. It is laborious, radioactive, and can be highly variable. Here we report a nonradioactive fluorescence-based assay. The method consists of Cydye-labeled nucleotides, biotinylated primer, and a streptavidin-coated microplate. The assay is found to have sensitivity and dynamic range comparable to the classical radioactive method. Moreover, it has the advantages of being simple, stable, nonradioactive, and suitable for high-throughput applications. We have also found that, to ensure efficient measurement of the enzyme activity, the template DNA used in this method should have a sequence that avoids the incorporation of the fluorescence-labeled nucleotide in a consecutive way.