A true multiplexed assay, the INDIGO LCM Assay allows researchers to check for cytotoxicity and activity on the same plate

February 17, 2011- State College, PA INDIGO Biosciences, The Nuclear Receptor Company, announces the addition of another product to its growing line of INDIGO Nuclear Receptor Assay Kits. The INDIGO Live Cell Multiplex Assay (LCMA) complements the company’s core nuclear receptor assay technologies. The INDIGO LCMA kit is designed to quantify live reporter cells in each assay well, and is specifically optimized to interface with its existing nuclear receptor assays in a multiplex protocol. If a compound being screened with an INDIGO NR Assay Kit is cytotoxic, the results could be misleading.

"During secondary screening of potential lead compounds, it is important to assess cytotoxic effects,” says Dr. Bruce Sherf, Chief Technology Officer at INDIGO Biosciences. “This is critical when screening for antagonists, where measuring a decrease in light intensity is the desired assay outcome. Unfortunately, that same outcome will occur when the treatment compound is killing the reporter cells. Measuring cell viability is absolutely necessary to eliminate false-positive results, and right now there is no good way to do that in an efficient multiplex assay format."

The INDIGO LCMA uses a fluorogenic substrate to provide a sensitive, quantitative measure of the relative number of live Nuclear Receptor Reporter Cells in assay wells following exposure to test compounds during screening. Calcein-AM is a hydrophilic non-fluorescent molecule that readily crosses the cell membrane. Once inside a living cell, it is hydrolyzed by enzymes to become a highly fluorescent molecule that can be detected.

For more information about INDIGO Nuclear Receptor Assay Kits and screening services, please contact Mark Capriani, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at INDIGO Biosciences, Inc. by calling (814) 234-1919 or by e-mailing mark@indigobiosciences.com. You may also visit INDIGO Biosciences, Inc. on the worldwide web at www.indigobiosciences.com.