A simple and powerful flow cytometric method for the simultaneous determination of multiple parameters at G protein-coupled receptor subtypes

Chembiochem. 2006 Sep;7(9):1400-9. doi: 10.1002/cbic.200600163.

Abstract

The quantification of pharmacological parameters at G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is indispensable in drug research but costly and time-consuming when conventional methods are sequentially applied. With neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y(1), Y(2), and Y(5) receptors as model systems, a homogenous flow cytometric method for the simultaneous determination of the affinity, selectivity, and activity of GPCR ligands was developed. Mixtures of cells expressing the receptors of interest and cyanine-labeled NPY as a universal fluorescent Y(1), Y(2), and Y(5) receptor agonist were used. Calcium mobilization was measured in different channels with the aid of fluo-4 and fura red. A combination of dye-loaded HEL-Y(1) and CHO-Y(2)-Galpha(qi5) cells with unloaded HEC-1B-Y(5) cells allowed the simultaneous determination of Y(1), Y(2), and Y(5) receptor selectivity preceded by the Y(1) and Y(2) receptor-mediated response with one and the same sample. The data are in good agreement with those determined by radioligand binding and spectrofluorimetry. The convenient, robust, and inexpensive multiparametric procedure offers a broad range of applications in the pharmacological characterization of GPCR ligands.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding, Competitive
  • CHO Cells
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neuropeptide Y / chemistry
  • Neuropeptide Y / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / chemistry
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / metabolism
  • Swine

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Neuropeptide Y
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide Y
  • neuropeptide Y-Y1 receptor
  • neuropeptide Y2 receptor
  • neuropeptide Y5 receptor
  • Calcium