Image-based screening of signal transduction assays.
Imaging techniques have played a vital role in signal transduction research over several decades. Recently, industrialized macro- and micro-imaging systems have found application in drug discovery laboratories, where they increase the throughput and efficiency of drug screening. Macro-imagers are used for primary screening, where they favor compound conservation (through assay miniaturization), and achieve unprecedented rates of throughput. Micro-imaging systems achieve relatively high throughput, at the same time providing sub-cellular resolution with fixed or living cells. These micro-imaging analyses were previously conducted at very low throughput and, typically, were the sole domain of the academic researcher. Although both macro and micro forms of image-based screening remain technologies in development, they have already made substantial contributions to screening programs and will continue to do so.
Ramm
Peter
P
Imaging Research, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharine's, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada. Peter.Ramm@imagingresearch.com
Thomas
Nick
N
D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D012588:Scintillation Counting; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*