A nonradioactive high-throughput/high-content assay for measurement of the human serotonin reuptake transporter function in vitro.
Both the tricyclic and specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor classes of antidepressants act primarily by inhibiting the reuptake of released serotonin by the human serotonin reuptake transporter (hSERT). In this article, the authors describe the use of a fluorescent substrate of the transporter (4-(4-(dimethylamino)-styrl)-N-methylpyridinium, ASP) to develop a microplate-based high-throughput screen for hSERT function. The assay is sensitive to known inhibitors of serotonin uptake, including fluoxetine (Prozac), with the correct rank order of potency and IC(50) values close to those reported in the literature for tritiated serotonin uptake. The authors also describe the validation of the assay for natural product screening using a test set of 2400 pure phyto-chemicals and 80 plant extracts. The mean Z of the screened plates was 0.53. Hit rates, confirmation rates, and validation of the hits in a "classical" assay for serotonin uptake are all reported. The assay can also be read in "high-content" mode using a subcellular imaging device, which allows direct detection of possible assay interference by acutely cytotoxic compounds. Among the compounds identified were several previously reported inhibitors of the hSERT, as well as compounds having structural similarity to the tricyclic antidepressant drugs.
Fowler
Ann
A
Screening and Early Efficacy Group, Human Nutrition Research and Development, DSM Nutritional Products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland. ann.fowler@dsm.com
Seifert
Nicole
N
Acker
Vincent
V
Woehrle
Tina
T
Kilpert
Claus
C
de Saizieu
Antoine
A
D002460:Cell Line; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D011759:Pyrrolidines; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C054965:N-methylpyrrolidine