Screen Quest(TM) Fluo-8 No Wash Calcium Assay Kit

Calcium flux assays are preferred methods in drug discovery for screening G protein coupled receptors (GPCR). Screen Quest(TM) Fluo-8 NW Calcium Assay Kit provides a homogeneous fluorescence-based assay for detecting the intracellular calcium mobilization. Cells expressing a GPCR of interest that signals through calcium are pre-loaded with our proprietary Fluo-8 NW which can cross cell membrane. Fluo-8 NW is the brightest calcium indicator available for HTS screening. Once inside the cell, the lipophilic blocking groups of Fluo-8 AM are cleaved by non-specific cell esterase, resulting in a negatively charged fluorescent dye that stays inside cells, and its fluorescence is greatly enhanced upon binding to calcium. When cells stimulated with screening compounds, the receptor signals release of intracellular calcium, which greatly increase the fluorescence of Fluo-8 NW. The characteristics of its long wavelength, high sensitivity, and 100-250 times fluorescence increases (when it forms complexes with calcium) make Fluo-8 NW an ideal indicator for measurement of cellular calcium. This Screen Quest Fluo-8 NW Calcium Assay Kit provides an optimized assay method for monitoring G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and calcium channels. The assay can be performed in a convenient 96-well or 384-well microtiter-plate format and easily adapted to automation.