Notes: In this study, small molecule enhancers of cAMP response element binding (CREB) were studied using quantitative high-throughput screening. After an initial screen of 73,000 compounds, 1,800 compounds were classified as potentiators of CREB activity. A second screening to confirm the compound potential was performed using the GloResponse™ CRE-luc2P HEK293 Cell Line. Five microliters of cells in assay medium were seeded in 1,536-well plates at a density of 2,500 cells/well. The next day, 23 nl of compound in DMSO or DMSO alone was dispensed into each well, then 1 μl of NKH477 (final concentration, 200 nM) or media alone was added to the assay plates. After incubating the cells for 4 hours at 37 °C, 6 μl of Bright-Glo™ Luciferase Assay Reagent was added to each well, incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes and the luminescence measured. (4004)

Notes: The authors of this study used the HRE-CRE-luciferase reporter cell line (Glo-Response™ Cells) to test HSV constructs for activity. Cells were infected with HSV-CREB, HSV-mCREB (dominant negative) or HSV-LacZ control vector. Comparisons indicated that cells transfected with HSV-CREB showed increase in CRE-mediated activity, while those transfected with HSV-mCREB showed attenuation of CRE-mediated cellular activity. (3956)

Notes: The authors of this review article highlight the use of bioluminescence as a readout for high-throughput ADME/Tox assays. They discuss three strategies for designing bioluminescent assays, using either luciferase, ATP or luciferin substrates as the limiting reagents for a luciferase-catalyzed reaction. Reporter gene assays limit the production of luciferase by tying it to a promoter or DNA regulatory region of interest. Such assays can be used to study genes that are regulated by drugs and other xenobiotics. Bioluminescent assays in which ATP is the limiting reagent of the luciferase reaction can be designed to monitor cell viability or the activity kinases. Bioluminescent assays in which the substrate is limiting can be designed so that the activity of a particular enzyme results in the production of a luciferin substrate that can, in turn, be acted upon by luciferase. (3926)