External ID: JHICC_RGS_Act_HTS

Protocol: Assay overview:

To screen for compounds that activate the RGS4 protein, a HEK293 cell line which stably expresses M3R and inducibly expresses RGS4 is employed. RGS4 function is monitored by calcium flux with a commercially available Fluo4-AM dye. Compounds that do not show increase in the Fluo4 fluorescence in induced RGS4 expressed cells are considered as activator/potentiator hits. M3 receptor and other endogenous receptor activators/potentiators will be excluded through later counter-screening against non-induced parental cells.

Protocol for RGS4 Primary Screen:
1. Cell culture: Cells (HEK293-FlpIn-TREx/M3R/RGS4) are routinely cultured in DMEM (high glucose, w/ glutamine), 10%FBS, 1%Pen/Strep, 15ug/ml Blasticidin, 400ug/ml G418, 200ug/ml Hygromycin.
2. Cell plating: Add 50 ul/well of 200,000 cells/ml re-suspended in DMEM/high glucose medium with 10% FBS, 1% Pen/Strep. Include 10 ng/ml Doxycyclin (DOX) to induce RGS4 expression.
3. Incubate overnight at 37C and 5% CO2.
4. Remove medium and add 20 ul /well of 2uM Fluo4-AM solution to cells.
5. Incubate 30 minutes at 37C in incubator.
6. Prepare 6x compound plates and control plates on Cybi-Well system: test compounds are prepared using assay buffer (HBSS-HEPES pH 7.4).
7. Remove Fluo4-AM dye solution and add 20 ul/well of assay buffer to cells.
8. Incubate 30 minutes at room temperature (RT).
9. Add 6x compounds in cell plates and incubate 20 minutes at RT.
9. Load cell plates on Hamamatsu FDSS 6000 kinetic imaging plate reader
10. Measure fluorescence for 10 seconds at 1Hz to establish baseline
11. After 100 seconds, add 4 ul of ECmax (carbachol) into the cell plates and record fluorescence for 100 seconds.
12. Calculate ratio readout as F(max-min)/F0 and integrated ratio readout.
13. Calculate the average and standard deviation for negative and positive controls in each plate, as well as Z and Z' factors [26]
14. Calculate B scores [27] for test compounds using integrated ratios calculated in Step 12
15. Outcome assignment: If the B score of the test compound is less than 4 times the standard deviation (SD) of the B scores of integrated ratios of all library compounds above the mean (B score Activator Ratio16. Score assignment: An active test compound is assigned a score between 5 and 100 by calculation of Int(((Log(ABS(B score ratio))-0.82)/0.44)*100), and they are normalized to the smallest and largest LOG(B score ratio), B score ratio, as in the result definition. The inactive test compounds are assigned a score of 0.


List of reagents

1. HEK293-FlpIn-TREx/M3R/RGS4 cell lines (provided by assay provider)
2. PBS: pH7.4 (Invitrogen Cat#10010049)
3. Medium: DMEM (Sigma, Cat#D5796)
4. Fetal Bovine Serum (Gemini, Cat# 100-106)
5. Hygromycin (Mediatech, Cat#30-240-CR)
6. 100x Penicillin-Streptomycin (Mediatech, Cat#30-001-CI)
7. Cell/stripper (Mediatech, Cat#25-056-Cl)
8. G418: (Invitrogen, Cat#11811-031)
9. Blasticidin (Sigma, Cat#R21001)
10. Doxycycline hyclate (Sigma, Cat#D9891)
11. HEPES (Sigma, Cat#H4034)
12. Fluo-4 (Invitrogen, Cat #F14202)
13. Pluronic F-127*20% in DMSO (Invitrogen, Cat#P-3000MP)
14. Atropine (Sigma, Cat#A0132)
15. Carbachol (Sigma, Cat# C4382)
16. Triple-layer flask (VWR, Cat #62407-082)
17. BD Biocoat 384-well plates (BD, Cat# (35)4663 and Lot #7346273)

Comment: To screen for compounds that activate the RGS4 protein, a HEK293 cell line which stably expresses M3R and inducibly expresses RGS4 is employed. RGS4 function is monitored by calcium flux with a commercially available Fluo4-AM dye. Compounds that do not show increase in the Fluo4 fluorescence in induced RGS4 expressed cells are considered as activator/potentiator hits. M3 receptor and other endogenous receptor activators/potentiators will be excluded through later counter-screening against non-induced parental cells.

External ID: OPRM1-OPRD1_AG_LUMI_1536_1X%ACT PRUN

Protocol: Assay Overview:

The purpose of this assay is to identify compounds that activate heterodimer formation between the mu (OPRM1) and delta (OPRD1) opioid receptors, resulting in membrane recruitment of beta-arrestin. The assay monitors GPCR-beta-arrestin proximity using low affinity fragment complementation of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal). This assay employs U2OS cells which express OPRD1, OPRM1 fused to a beta-gal peptide fragment (enzyme donor), and beta-arrestin fused to the complementary beta-gal fragment (enzyme acceptor). Cells are incubated with test compound, followed by measurement of well luminescence. As designed, compounds that induce formation of OPRD1 homodimers or OPRM1-OPRD1 (Mu-Delta) heterodimers will cause beta-arrestin recruitment, resulting in reconstitution of the beta-gal holoenzyme. The reconstituted holoenzyme can then catalyze the hydrolysis of a substrate which yields a chemiluminescent signal, resulting in increased well luminescence. Deltorphin B will be used as the high (100% RLU) control for agonists, and wells containing cells treated with DMSO will be used as the low (0% RLU) control. Compounds were tested in singlicate at a final nominal concentration of 9.3 uM.

Protocol Summary:

The U2OS-OPRM1-OPRD1 (Mu-Delta) cell line was routinely cultured in T-175 sq cm flasks at 37 C and 95% relative humidity (RH). The growth media consisted of a 1:1 mixture of Ham's F-12 Nutrient Media (F-12) and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Media (DMEM) supplemented with 10% v/v heat-inactivated certified fetal bovine serum, 25 mM HEPES, 250 ug/mL Geneticin, 250 ug/mL Hygromycin B, 0.25 ug/mL Puromycin and 1X antibiotic mix (penicillin, streptomycin, and neomycin).

The day before the assay 1000 cells in 3 uL of cell plating media were seeded into each well of 1536 well microtiter plates and allowed to incubate at 37 C, 5% CO2, and 95 % RH for 23 hours. Next, 28 nL of test compound in DMSO, Deltorphin B (0.9 uM final concentration) in DMSO, or DMSO alone were dispensed to the appropriate wells. The plates were then incubated for 3 hours at 37 C, 5% CO2, and 95 % RH. The assay was started by adding 2 uL of PathHuntertrade mark reagent (prepared according to the manufacturer's protocol); followed by 1 hour incubation at room temperature. Then, Well Luminescence was read on the ViewLux plate reader

The percent activation for each compound was calculated as follows:

% Activation = ( ( Ratio_Test_Compound - Median_Ratio_Low_Control ) / ( Median_Ratio_High_Control - Median_Ratio_Low_Control ) ) * 100

Where:

High_Control is defined as wells containing cells, Deltorphin B and DMSO.
Test_Compound is defined as wells containing cells, test compounds and DMSO.
Low_Control is defined as wells containing cells and DMSO.

A mathematical algorithm was used to determine nominally activating compounds in the primary screen. Two values were calculated: (1) the average percent activation of all compounds tested, and (2) three times their standard deviation. The sum of these two values was used as a cutoff parameter, i.e. any compound that exhibited greater % activation than the cutoff parameter was declared active.

PubChem Activity Outcome and Score:

The reported PubChem Activity Score has been normalized to 100% observed primary activation. Negative % activation values are reported as activity score zero.

The PubChem Activity Score range for active compounds is 100-2, and for inactive compounds 2-0.

List of Reagents:

PathHuntertrade mark B-arrestin recruitment assay, containing the U2OS OPRM1 OPRD1 Beta-arrestin cell line; PathHunter Detection Kit (DiscoveRx, part, 93-0558C3)
Ham's F-12 media (Invitrogen, part 11765-054)
DMEM media (Invitrogen, part 11995-073)
Detachin (Genlantis, part T100100)
Heat Inactivated Fetal Bovine Serum (Invitrogen, part 10082-147)
Puromycin (Invitrogen, part A11138-02)
Hygromycin B (Invitrogen, part 10687-010)
Geneticin (Invitrogen, part 10131-027)
100X Penicillin-Streptomycin-Neomycin mix (Invitrogen, part 15640-055)
T-175 tissue culture flasks (Nunc, part 159910)
Agonist: Deltorphin B (Anaspec, part 62683)
1536-well plates (Greiner, part 789173)

Comment: Due to the increasing size of the MLPCN compound library, this assay may have been run as two or more separate campaigns, each campaign testing a unique set of compounds. All data reported were normalized on a per-plate basis. Possible artifacts of this assay can include, but are not limited to: dust or lint located in or on wells of the microtiter plate, and compounds that modulate well fluorescence. All test compound concentrations reported above and below are nominal; the specific test concentration(s) for a particular compound may vary based upon the actual sample provided by the MLSMR.

External ID: ADAM17_INH_QFRET_1536_1X%INH PRUN

Protocol: Assay Overview:

The purpose of this assay is to identify compounds that inhibit ADAM17. This assay employs a fluorophore and quencher pair. F =EDANS fluorophore, Q = DABCYL quencher. When intact, EDANS emission at 460nm is quenched by DABCYL via fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Upon cleavage of the scissile bond (A~V) by ADAM protease, the distance between fluorophore and quencher increases resulting in fluorescence increase at 460nm. Compounds are tested in singlicate at a final nominal concentration of 6.95 micromolar.

Protocol Summary:

Prior to the start of the assay, 2.5 microliters 2X ADAM17 enzyme (20 nM in Assay Buffer: 50 mM HEPES, 0.01% Brij, pH 7.5) are dispensed into 1536 microtiter plates. Compounds are added to plate (final concentration TBD) and incubated for 30 minutes at 25 degrees Celsius. The assay is started by dispensing 2.5 microliter of2X DM2 substrate (20 uM in Assay Buffer) to all wells. Plates are centrifuged and after 3 hours of incubation at 25 degrees Celsius, fluorescence is measured (excitation = 359nm, emission = 460nm).

The % inhibition for each well was then calculated as follows:

%_Inhibition = ( RFU_Test_Compound - MedianRFU_Low_Control ) / ( MedianRFU_High_Control - MedianRFU_Low_Control ) * 100

Where:

Test_Compound is defined as wells containing test compound.
High_Control is defined as wells treated with 1 micromolar Marimastat
Low_Control is defined as wells containing DMSO.


Interval Cutoff:
A mathematical algorithm was used to determine nominally inhibiting compounds in the primary screen. Four values were calculated: (1) the average percent inhibition of all high controls tested plus three times the standard deviation of the high controls, (2) the average percent inhibition of all low controls tested minus three times the standard deviation of the low controls, (3) the average percent inhibition of all compounds tested between (1) and (2), and (4) three times their standard deviation. The sum of two of these values, (3) and (4), was used as a cutoff parameter, i.e. any compound that exhibited greater % inhibition/activity than the cutoff parameter was declared active.

PubChem Activity Outcome and Score:

The reported PubChem Activity Score has been normalized to 100% observed primary inhibition. Negative % inhibition values are reported as activity score zero.

The activity score range for active compounds is 100-8, for inactive 8-0.

List of Reagents:

ADAM17 enzyme (R&D Systems, part # 930-ADB)
EDANS-DABCYL DM2 peptide substrate (Supplied by Assay Provider)
0.5M HEPES solution, pH7.5 (Teknova, part #101319-900)
Brij-35 (Sigma-Aldrich, part # P1254)
1536 well plate (Corning, part # 7261)

Comment: Due to the increasing size of the MLPCN compound library, this assay may have been run as two or more separate campaigns, each campaign testing a unique set of compounds. In this case the results of each separate campaign were assigned "Active/Inactive" status based upon that campaign's specific compound activity cutoff value. All data reported were normalized on a per-plate basis. Possible artifacts of this assay can include, but are not limited to: dust or lint located in or on wells of the microtiter plate, compounds that modulate well fluorescence. All test compound concentrations reported above and below are nominal; the specific test concentration(s) for a particular compound may vary based upon the actual sample provided by the MLSMR.

External ID: SBCCG-A995-CSN5-CP-Assay

Protocol: A. Materials:
(Item, source, catalog no)
SCFSkp2-Nedd8OG, derived from human proteins and expressed in E. coli
Human Csn5 enzyme, expressed and purified from HEK293T cells
Molecular Biology Grade Water, Cellgro, 46-000-CM
Tween 20, MP Biomedicals LLC, 194841
Tris pH 7.5, Fisher Scientific, ICN819638
Trehalose, Fluka, 90210
Ovalbumin, Sigma, A5503
Sodium Chloride, Fisher Scientific, S271-10
DTT, Roche, 03117006001
1536 Black solid bottom plates, Corning, 3724

B. Final Assay Conditions:
10nM SCFSkp2-Nedd8OG substrate
0.24nM Csn5 Enzyme
25mM Tris pH7.5
50mM Sodium Chloride
1mM DTT
0.01% Tween 20
25mM Trehalose
0.015 mg/mL Ovalbumin
12.5uM test compound
0.25% DMSO (from compounds)
3uL reaction volume
90 minutes incubation at room temp

C. Assay Procedures:
1. Prepare Reagents as described in section E. Recipe.
2. ) Using LabCyte Echo, transfer 5 nL 10mM test agents (final conc 16.64uM)into assay plate Cols. 5-48, and 5 nL of 100% DMSO (final conc 0.166%) into assay plate Col. 1-4.
3. Spin plates at 1000 rpm for 1 minute in centrifuge.
4. Using the Thermo Multidrop Combi, add 1.5 uL/well of control buffer to columns 1 and 2.
5. Using the Thermo Multidrop Combi, add 1.5 uL/well of enzyme solution to col. 3-48.
6. Using the Thermo Multidrop Combi, add 1.5 uL/well of substrate solution to col. 1-48.
7. Spin plates at 1000 rpm for 1 minute in centrifuge.
8. Incubate plates at room temperature for 90 minutes.
9. Read plates on BMG Pherastar FS using a Fluorescence Polarization protocol.

D. Plate Map:
Positive (High) control in column 1-2, DMSO, buffer and substrate only.
Negative (Low) control in columns 3-4, DMSO, enzyme and substrate.
Test wells in columns 5-48: compound, enzyme and substrate.

E. Recipe:
1X Assay Buffer
25mM Tris pH7.5
50mM Sodium Chloride
1mM DTT
0.01% Tween 20
25mM Trehalose
0.015 mg/mL Ovalbumin

Enzyme Solution
0.48nM Csn5 Enzyme in 1X Assay Buffer (final enzyme concentration is 0.24nM).

Substrate Solution
20nM SCFSkp2-Nedd8OG Substrate in 1X Assay Buffer (final substrate concentration is 10nM).

F. Note:
All reagents should be made up according to its spec-sheet or otherwise in Mol. Grade Water.
Storage conditions after reagents are made up:
Reagent, Temp
Csn5 enzyme, -80 degrees
SCFSkp2-Nedd8OG Substrate, -80 degrees (light sensitive)
Tris pH7.5, 4 degrees
Sodium Chloride, 4 degrees
DTT, -80 degrees
Tween 20, room temp
Trehalose, -80 degrees
Ovalbumin, -80 degrees

Comment: Compounds with corrected %Activity >=50% and 0.5 =< FRatio <= 1.5 are considered to be active in this assay.

To simplify the distinction between the inactives of the primary screen and of the confirmatory screening stage, the Tiered Activity Scoring System was developed and implemented.

Activity Scoring
Activity scoring rules were devised to take into consideration compound efficacy, its potential interference with the assay and the screening stage that the data was obtained. Details of the Scoring System will be published elsewhere. Briefly, the outline of the scoring system utilized for the assay is as follows:

1) First tier (0-40 range) is reserved for primary screening data. The score is correlated with % activity in the assay:
a. If outcome of the primary screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 0
b. If outcome of the primary screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 10
c. If outcome of the primary screen is active, then the assigned score is 20
Scoring for Single concentration confirmation screening is not applicable to this assay.
d. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 21
e. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 25
f. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is active, then the assigned score is 30
This scoring system helps track the stage of the testing of a particular SID. For the primary hits which are available for confirmation, their scores will be greater than 20. For those which are not further confirmed, their score will stay under 21.

2) Second tier (41-80 range) is reserved for dose-response confirmation data and is not applicable in this assay

3) Third tier (81-100 range) is reserved for resynthesized true positives and their analogues and is not applicable in this assay

External ID: SBCCG-A996-CSN5-MMP2-CP-Assay

Protocol: Assay materials:
1) human MMP-2 enzyme (Cat # 72005) was purchased from Anaspec
2) 520 MMP FRET Substrate VI (Cat # 60573-01) was purchased from Anaspec
3) APMA (Cat A9563) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich
4) Assay Buffer: 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6 , 5 mM CaCl2 ATP, 0.05% BRIG-35
5) Aurora 1536 well black high base plate were obtained from Nexus Biosystems (Cat # 00019120BX)

Procedure for SAR dose-response assay:
1) Thaw MMP-2 enzyme, Substrate VI, and APMA on ice.
2) Activate MMP2: Make 1 M APMA solution in DMSO. Dilute this 1:100 in dH2O (NOT assay buffer) (10mM stock solution). From 10mM APMA stock, combine with MMP2 enzyme to a final concentration of 1 mM APMA: 8333.33pg/uL MMP2 in assay buffer. Incubate at 37 degrees C for 60 minutes. Then dilute mixture 1:416.66 in assay buffer (20pg/uL MMP2) and store on ice until ready to dispense into assay plates.
3) Dilute Substrate VI 20 1200nM in assay buffer. Store on ice until ready to dispense into plates.
4) Using LabCyte Echo, transfer 5 nL 10mM test agents (final conc 16.64uM) into assay plate Cols. 5-48, and 5 nL of 100% DMSO (final conc 0.166%) into assay plate Col. 1-4.
5) Using Thermo Scientific MultiDrop Combi dispense 1.5 uL of Assay Buffer in columns 1 and 2, and 1.5 uL of MMP-2 solution to columns 3-48. (final concentration: 10 pg/muL MMP-2)
6) Using Thermo Scientific MultiDrop Combi dispense 1.5uL of substrate VI into all wells (columns 1-48) (final concentration: 600 nM Substrate VI)
7) Spin plates at 1500 rpm for 1 minute on Eppendorf centrifuge 5810.
8) Incubate for 60 minutes at room temp.
9) Read plates on BMG Pherastar at Ex/Em 485/520 nm in fluorescence intensity mode

Comment: Compounds with corrected NZ score >=5 or NZ score<=-5 or % Activity>=15 are to be considered to be active in this assay.

To simplify the distinction between the inactives of the primary screen and of the confirmatory screening stage, the Tiered Activity Scoring System was developed and implemented.

Activity Scoring
Activity scoring rules were devised to take into consideration compound efficacy, its potential interference with the assay and the screening stage that the data was obtained. Details of the Scoring System will be published elsewhere. Briefly, the outline of the scoring system utilized for the assay is as follows:

1) First tier (0-40 range) is reserved for primary screening data. The score is correlated with % activity in the assay:
a. If outcome of the primary screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 0
b. If outcome of the primary screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 10
c. If outcome of the primary screen is active, then the assigned score is 20
Scoring for Single concentration confirmation screening is not applicable to this assay.
d. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 21
e. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 25
f. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is active, then the assigned score is 30
This scoring system helps track the stage of the testing of a particular SID. For the primary hits which are available for confirmation, their scores will be greater than 20. For those which are not further confirmed, their score will stay under 21.

2) Second tier (41-80 range) is reserved for dose-response confirmation data and is not applicable in this assay

3) Third tier (81-100 range) is reserved for resynthesized true positives and their analogues and is not applicable in this assay

External ID: CHRM1_AG_FLUO8_1536_1X%ACT PRUN

Protocol: Assay Overview:

The purpose of this assay is to identify compounds that act as agonists of the human M1 muscarinic receptor (CHRM1; M1). In this assay, CHO-K1 cells stably expressing human M1 are loaded, intracellularly with the calcium indicator dye, Fluo-8, followed by treatment with agonist control or test compounds. As designed, compounds that act as CHRM1 agonists will increase intracellular calcium mobilization, resulting in increased relative fluorescence of the indicator dye and well fluorescence. Compounds are tested in singlicate at a final nominal concentration of 3 uM.

Protocol Summary:

The CHO-hM1 cell line was routinely cultured in T-175 sq cm flasks at 37 C and 95% relative humidity (RH). The growth media consisted of Ham's F-12 Nutrient Media (F-12) supplemented with 10% v/v heat-inactivated qualified fetal bovine serum, 20 mM HEPES, 50 ug/mL Geneticin, and 1X antibiotic mix (penicillin and streptomycin).

The day before the assay 3000 cells in 3 uL of growth media were seeded into each well of 1536 well microtiter plates and allowed to incubate at 37 C, 5% CO2, and 95 % RH for 17-24 hours. Next, 2 uL of the fluorogenic Fluo-8 intracellular calcium indicator mixture (prepared according to the manufacturer's protocol) was added to each well. Plates were then incubated for 1 hour at 37 C, 5% CO2, and 95 % RH, followed by 30 minute incubation at room temperature. Then, 15 nL of test compound in DMSO were dispensed to appropriate wells. The assay was started by performing a basal read of plate fluorescence (470-495 nm excitation and 515-575 nm emission) for 5 seconds on the FLIPR Tetra (Molecular Devices). Then a real time fluorescence measurement was immediately performed for the remaining 140 seconds of the assay. A ratio for each well was calculated to normalize assay data, according to the following mathematical expression:

Ratio = I_Max / I_Min

Where:

I_Max represents the maximum measured fluorescence emission intensity over the 140 second read.
I_Min represents the minimum (basal) measured fluorescence emission intensity before compound was added.

The percent activation was calculated from the median ratio as follows:

%_Activation = ( ( Ratio_Test_Compound - Median_Ratio_Low_Control ) / ( Median_Ratio_High_Control - Median_Ratio_Low_Control ) ) * 100

Where:

Test_Compound is defined as wells containing test compound.
Low_Control is defined as wells containing DMSO.
High_Control is defined as wells containing Acetylcholine (EC100) and DMSO.

PubChem Activity Outcome and Score:

A mathematical algorithm was used to determine nominally activating compounds in the primary screen. Two values were calculated for each assay plate: (1) the average percent activation of test compound wells and (2) three times their standard deviation. The sum of these two values was used as a cutoff parameter for the entire run, i.e. any compound that exhibited greater % activation than the entire screen's cutoff parameter was declared active.

The reported PubChem Activity Score has been normalized to 100% observed primary activation. Negative % activation values are reported as activity score zero.

The PubChem Activity Score range for active compounds is 100-1, and for inactive compounds 1-0.

List of Reagents:

Cell line: Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells containing hM1 receptor; (Conn Lab)
Calcium sensitive dye: Fluo-8 No Wash Calcium Assay Kit; (AAT Bioquest, part 36316)
Growth media: Ham's F-12; 10% FBS, 20mM HEPES, 50 ug/mL G418
Assay media: Ham's F-12, 10% FBS, 20 mM HEPES
Assay plates: Aurora black/clear 1536well FLIPR plate; (Aurora, part 00019326)
Probenecid: 250 mM (pH 8.0); (Sigma P8761)
Agonist: Acetylcholine (50 mM stock in water); Sigma A9187

Comment: Due to the increasing size of the MLPCN compound library, this assay may have been run as two or more separate campaigns, each campaign testing a unique set of compounds. All data reported were normalized on a per-plate basis. Possible artifacts of this assay can include, but are not limited to: dust or lint located in or on wells of the microtiter plate, and compounds that modulate well fluorescence. All test compound concentrations reported above and below are nominal; the specific test concentration(s) for a particular compound may vary based upon the actual sample provided by the MLSMR.

External ID: BCCG-A405-UPR-XBP1-PrimaryAgonist-Assay

Protocol: UPR CHO-XBP1 1536-Well Assay Protocol
A. Brief Description of the Assay:
The purpose of this assay is to detect activators of the IRE1-XBP1 (adaptive) arm of the Unfolded Protein Response pathway.
B. Materials:
CHO-XBP1 Cell Line
F12 nutrient mix HAMs (Invitrogen, Cat# 11765047)
Fetal Bovine Serum, heat-inactivated (Hyclone, Cat# SH30396)
Penicillin/Streptomycin, liquid (Invitrogen, Cat# 15140122)
L-glutamine (100X ) (Invitrogen, Cat# 25030081)
MEM Non-Essential Amino Acids Solution 10 mM (100X) (Invitrogen, Cat# 11140050)
Trypsin-EDTA 0.25% (Invitrogen, Cat# 25200-056)
DPBS (Hyclone, Cat# 30028.02)
T225 TC Flask (Nunc, Cat# 159934)
Cell strainer, 40 um (BD, Cat# 352340)
Aurora 1536 well white solid bottom TC plate (Aurora Biotechnology 00029846)
Tunicamycin (Sigma-Aldrich, Cat# T7765)
Steady-Glo Luciferase Assay System (1L) (Promega, Cat# E2550)

C. Plate Map:
Positive control (P) in columns 1 and 2, 10ug/mL Tunicamycin
Negative control (N) in columns 3 and 4, No Tunicamycin
Test compound (T) in columns 5 - 48, No Tunicamycin

D. Procedures:
Day1 Cell Seeding
1. Prepare cell suspensions as described in section F. Cell culture.
2. Set up Kalypsys dispenser as described in section G. Kalypsys dispenser setting.
3. Plate 1000 cells/well in 5 uL of assay media into columns 1-48 of a 1536-well assay plate, using straight tip dispense on a Kalypsys dispenser.
4. Centrifuge plates at 500 rpm for 1 minute on Eppendorf centrifuge 5810. Use Kalypsys metal lids.
5. Incubate overnight at 37 degrees, 100% relative humidity, 5% CO2 for 16-18 hours.

Day2 Compound Addition
6. Using LabCyte Echo, transfer 50 nL from a 2 mM Echo qualified plate containing test compounds into assay plate Col. 5 - 48 (final concentration of test compounds is 20 uM, 1% DMSO), 50 nL of 1 mg/mL Tunicamycin in DMSO to positive control wells in Columns 1 and 2, and 50 nL of DMSO to negative control wells in Columns 3 and 4.
7. Centrifuge plates at 1000 rpm for 1 minute on a Vspin centrifuge.
8. Incubate plates in incubator (37 degrees, 100% relative humidity, 5% CO2) for 6 hours.
9. Set up Kalypsys dispenser and Perkin Elmer Envision as described in section G. Kalypsys dispenser setting and H. Envision setting.
10. Following 6 hours incubation, remove lid and incubate plate for 10 min in at room temp.
11. Add 3 uL of Steady-Glo to each wells (Columns 1 - 48) using a Kalypsys dispenser.
12. Centrifuge plates at 2000 rpm for 2 minutes on a Vspin centrifuge.
13. Lid plate and incubate for 10 min at room temp.
14. Read plates using Envision using a luminescence protocol.
E. Recipe:
Growth Media
F12 nutrient mix HAMs supplemented with 10% hi-FBS, 1X Penicillin/Streptomycin, 1X L-glutamine, and 1X MEM-NEAA
Assay Media
Filtered Growth Media
Trypsin
Dilute 0.25% Trypsin/EDTA to 0.05% Trypsin/EDTA using DPBS
Positive Control
Tunicamycin at 10 ug/mL final.
(Note: Tunicamycin is reconstituted in DMSO to a concentration of 10mg/ml).

F. Cell Culture:
Prepare Growth Media/Assay Media as described in section E. Recipe.
Procedure to expand and maintain cells:
CHO-CHOP cells are seeded into T225 flasks at 3.75 x 105 cells. Cells are passaged twice a week (Monday or Tuesday, and Thursday or Friday depending on cell growth). Confluency should be maintained at <75%. After 3 days incubation, ~2.5X10^7 cells are expected per T225 flask. Incubate cells in 5% CO2.
1. Put media in water bath and leave for 30 minutes. Also leave Trypsin at room temp for 15 minutes. Keep DPBS at room temp (no need to warm up DPBS at 37 degrees).
2. Aspirate off old media from T225 flask.
3. Wash the flasks with 20 mL DPBS per T225 flask. Leave cells in DPBS for about 30 seconds.
4. Add 6.5 mL 0.05% Trypsin solution into the flask. Rock the flask gently so that the solution covers all over the surface.
5. Allow the cells to detach by incubating at room temperature for about 4 minutes.
6. Wash the flask with 25 mL fresh growth media.
7. Collect the cell suspension in a 50 mL sterile conical tube.
8. Centrifuge at 900 rpm for 5 minutes. Once pelleted, remove the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet carefully in 1 mL fresh growth media with p1000 pipette.
9. Add 19 mL of growth media and mix gently.
10. Filter the cell suspension with cell strainer.
11. Count the cells and prepare stock flasks with
3.00 x 10^5 cells per T225 flask for 4 days incubation.
3.75 x 10^5 cells per T225 flask for 3 days incubation.
Procedure to prepare cells for the assay:
Follow steps 1 - 3 above
4. Add 5 mL Trypsin into the flask. Rock the flask gently so that the solution covers all over the surface.
5. Allow the cells to detach by incubating at room temperature for about 4 minutes.
6. Wash the flask with 25 mL fresh growth media.
7. Collect the cell suspension in a 50 mL sterile conical tube.
8. Centrifuge at 500 rpm for 10 minutes. Once pelleted, remove the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet carefully in 1 mL fresh assay with p1000 pipette.
9. Add 19 mL of assay media and mix gently.
10. Filter the cell suspension with cell strainer.
11. Count the cells and adjust cell density to 1.0x10^5 cells/mL in media.

Comment: Compounds that test with activity greater than or equal to 30% activation at 20 uM concentration relative to the positive control are defined as actives in the primary assay.
To simplify the distinction between the inactives of the primary screen and of the confirmatory screening stage, the Tiered Activity Scoring System was developed and implemented. Its utilization for the assay is described below.

Activity Scoring
Activity scoring rules were devised to take into consideration compound efficacy, its potential interference with the assay and the screening stage that the data was obtained. Details of the Scoring System will be published elsewhere. Briefly, the outline of the scoring system utilized for the assay is as follows:
1) First tier (0-40 range) is reserved for primary screening data. The score is correlated with % activity in the assay demonstrated by a compound at 20 uM concentration:
a. If outcome of the primary screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 0
b. If outcome of the primary screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 10
c. If outcome of the primary screen is active, then the assigned score is 20
Scoring for Single concentration confirmation screening is not applicable to this assay.
d. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 21
e. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 25
f. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is active, then the assigned score is 30
This scoring system helps track the stage of the testing of a particular SID. For the primary hits which are available for confirmation, their scores will be greater than 20. For those which are not further confirmed, their score will stay under 21.
2) Second tier (41-80 range) is reserved for dose-response confirmation data and is not applicable in this assay
3) Third tier (81-100 range) is reserved for resynthesized true positives and their analogues and is not applicable in this assay

External ID: HCS to Identify Inhibitors of Dynein Mediated Cargo Transport on Microtubules: Confirmation Assay, R21NS057026

Protocol: Glucocorticoid Nuclear Hormone Receptor-EGFP (GNHR-EGFP) Translocation HCS Assay Protocol.

Cell Model.
The Mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (3617.4) stably expressing a rat glucocorticoid nuclear hormone receptor green fluorescent fusion protein (GNHR-EGFP) under the control of a tetracycline (tet)-regulated promoter was utilized for the HCS assay (Elbi et al, 2004, Sci STKE. 238:pl10.).
Automated Imaging Platform.
The ArrayScan VTi houses a Zeiss 200M inverted microscope outfitted with 5X/0.25 NA, 10X/0.3NA, 20X/0.4 NA and 40X 0.5 NA Zeiss objectives. Illumination is provided by a full spectrum (300-2000 nM) Hg-halide arc lamp source (EXFO, Quebec, Canada) and fluorescence is detected by a high sensitivity cooled Orca CCD Camera (Photometrics Quantix). The ArrayScan VTi uses an image-based auto-focus system, and has the capability of imaging multi-wavelength fluorescence, up to six excitation and emission channels excited and acquired sequentially. Channel selection is accomplished using a fast excitation filter wheel combined with a multi-band emission filter.

Images were acquired using a 10 x 0.3NA objective in two fluorescent channels using the XF100 filter set for Hoechst in Channel 1 and GFP (FITC) in Channel 2. The ArrayScan VTI was set up to acquire 2 fields of view or 100 valid objects (nuclei) whichever came first.

Image Analysis Algorithm.
The Molecular Translocation algorithm was used to quantify the relative distribution of the GNHR-EGFP between two cellular compartments, the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The nucleic acid dye Hoechst 33342 was used to stain and identify the nucleus, and this fluorescent signal was used to focus the instrument and to define a nuclear mask. The mask is eroded to reduce cytoplasmic contamination within the nuclear area, and the reduced mask is used to quantify the amount of target channel GNHR-EGFP fluorescence within the nucleus. The nuclear mask was then dilated to cover as much of the cytoplasmic region as possible without going outside the cell boundary. Removal of the original nuclear region from this dilated mask creates a ring mask that covers the cytoplasmic region outside the nuclear envelope. The image analysis algorithm outputs quantitative data such as the total or average fluorescent intensities of the GNHR-EGFP signal in the nucleus (Circ) or cytoplasm (Ring) on a per cell basis, that may also be reported as an overall well averaged value.

Detailed Protocol of the GNHR-translocation Assay.

A. Mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cell line 3617.4 Culture Media:
DMEM + 10% FBS + 100 uM Nonessential amino acids 100 uM + 1 mM Sodium Pyruvate + 2 mM L-Glutamine + Penicillin-streptomycin + G418/Geneticin 0.96 mg/mL + Tetracycline 5 mg/mL.

B. Mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cell line 3617.4 Induction Media
DMEM + 10% charcoal stripped FBS + 100 uM Nonessential amino acids 100 uM + 1 mM Sodium Pyruvate + 2 mM L-Glutamine + Penicillin-streptomycin + G418/Geneticin 0.96 mg/mL.

GNHR-EGFP Translocation Protocol
1. Passage and maintain 3617.4 GNHR-EGFP-GR cells in culture medium with Tetracycline and Geneticin.
2. Aspirate culture media and incubate in Induction medium (no Tet) for 15 min at 37 C, 5% CO2 and 95% humidity
3. Wash cells three times with HBSS and harvest cells by trypsinization.
4. Centrifuge cells at 500 x g for 5 min and re-suspend in 10 mL induction medium
5. Count viable cells via trypan exclusion using a haemocytometer
6. Re-suspend cells to 41,666 cells/mL in GNHR-EGFPInduction medium
7. Add 60 uL of cell suspension per well to the 384-well black walled clear bottom plates (Greiner Bio-one Cat # 781091) for a final density of 2500 cells/well using the Zoom dispenser.
8. Incubate plates for 48 hrs at 37 C, 5% CO2 and 95% humidity
9. Transfer 20 uL of pre-diluted compounds to assay plates using the Vprep or EP3 liquid handler outfitted with a 384-well transfer head
10. Incubate plates for 1.0 hrs at 37 C, 5% CO2 and 95% humidity
11. Add 20 uL of 5.0 uM Dexamethasone (final in well 1.0 uM) to assay plates using the Vprep or EP3 liquid handler outfitted with a 384-well transfer head.
12. Incubate for 30 min at 37 C, 5% CO2 and 95% humidity.
13. Aspirate media and fix cells for 10 min with 50 uL 3.7% Formaldehyde, 2 ug/mL (final) Hoechest 33342 in PBS without Ca2+ and Mg2+, pre-warmed to 37 C.
14. Aspirate fixation solution and wash cells 1x with 50 uL PBS.
15. Aspirate PBS, add 50 uL PBS and seal plate on Abgene plate sealer.
16. Acquire images on the ArrayScan VTI and perform image analysis using the established Molecular Translocation algorithm.

Comment: HCS Parameters Reported:
1. MCRAID-CH2, Mean Circ (Nucleus) - Ring (Cytoplasm) Average GNHR-EGFP Intensity Difference in Channel 2
2. MRAI-CH2, Mean Ring (Cytoplasm) Average GNHR-EGFP Intensity in Channel 2
3. MCAI-CH2, Mean Circ (Nucleus) Average GNHR-EGFP Intensity in Channel 2
4. SCCPVF, Selected cell counts per valid field of view
Confirmation of inhibition of Dex-induced GNHR-EGFP translocation in 2 independent tests at 20 uM.
Duplicate GNHR Confirmation Activity Scoring System
PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_OUTCOME
1 - Substance is considered inactive when
%inhibition of MCRAID-CH2 < 50% in both runs AND
Z-score_MRAI-CH2 > 4 in one of two runs OR
Z-score_MCAI-CH2 >4 in one of two runs OR
Z-score_SCCPVF < -4 in one of two runs


2 - Substance is considered active when
%inhibition of MCRAID-CH2 >= 50% in both runs AND
Z-score_MRAI-CH2 <= 4 in both runs AND
Z-score_MCAI-CH2 <= 4 in both runs AND
Z-score_SCCPVF >=-4 in both runs
3 - Substance activity outcome is inconclusive when
%inhibition of MCRAID-CH2 >= 50% in one of two runs AND

Z-score_MRAI-CH2 <= 4 in both runs AND
Z-score_MCAI-CH2 <= 4 in both runs AND
Z-score_SCCPVF >=-4 in both runs
PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE
If %inhibition of MCRAID-CH2 < 50% in both runs AND
Z-score_MRAI-CH2 > 4 in one of two runs OR
Z-score_MCAI-CH2 >4 in one of two runs OR
Z-score_SCCPVF < -4 in one of two runs, then the score is 0

If %inhibition of MCRAID-CH2 >= 50% in both runs AND
Z-score_MRAI-CH2 <= 4 in both runs AND
Z-score_MCAI-CH2 <= 4 in both runs AND
Z-score_SCCPVF >= -4 in both runs, the score is 45
If %inhibition of MCRAID-CH2 >= 50% in one of two runs AND

Z-score_MRAI-CH2 <= 4 in both runs AND
Z-score_MCAI-CH2 <= 4 in both runs AND
Z-score_SCCPVF >=-4 in both runs, the score is 40

Follow-up Concentration Response IC50 < 20 uM in the GNHR-EGFP translocation assay.
Structural Verification
Indications of Specificity & Selectivity ~ PubChem X-target Query
Evidence of SAR.

Secondary Testing Paradigm.

Confirmed concentration dependent actives in the GNHR-EGFP translocation assay would be counter screened in the p53 translocation after mild DNA damage assay to confirm that they inhibited dynein-mediated transport events.

Dr. Day plans to implement the necessary biochemical screens to confirm that a small molecule's molecular target is indeed cytoplasmic dynein. These include microtiter plate-based colorimetric, turbidimetric and fluorescence polarization analyses of the direct action of library chemicals on recombinant dynein heavy chain, glucocorticoid receptor ligand binding domain, HSP70 and HSP90, and on isolated myosin and tubulin.

External ID: MH080376 Biochemical HTS for Inhibitors of the Proprotein Convertase Furin.

Protocol: Biochemical Furin HTS Assay protocol

Reaction Buffer Concentrations (final concentrations): 50 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 1 mM CaCl2, 1 mM beta-mercaptoethanol , 0.2 mg/ml BSA.

Substrate Stock Solution: 10 mM pERTKR-AMC in DMSO; stored in aliquots at -20 oC.

rhFurin714 prep (5.2 units/uL)Stored in aliquots at -80oC.

Furin Assay Protocol

The assay involves three liquid transfer steps of 5 uL each of 30 uM compound in 1% DMSO (10 uM final), 1 unit/5 uL rhFurin714 in 3X reaction buffer and 5 #L of 30 uM pERTKR-AMC substrate (10 uM final).

The assay plates used are Greiner 384-well, flat-bottom, low volume, black polystyrene plates (VWR catalog # 784076).

1. Add 5 uL of compound/controls to each well.
2. Add 5 uL of rhFurin714 in 3X buffer (1.0 units/well final).
3. Add 5 uL of 30 uM pERTKR-AMC fluorigenic substrate (10 uM/well final).
4. Incubate the plates for 1 hr at room temperature.
5. Stop the reaction by adding 5 uL of 1M Acetic acid.
6. Measure the amount of fluorigenic AMC released on the SpectraMax M5 using Ex = 345nm; Em = 440nm; cut-off 420 nm.

Comment: Active Criteria, Secondary Assay Plan, Hit and Lead Criteria.

Furin HTS Activity scoring rules:

The Furin inhibitor HTS run at the PMLSC utilized % inhibition calculated from maximum (n=32) and minimum (n=24) plate controls, with a hit criteria of >/= 25% inhibition to identify active compounds.

Furin Inhibitor scoring rules:

PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_OUTCOME

1 - Substance is considered inactive when the % inhibition is < 25 %
2 - Substance is considered active when % activation is >/= 25 %
3 - Substance activity outcome is inconclusive

PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE

0-40 scoring range is reserved for primary HTS data
a) if the % inhibition is >/= 25 %, the score is 40.
b) if the % inhibition is < 25 %, the score is 0.

Definition of Hit Criteria:
It is anticipated that all Furin inhibitor HTS actives will be confirmed in duplicate at the primary HTS concentration of 30 uM.
Furin inhibitor actives confirmed in the primary HTS format will then be run in 10-pt IC50 concentration response curves.
Confirmed hits will be subjected to structural confirmation by LCMS.

Secondary assay testing paradigm: Confirmed concentration dependent Furin inhibitors will be tested in the HeLa pcFur1.6 cell based ELISA assay.

External ID: 2147-01_Inhibitor_SinglePoint_HTS_Activity

Protocol: Protocol:
The FadD28 is purified through Ni-NTA affinity column due to a 6x Histidine tag. Purified protein is stored at -80 degrees C (D.J. Wilson, and C.C. Aldrich. Anal. Biochem. 404 (2010) 56-63)
I. Solution preparation (For a run of 121 plates):
1) Prepare 700mL of 200nM compound 11 (TAMRA labeled substrate) in FP buffer. Take 1.4mL of 100uM compound 11 in 100% DMSO in 700mL FP buffer
2) Prepare 50mL compound24 (non-labeled substrate) in FP buffer. Take 200uL of 10mM compound 24 in 100% DMSO in 50mL FP buffer
3) Prepare 350mL 4uM FadD28 in FP buffer. Take 1.746mL of 802uM FadD28 in 350mL FP buffer
II. Setup reagents on automation instrument
1) Add the solutions of compound24, FadD28 and FP buffer to the bottles of BioRaptr (Beckman) based on the dispense table
2) Add compound 11 solution to the bottle of combi NL (Thermo Scientific)
3) Add 1536-well assay ready plates (ARPs) to incubator
III. Run automation protocol
1) Dispense 3uL/well of the solutions from BioRaptr based on the dispense table to 1536-well assay ready plates (ARPs) (Aurora, Cat#: 00019180BX)(Positive control wells receive 1.5uL/well of compound24 and 1.5uL/well of FadD28 solution; all the other wells receive 1.5uL/well of FP buffer and 1.5uL/well of FadD28 solution)
2) Incubate the plates for 10mins at 25 degrees C
3) Dispense 3uL/well of 200nM compound11 solution to the plates by Combi NL
4) Incubate the plates for 30mins at 25 degrees C
5) Read the plates on ViewLux (PerkinElmer) with excitation wavelength of 525nm, emission wavelength of 598 nm and dichroic mirror of 550nm
Final concentration: 100nM compound11, 1uM FadD28, 10uM compound24 (positive control), compound concentration for primary screen: 12.5uM
FP buffer: 30mM Tris-HCl, pH7.5, 1mM MgCl2, 1mM DTT, 0.0025% Igepal CA630

Comment: PRESENCE OF CONTROLS: Neutral control wells (NC) and positive control wells (PC) were included on every plate.

EXPECTED OUTCOME: Active compounds result in decreasing readout signal.

NORMALIZATION:
The raw signals of the plate wells were normalized using the 'Neutral Controls Minus Inhibitors' method in Genedata Assay Analyzer (v7.0.3):
The median raw signal of the intraplate neutral control wells was set to a normalized activity value of 0.
The median raw signal of the intraplate positive control wells was set to a normalized activity value of -100.
Experimental wells values were scaled to this range.
All well activities were then multiplied by -1 to create a positive activity readout value range, to match Pubchem convention.


PATTERN CORRECTION: No plate pattern correction algorithm from Genedata Condoseo (v.7.0.3) was applied.

PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE:
This was set as equal to the maximum of the normalized sample replicate activities, rounded to the nearest integer .
The minimum PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE required for a compound to be called a hit (the activity threshold, or AT) was set at 8.

PERCENTAGE OF ACTIVE REPLICATES:
For each sample, the percentage of replicates (PCT_ACTIVE_REP) which had activity scores >= AT was determined.
The minimum percentage of replicates required for a compound to be called a hit (PAR_T) was set at 100.

PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_OUTCOME:
Samples passing BOTH threshold criteria were assigned an outcome of 2 (active):
PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE >= AT, and PCT_ACTIVE_REP >= PAR_T

Samples passing NEITHER threshold criteria were assigned an outcome of 1 (inactive):
PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE < AT, and PCT_ACTIVE_REP < PAR_T

Samples passing AT only were assigned an outcome of 3 (inconclusive) :
PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE >= AT, and PCT_ACTIVE_REP < PAR_T

tSamples passing PAR_T only were assigned an outcome of 3 (inconclusive) :
PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE < AT, and PCT_ACTIVE_REP >= PAR_T

External ID: Bursicon-induced LGR2 mediated cAMP production in LGR-2/CRE6x-Luciferase co-transfected HEK293 cells Inhibition - 7011-01_Antagonist_SinglePoint_HTS_Activity

Protocol: Protocol

Day 0:
Cell Culture
HEK 293 cells are plated in DMEM culture media (containing 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and 1X penn/strep/glutamine) at a density of 5x106 cells/T175 flask and grown for 3 days at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 incubator.

Day 3:
Transient Transfection
Cells are transiently transfected in DMEM transfection media (containing 1X penn/strep/glutamine without serum) using polyethyleneimine (PEI).
1)Mix 2.9ug/flask of cDNA encoding the wild-type Bursicon Receptor with 14.6ng/flask of cDNA encoding a CRE-luciferase reporter gene with a PEST/HCL sequence in 2mL of transfection media
2)Add 61uL/flask of PEI of 1mg/mL in 1.5mL of transfection media
3)Mix the 2mL cDNA solution with 1.5mL of PEI solution and incubate at RT for 20 mins
4)Aspirated the culture media from the cells in T175 flask
5)Add 25 mL of transfection media and 3.5mL of transfection mixture to T175 falsk.
6)Mix the media with transfection mixture well and transfect for 2 days at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 incubator

Day 5:
Cell Plating
1)Typsinize the Cells with 5mL of 0.05% Trypsin and incubate at 37oC for 5 min.
2)Add 5mL of DMEM assay media (containing DMEM without phenol red, 10% NuSerum and 1x Pen/Strep/Glutamine) to inactive trypsin
3)Collect cells by centrifugation at 1000rpm for 5 min
4)Suspend the cells in DMEM assay media to a cell density of 4x105 cells/mL
5)Plate the cells to 1536-well Aurora Mako plate with 2000 cells/well/5uL using ViaFill
6)Incubate the cells at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 incubator on GS system for overnight

Day 6:
Compound Treatment, Agonist Stimulation and Detection
Assay Setup
1)Thaw aliquoted Bursicon conditioned media and diluted with DMEM assay media at a 1/20 dilution. Filter the solution through a 0.22uM filter
2)Add DMEM condition media, the diluted Bursicon conditioned media and SteadyGlo to the bottles and setup BioRAPTR

Run automation protocol on GS system
1)Take the assay plate with transfected cells from the incubator
2)Transfer 5nL/well of 10mM compound to assay plate
3)Incubate 30 mins in incubator
4)Add 1uL/well of DMEM assay media to PosCon wells and diluted Bursicon solution to the other wells using BioRAPTR (Beckman) based on the plate map
5)Incubate the assay plate for 4 h in incubator
6)Take the plate out from the incubator and equilibrate the assay plate at RT for 10 mins
7)Add 1uL/well of SteadyGlo to assay plate using BioRAPTR, incubate at RT for 10 mins
8)Read the plate on ViewLux (PerkinElmer) for Luminescence.

Culture Media
DMEM high glucose, no glutamine (Invitrogen, 11960)
Pen/Strep/Glutamine (Invitrogen 10378-016)
Fetal Bovine Serum (Atlanta Biological, S10350)

Transfection Media
DMEM high glucose, no glutamine (Invitrogen, 11960)
Pen/Strep/Glutamine (Invitrogen 10378-016)

Assay Media
DMEM no phenol red (Invitrogen, 21063-029)
Pen/Strep/Glutamine (Invitrogen 10378-016)
NuSerum (BD biosciences, 24883)

0.05% Trypsin-EDTA (Invitrogen, 25300-062)
Aurora 1536-well Mako plate (Aurora/Brooks, 00028778)

Comment:

External ID: BCCG-A406-UPR-CHOP-CP-Agonist-Assay

Protocol: UPR CHO-CHOP 1536-Well Assay Protocol
A. Brief Description of the Assay:
The purpose of this assay is to detect activators of the PERK-eIF2a-CHOP (apoptotic) arm of the Unfolded Protein Response pathway.

B. Materials:
CHO-CHOP Cell Line
F12 nutrient mix HAMs (Invitrogen, Cat# 11765047)
Fetal Bovine Serum, heat-inactivated (Hyclone, Cat# SH30396)
Penicillin/Streptomycin, liquid (Invitrogen, Cat# 15140122)
L-glutamine (100X ) (Invitrogen, Cat# 25030081)
MEM Non-Essential Amino Acids Solution 10 mM (100X) (Invitrogen, Cat# 11140050)
Trypsin-EDTA 0.25% (Invitrogen, Cat# 25200-056)
DPBS (Hyclone, Cat# 30028.02)
T225 TC Flask (Nunc, Cat# 159934)
Cell strainer, 40 um (BD, Cat# 352340)
Aurora 1536 well white solid bottom TC plate (Aurora Biotechnology #00029846)
Tunicamycin (Sigma-Aldrich, Cat# T7765)
Steady-Glo# Luciferase Assay System (1L) (Promega, Cat# E2550)

C. Plate Map:
Positive control (P) in columns 1 and 2, 10ug/mL Tunicamycin
Negative control (N) in columns 3 and 4, No Tunicamycin
Test compound (T) in columns 5 - 48, No Tunicamycin

D. Procedures:
Day1 -Cell Seeding
1. Prepare cell suspensions as described in section F. Cell culture.
2. Set up Kalypsys dispenser as described in section G. Kalypsys dispenser setting.
3. Plate 500 cells/well in 5 uL of assay media into columns 1-48 of a 1536-well assay plate, using straight tip dispense on a Kalypsys dispenser.
4. Centrifuge plates at 500 rpm for 1 minute on Eppendorf centrifuge 5810. Use Kalypsys metal lids.
5. Incubate overnight at 37 degrees, 100% relative humidity, 5% CO2 for 16-18 hours.

Day2 - Compound Addition
6. Using LabCyte Echo, transfer 25 nL from a 2 mM Echo qualified plate containing test compounds into assay plate Col. 5 - 48 (final concentration of test compounds is 10 uM, 0.5% DMSO), 25 nL of 2 mg/mL Tunicamycin in DMSO to positive control wells in Columns 1 and 2, and 25 nL of DMSO to negative control wells in Columns 3 and 4.
7. Centrifuge plates at 1000 rpm for 1 minute on a Vspin centrifuge.
8. Incubate plates in incubator (37 degrees, 100% relative humidity, 5% CO2) for 6 hours.
9. Set up Kalypsys dispenser and Perkin Elmer Envision as described in section G. Kalypsys dispenser setting and H. Envision setting.
10. Following 6 hours incubation, remove lid and incubate plate for 10 min in at room temp.
11. Add 3 uL of Steady-Glo to each wells (Columns 1 - 48) using a Kalypsys dispenser.
12. Centrifuge plates at 2000 rpm for 2 minutes on a Vspin centrifuge.
13. Lid plate and incubate for 10 min at room temp.
14. Read plates using Envision using a luminescence protocol.

E. Recipe:
Growth Media
F12 nutrient mix HAMs supplemented with 10% hi-FBS, 1X Penicillin/Streptomycin, 1X L-glutamine, and 1X MEM-NEAA
Assay Media
Filtered Growth Media
Trypsin
Dilute 0.25% Trypsin/EDTA to 0.05% Trypsin/EDTA using DPBS
Positive Control
Tunicamycin at 10 ug/mL final.
(Note: Tunicamycin is reconstituted in DMSO to a concentration of 10mg/ml).

F. Cell Culture:
Prepare Growth Media/Assay Media as described in section E. Recipe.
Procedure to expand and maintain cells:
CHO-CHOP cells are seeded into T225 flasks at 3.75 x 105 cells. Cells are passaged twice a week (Monday or Tuesday, and Thursday or Friday depending on cell growth). Confluency should be maintained at <75%. After 3 days incubation, ~2.5X107 cells are expected per T225 flask. Incubate cells in 5% CO2.
1. Put media in water bath and leave for 30 minutes. Also leave Trypsin at room temp for 15 minutes. Keep DPBS at room temp (no need to warm up DPBS at 37 degrees).
2. Aspirate off old media from T225 flask.
3. Wash the flasks with 20 mL DPBS per T225 flask. Leave cells in DPBS for about 30 seconds.
4. Add 6.5 mL 0.05% Trypsin solution into the flask. Rock the flask gently so that the solution covers all over the surface.
5. Allow the cells to detach by incubating at room temperature for about 4 minutes.
6. Wash the flask with 25 mL fresh growth media.
7. Collect the cell suspension in a 50 mL sterile conical tube.
8. Centrifuge at 900 rpm for 5 minutes. Once pelleted, remove the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet carefully in 1 mL fresh growth media with p1000 pipette.
9. Add 19 mL of growth media and mix gently.
10. Filter the cell suspension with cell strainer.
11. Count the cells and prepare stock flasks with
3.00 x 105 cells per T225 flask for 4 days incubation.
3.75 x 105 cells per T225 flask for 3 days incubation.
Procedure to prepare cells for the assay:
Follow steps 1 - 3 above
4. Add 5 mL Trypsin into the flask. Rock the flask gently so that the solution covers all over the surface.
5. Allow the cells to detach by incubating at room temperature for about 4 minutes.
6. Wash the flask with 25 mL fresh growth media.
7. Collect the cell suspension in a 50 mL sterile conical tube.
8. Centrifuge at 500 rpm for 10 minutes. Once pelleted, remove the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet carefully in 1 mL fresh assay with p1000 pipette.
9. Add 19 mL of assay media and mix gently.
10. Filter the cell suspension with cell strainer.
11. Count the cells and adjust cell density to 1.0x105 cells/mL in media.

Comment: Compounds that test with activity greater than or equal to 40% activation at 10 uM concentration relative to the positive control in at least 2 of the 4 replicates are defined as actives in the primary assay.
To simplify the distinction between the inactives of the primary screen and of the confirmatory screening stage, the Tiered Activity Scoring System was developed and implemented. Its utilization for the assay is described below.

Activity Scoring
Activity scoring rules were devised to take into consideration compound efficacy, its potential interference with the assay and the screening stage that the data was obtained. Details of the Scoring System will be published elsewhere. Briefly, the outline of the scoring system utilized for the assay is as follows:
1) First tier (0-40 range) is reserved for primary screening data. The score is correlated with % activity in the assay demonstrated by a compound at 10 uM concentration:
a. If outcome of the primary screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 0
b. If outcome of the primary screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 10
c. If outcome of the primary screen is active, then the assigned score is 20
Scoring for Single concentration confirmation screening is not applicable to this assay.
d. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 21
e. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 25
f. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is active, then the assigned score is 30
This scoring system helps track the stage of the testing of a particular SID. For the primary hits which are available for confirmation, their scores will be greater than 20. For those which are not further confirmed, their score will stay under 21.
2) Second tier (41-80 range) is reserved for dose-response confirmation data and is not applicable in this assay
3) Third tier (81-100 range) is reserved for resynthesized true positives and their analogues and is not applicable in this assay

External ID: SBCCG-A997-CSN5-thrombin-CP-Assay

Protocol: Assay materials:
1) Ub4-pepOG protein substrate was provided by Dr. Deshaies laboratory
2) Thrombin from bovine plasma (Cat # T4648) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich.
3) Epoxomicin (Cat # BML-PI127-0100) was purchased from BioMol/ENZO Life Sciences
4) Assay Buffer: 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0 , 0.05 mM ATP, 0.05 mM Magnesium Chloride,
1 mM DTT, 0.01% NP-40
5) Epoxomicin Solution: 1.5 muM Epoxomicin in 1x Assay Buffer
6) Aurora 1536 well black high base plate were obtained from Nexus Biosystems (Cat # 00019120BX)

Procedure for validation assay:
1) Using LabCyte Echo, transfer 5 nL 10mM test agents (final conc 16.64uM) into assay plate Cols. 5-48, and 5 nL of 100% DMSO (final conc 0.166%) into assay plate Col. 1-4.
2) Pre-incubate 160 U/mL Thrombin at room temperature for 1 hour, then dilute 10-fold in pre-chilled 1x Assay Buffer.
3) Using Thermo Scientific MultiDrop Combi dispense 1.5uL of Assay Buffer in columns 1 and 2, and 1.5uL of Thrombin solution to columns 3-48. (final concentration: 8 U/mL Thrombin).
4) Using Thermo Scientific MultiDrop Combi dispense 2 mul of Ub4-pepOG substrate into all wells (columns 1-48) (final concentration: 10 nM Ub4-pepOG).
5) Spin plates at 1500 rpm for 1 minute on Eppendorf centrifuge 5810.
6) Incubate for 80 minutes at room temp.
7) Read plates on Perkin Elmer Envision with dual mirror at Ex/Em 480/535 nm in fluorescence polarization mode

Comment: Compounds with corrected %Activity >=15% and 0.5 =< FRatio <= 1.5 are considered to be active in this assay.

To simplify the distinction between the inactives of the primary screen and of the confirmatory screening stage, the Tiered Activity Scoring System was developed and implemented.

Activity Scoring
Activity scoring rules were devised to take into consideration compound efficacy, its potential interference with the assay and the screening stage that the data was obtained. Details of the Scoring System will be published elsewhere. Briefly, the outline of the scoring system utilized for the assay is as follows:

1) First tier (0-40 range) is reserved for primary screening data. The score is correlated with % activity in the assay:
a. If outcome of the primary screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 0
b. If outcome of the primary screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 10
c. If outcome of the primary screen is active, then the assigned score is 20
Scoring for Single concentration confirmation screening is not applicable to this assay.
d. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 21
e. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is inconclusive, then the assigned score is 25
f. If outcome of the single-concentration confirmation screen is active, then the assigned score is 30
This scoring system helps track the stage of the testing of a particular SID. For the primary hits which are available for confirmation, their scores will be greater than 20. For those which are not further confirmed, their score will stay under 21.

2) Second tier (41-80 range) is reserved for dose-response confirmation data and is not applicable in this assay

3) Third tier (81-100 range) is reserved for resynthesized true positives and their analogues and is not applicable in this assay

External ID: CHRM1_PAM_FLUO8_1536_1X%ACT PRUN

Protocol: Assay Overview:

The purpose of this assay is to identify compounds that act as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and increase activity of the human M1 muscarinic receptor (CHRM1; M1) in cells pre-treated with a known agonist. In this assay, CHO-K1 cells stably expressing human M1 are loaded with the Fluo-8 calcium indicator dye, followed by addition of test compounds and subsequent treatment with the activator acetylcholine at a concentration that results in 20% activation (EC20). As designed, compounds that act as CHRM1 PAMs will increase calcium mobilization, resulting in increased intracellular calcium and relative fluorescence of the indicator dye beyond that of the EC20 of acetylcholine. Compounds are tested in singlicate at a final nominal concentration of 3 micromolar.

Protocol Summary:

The CHO-hM1 cell line was routinely cultured in T-175 sq cm flasks at 37 degrees C and 95% relative humidity (RH). The growth media consisted of Ham's F-12 Nutrient Media (F-12) supplemented with 10% v/v heat-inactivated qualified fetal bovine serum, 20 mM HEPES, 50 micrograms/mL Geneticin, and 1X antibiotic mix (penicillin and streptomycin).

The day before the assay 3000 cells in 3 microliters of growth media were seeded into each well of 1536 well microtiter plates and allowed to incubate at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2, and 95 % RH for 17-24 hours. Next, 2 microliters of the fluorogenic Fluo-8 intracellular calcium indicator mixture (prepared according to the manufacturer's protocol) was added to each well. Plates were then incubated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2, and 95 % RH, followed by 30 minute incubation at room temperature. Then, 15 nL of test compound in DMSO were transferred to appropriate wells. The assay was started by performing a basal read of plate fluorescence (470-495 nm excitation and 515-575 nm emission) for 5 seconds on the FLIPR Tetra (Molecular Devices) prior to all wells being treated with an EC20 concentration of acetylcholine. Then a real time fluorescence measurement was immediately performed for the remaining 140 seconds of the assay. A ratio for each well was calculated to normalize assay data, according to the following mathematical expression:

Ratio = I_Max / I_Min

Where:

I_Max represents the maximum measured fluorescence emission intensity over the 140 second read and;
I_Min represents the minimum (basal) measured fluorescence emission intensity before compound was added.

The percent activation was calculated from the median ratio as follows:

% Activation = ( ( Ratio_Test_Compound - Median_Ratio_Low_Control ) / ( Median_Ratio_High_Control - Median_Ratio_Low_Control ) ) * 100

Where:

Test_Compound is defined as wells containing test compound.
Low_Control is defined as wells containing Acetylcholine at EC20 and DMSO.
High_Control is defined as wells containing Acetylcholine (EC100) and DMSO.

A mathematical algorithm was used to determine nominally activating compounds in the primary screen. Two values were calculated for each assay plate: (1) the average percent activation of test compound wells and (2) three times their standard deviation. The sum of these two values was used as a cutoff parameter on an individual plate basis, i.e. any compound that exhibited greater % activation than the plate based cutoff parameter was declared active.

PubChem Activity Outcome and Score:

The inactive compounds of this assay have an activity score range of 0 to 78 and the active compounds have an activity score range of 50 to 100.

The reported PubChem Activity Score has been normalized to 100% observed primary activation. Negative % activation values are reported as activity score zero.

List of Reagents:

Cell line: Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells containing hM1 receptor; (Conn Lab)
Calcium sensitive dye: Fluo-8 No Wash Calcium Assay Kit; (AAT Bioquest, part 36316)
Growth media: Ham's F-12; 10% FBS, 20mM HEPES, 50?g/mL G418
Assay media: Ham's F-12, 10% FBS, 20 mM HEPES
Assay plates: Aurora black/clear 1536well FLIPR plate; (Aurora, part 00019326)
Probenecid: 250mM (pH 8.0); (Sigma P8761)
Potentiator: Acetylcholine (50mM stock in water); Sigma A9187

Comment: Due to the increasing size of the MLPCN compound library, this assay may have been run as two or more separate campaigns, each campaign testing a unique set of compounds. All data reported were normalized on a per-plate basis. Possible artifacts of this assay can include, but are not limited to: dust or lint located in or on wells of the microtiter plate, and compounds that modulate well fluorescence. All test compound concentrations reported above and below are nominal; the specific test concentration(s) for a particular compound may vary based upon the actual sample provided by the MLSMR.

External ID: SIAE_INH_FP_1536_1X%INH PRUN

Protocol: Assay Overview:

The purpose of this biochemical assay is to identify compounds that act as inhibitors of sialic acid acetylesterase (SIAE). In this assay, SIAE protein is incubated with test compounds and fluorophosphonate-rhodamine (FP-Rh) activity-based probe. The reaction is excited with linear polarized light and the intensity of the emitted light is measured as the polarization value (mP). As designed, test compounds that act as SIAE inhibitors will prevent SIAE-probe interactions, thereby increasing the proportion of free (unbound) fluorescent probe in the well, leading to low fluorescence polarization. Compounds are tested in singlicate at a nominal test concentration of 9.66 micromolar.

Protocol Summary:

Prior to the start of the assay, 3 microliters of assay buffer (1X DPBS and 0.01% Pluronic F-127) were dispensed into column 1 thru column 3 of 1536 microtiter plates. Next, 3 microliters of assay buffer containing 0.73uM of SIAE protein were dispensed into columns 4 thru 48. Then, 39 nL of test compound in DMSO or DMSO alone (0.97% final concentration) were added to the appropriate wells and incubated for 45 minutes at 25 degrees Celsius.

The assay was started by dispensing 1.0 microliter of 300 nM FP-Rh in assay buffer to all wells. Plates were centrifuged and after 120 minutes of incubation at 25 degrees Celsius, fluorescence polarization was read on a Viewlux microplate reader (PerkinElmer, Turku, Finland) using a BODIPY TMR FP filter set and a BODIPY dichroic mirror (excitation = 525nm, emission = 598nm) for 25 seconds for each polarization plane (parallel and perpendicular).

Prior to further calculations, the following formula was used to calculate fluorescence polarization (FP):

FP = ( Raw1 - Raw2 ) / ( Raw1 + Raw2 )

Where:

Raw1 is defined as the S channel.
Raw2 is defined as the P channel.

The percent inhibition for each compound was calculated as follows:

100 *( ( Test_Compound - Median_Low_Control ) / ( Median_High_Control - Median_Low_Control ) )

Where:

Test_Compound is defined as wells containing SIAE protein in the presence of test compound and FP-Rh.
High_Control is defined as wells containing DMSO, FP-Rh but, no SIAE protein.
Low_Control is defined as the median of the wells containing test compounds.

PubChem Activity Outcome and Score:

A mathematical algorithm was used to determine nominally inhibiting compounds in the primary screen. Four values were calculated: (1) the average percent inhibition of all high controls tested plus three times the standard deviation of the high controls, (2) the average percent inhibition of all low controls tested minus three times the standard deviation of the low controls, (3) the average percent inhibition of all compounds tested between (1) and (2), and (4) three times their standard deviation. The sum of two of these values, (3) and (4), was used as a cutoff parameter, i.e. any compound that exhibited greater % inhibition/activity than the cutoff parameter was declared active.

The reported PubChem Activity Score has been normalized to 100% observed primary inhibition. Negative % inhibition values are reported as activity score zero.

The activity score range for active compounds is 100-2, for inactive 2-0.

List of Reagents:

SIAE protein (supplied by Assay Provider)
FP-Rh probe (supplied by Assay Provider)
DPBS (Mediatech, part 20-031-CV)
Pluronic F-127 (Invitrogen, part P6866)
1536-well plates (Greiner, part 789176)

Comment: Due to the increasing size of the MLPCN compound library, this assay may have been run as two or more separate campaigns, each campaign testing a unique set of compounds. All data reported were normalized on a per-plate basis. Possible artifacts of this assay can include, but are not limited to: dust or lint located in or on wells of the microtiter plate, compounds that modulate well fluorescence. All test compound concentrations reported above and below are nominal; the specific test concentration(s) for a particular compound may vary based upon the actual sample provided by the MLSMR.

External ID: epac1-activator-f1f2f3f4

Protocol: Briefly, three uL of reagents (100 nM EPAC1, 250 nM RAP1B-BODIPY-GDP, 50 uM GDP) were dispensed into a 1536-well Greiner black solid-bottom medium binding assay plate. Controls and test compounds (23 nL) were transferred to the plate via a Kalypsys pin tool equipped with a 1536-pin array. The plates were centrifuged at 1,000 rpm for 15 seconds followed by 5 minute incubation at room temperature. The assay plates were read at 5 minute intervals for 30 minutes in the ViewLux plate reader using 480nm excitation and 540nm emission filters. The results were normalized to the agonist positive control of 6.5 mM cAMP.

Comment: Disclaimer:
Although all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results as artifacts are possible from nonspecific effects such as assay signal interference. The curve fitting and activity calls presented here are based on the NCATS analysis methods.

Compound Ranking:
1. Compounds are first classified as having full titration curves, partial modulation, partial curve (weaker actives), single point activity (at highest concentration only), or inactive. For this assay, apparent activators are ranked higher than compounds that showed apparent inhibition.
2. For all inactive compounds, with a ratio activity curve class of 4, PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE is 0. For all active compounds, a score range was given for each curve class type given above. Active compounds have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE between 40 and 100. For a ratio activity curve class = 1.1, score = 80+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 1.2 && abs(ratio.max_response) > 6*10, score = 60+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 2.1 || ( ratio.curve_class==-2.2 && abs(ratio.max_response) > 6*10), score = 40+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 1.2 || ratio.curve_class == 2.2, score = 20+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). Inconclusive compounds, with a donor curve class other than 4, have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE of 10. Inconclusive compounds also have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE between 1 and 39.

External ID: epac1-inhibitor-f1f2f3f4

Protocol: Briefly, three uL of reagents (100 nM EPAC1, 250 nM RAP1B-BODIPY-GDP, 50 uM GDP) were dispensed into a 1536-well Greiner black solid-bottom medium binding assay plate. Controls and test compounds (23 nL) were transferred to the plate via a Kalypsys pin tool equipped with a 1536-pin array. The plates were centrifuged at 1,000 rpm for 15 seconds followed by 5 minute incubation at room temperature. The assay plates were read at 5 minute intervals for 30 minutes in the ViewLux plate reader using 480nm excitation and 540nm emission filters. The results were normalized to the agonist positive control ATA and DMSO.

Comment: Disclaimer:
Although all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results as artifacts are possible from nonspecific effects such as assay signal interference. The curve fitting and activity calls presented here are based on the NCATS analysis methods.

Compound Ranking:
1. Compounds are first classified as having full titration curves, partial modulation, partial curve (weaker actives), single point activity (at highest concentration only), or inactive. For this assay, apparent inhibitors are ranked higher than compounds that showed apparent activation.
2. For all inactive compounds, with a ratio activity curve class of 4, PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE is 0. For all active compounds, a score range was given for each curve class type given above. Active compounds have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE between 40 and 100. For a ratio activity curve class = 1.1, score = 80+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 1.2 && abs(ratio.max_response) > 6*10, score = 60+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 2.1 || ( ratio.curve_class==-2.2 && abs(ratio.max_response) > 6*10), score = 40+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 1.2 || ratio.curve_class == 2.2, score = 20+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). Inconclusive compounds, with a donor curve class other than 4, have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE of 10. Inconclusive compounds also have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE between 1 and 39.

External ID: PROCASPASE3_ACT_EPIABS_1536_1X%ACT PRUN

Protocol: Assay Overview:

The purpose of this assay is to identify compounds that activate procaspase 3 activity. This assay employs a procaspase 3 mutant enzyme, D9A/D28A/D175A (called PC-3 D3A) which is unable to autoproteolyze itself because its aspartic acid cleavage sites have been mutated to alanines. The mutant has a fully functional active site that can process the peptidic Ac-DEVD-pNA chromogenic substrate. Cleavage of substrate by procaspase 3 hydrolyzes the bond between the aspartic acid and p-nitroaniline, leading to release of yellow p-nitroaniline and an increase in well absorbance at 405 nm. In this assay, PC-3 D3A enzyme is pre-incubated with test compounds, followed by addition of substrate and measurement of well epi-absorbance. As designed, compounds that activate procaspase 3 activity will increase substrate hydrolysis, leading to an increase in well absorbance. Compounds are tested in singlicate at a nominal concentration of 8.5 uM.

Protocol Summary:

Prior to the start of the assay, 2.5 uL of zinc-free Assay Buffer (50 mM HEPES, 300 mM NaCl, pH 7.4, 0.01% Triton-X 100) containing 2 uM of PC-3 D3A protein were dispensed into 1536 microtiter plates. Next, 43 nL of test compound in DMSO or DMSO alone (0.8% final concentration) were added to the appropriate wells and incubated for 1 hour at 25 C.

The assay was started by dispensing 2.5 uL of 400 uM Ac-DEVD-pNA in Assay Buffer to all wells. Plates were centrifuged and after 2 hours of incubation at 25 C, epi-absorbance was read on the EnVision plate reader using a photometric filter set (excitation = 405 nm, emission = 450 nm) and a dichroic mirror with 425 nm cutoff. Fluorescence emission was read at 10 flashes per well at two time points (0 minutes and 120 minutes).

Prior to further calculations, the following formula was used to calculate absorbance:

Abs = ( -Log10( ( [ Raw2 ] / [ Mean Reference2 ] ) ) - ( -Log10 ( ( [ Raw1 ] ) / [ Mean Reference ] ) )

Where:

Raw1 is defined as the read at T0 minutes.
Raw2 is defined as the read at T120 minutes.
Mean Reference is defined as a mean of values from wells containing buffer only at T0.
Mean Reference2 is defined as a mean of values from wells containing buffer only at T120.

The percent activation for each compound was calculated as follows:

% Activation = ( ( Ratio_Test_Compound - Median_Ratio_Low_Control ) / ( Median_Ratio_High_Control - Median_Ratio_Low_Control ) ) * 100

Where:

Test_Compound is defined as wells containing test compound.
Low_Control is defined as wells containing DMSO.
High_Control is defined as wells containing DMSO and 5 uM PC-3 D3A.

A mathematical algorithm was used to determine nominally activating compounds in the primary screen. Two values were calculated: (1) the average percent activation of all compounds tested, and (2) three times their standard deviation.The sum of these two values was used as a cutoff parameter, i.e. any compound that exhibited greater % activation than the cutoff parameter was declared active.

PubChem Activity Outcome and Score:

The reported PubChem Activity Score has been normalized to 100% observed primary activation. Negative % activation values are reported as activity score zero.

The PubChem Activity Score range for active compounds is 100-9, and for inactive compounds 9-0.

List of Reagents:

Recombinant PC-3 D3A (procaspase 3 enzyme) (Assay Provider)
Assay Buffer (Assay Provider)
Chromogenic Substrate (Ac-DEVD-pNA) (Assay Provider)
1536 SWSN plates (Corning, part 7254)

Comment: Due to the increasing size of the MLPCN compound library, this assay may have been run as two or more separate campaigns, each campaign testing a unique set of compounds. All data reported were normalized on a per-plate basis. Possible artifacts of this assay can include, but are not limited to: dust or lint located in or on wells of the microtiter plate, and compounds that modulate well absorbance. All test compound concentrations reported above and below are nominal; the specific test concentration(s) for a particular compound may vary based upon the actual sample provided by the MLSMR.

External ID: SBCCG-A1015-NR3A-Primary-Assay

Protocol: A.#Brief Description of the Assay
This assay attempts to identify small molecule compound binding to NR3A LBD using differential scanning fluorimetry assay. The assay is performed format using Applied Biosystems 384-well plates (cat #4309849) on ViiA7 qPCR instrument (Thermo-Fisher Scientific).

B.#Assay reagent components:
1.#Assay buffer: 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 200 mM NaCl
2.#NR3A LBD working solution in the assay buffer
3.#NR3A LBD with glycine working solution in the assay buffer
4.#Sypro Orange working solution in the assay buffer
5.#Compounds in 100% DMSO

C.#Step-by-step protocol:
1.#Reagent dispenses
a.#Add compound aliquots to the wells in columns 3-24
b.#Add DMSO aliquots to the wells in columns 1-2
c.#Dispense 5 uL of NR3A LBD working solution into columns 2-24
d.#Dispense 5 uL of NR3A LBD with glycine working solution to column 1
e.#Dispense 5 uL of Sypro Orange with glycine solution to columns 1-24
2.#Perform assay by ramping temperature and measuring concomitant changes in fluorescence
3.#Determine Tm corresponding to the maximum of the first derivative of fluorescence
D.#Final concentration of reagents in the assay wells
1.#1.25 uM NR3A LBD (all wells)
2.#x5 Sypro Orange (all wells)
3.#25 uM tested compounds (wells in columns 3-24)
4.#0.25% DMSO (all wells)
E.#Plate Map:
1.#Positive (high Tm) control in column 1
2.#Negative (low Tm) control in column 2.
3.#Test wells in columns 3-24.

Comment: %Activity = (Melting temperature of compound well - Average melting temperature of negative control well)/(Melting temperature of positive control wells - Melting temperature of negative control wells)*100%.

Compounds that demonstrated %Activity >= 10% at 25 uM concentration are defined as actives in this assay.

Activity Scoring
The score is correlated with % activity in the assay:
a. If outcome of the primary screen is inactive, then the assigned score is 0
b. If outcome of the primary screen is active, then the assigned score is 20

External ID: epac2-inhibitor-f1f2f3f4

Protocol: Briefly, three uL of reagents (100 nM EPAC2, 250 nM RAP1B-BODIPY-GDP, 50 uM GDP) were dispensed into a 1536-well Greiner black solid-bottom medium binding assay plate. Controls and test compounds (23 nL) were transferred to the plate via a Kalypsys pin tool equipped with a 1536-pin array. The plates were centrifuged at 1,000 rpm for 15 seconds followed by 5 minute incubation at room temperature. The assay plates were read at 5 minute intervals for 30 minutes in the ViewLux plate reader using 480nm excitation and 540nm emission filters. The results were normalized to the agonist positive control ATA and DMSO.

Comment: Disclaimer:
Although all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results as artifacts are possible from nonspecific effects such as assay signal interference. The curve fitting and activity calls presented here are based on the NCATS analysis methods.

Compound Ranking:
1. Compounds are first classified as having full titration curves, partial modulation, partial curve (weaker actives), single point activity (at highest concentration only), or inactive. For this assay, apparent inhibitors are ranked higher than compounds that showed apparent activation.
2. For all inactive compounds, with a ratio activity curve class of 4, PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE is 0. For all active compounds, a score range was given for each curve class type given above. Active compounds have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE between 40 and 100. For a ratio activity curve class = -1.1, score = 80+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == -1.2 && abs(ratio.max_response) > 6*10, score = 60+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == -2.1 || ( ratio.curve_class==-2.2 && abs(ratio.max_response) > 6*10), score = 40+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == -1.2 || ratio.curve_class == -2.2, score = 20+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). Inconclusive compounds, with a donor curve class other than 4, have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE of 10. Inconclusive compounds have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE between 1 and 39.

External ID: epac2-activator-f1f2f3f4

Protocol: Briefly, three uL of reagents (100 nM EPAC2, 250 nM RAP1B-BODIPY-GDP, 50 uM GDP) were dispensed into a 1536-well Greiner black solid-bottom medium binding assay plate. Controls and test compounds (23 nL) were transferred to the plate via a Kalypsys pin tool equipped with a 1536-pin array. The plates were centrifuged at 1,000 rpm for 15 seconds followed by 5 minute incubation at room temperature. The assay plates were read at 5 minute intervals for 30 minutes in the ViewLux plate reader using 480nm excitation and 540nm emission filters. The results were normalized to the agonist positive control of 6.5 mM cAMP.

Comment: Disclaimer:
Although all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results as artifacts are possible from nonspecific effects such as assay signal interference. The curve fitting and activity calls presented here are based on the NCATS analysis methods.

Compound Ranking:
1. Compounds are first classified as having full titration curves, partial modulation, partial curve (weaker actives), single point activity (at highest concentration only), or inactive. For this assay, apparent activators are ranked higher than compounds that showed apparent inhibition.
2. For all inactive compounds, with a ratio activity curve class of 4, PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE is 0. For all active compounds, a score range was given for each curve class type given above. Active compounds have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE between 40 and 100. For a ratio activity curve class = 1.1, score = 80+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 1.2 && abs(ratio.max_response) > 6*10, score = 60+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 2.1 || ( ratio.curve_class==-2.2 && abs(ratio.max_response) > 6*10), score = 40+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). For ratio.curve_class == 1.2 || ratio.curve_class == 2.2, score = 20+abs((log_ac50+4.5)*inf_activity/20). Inconclusive compounds, with a donor curve class other than 4, have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE of 10. Inconclusive compounds also have PUBCHEM_ACTIVITY_SCORE between 1 and 39.

External ID: SBCCG-A1016-RevErbaLBD-Primary-Assay

Protocol: This assay is to identify modulators of Rev-erb alpha protein binding to DNA

A. Materials:
REV-alpha_beta purified protein = Rastinejad lab
FITC-DNA = Rastinejad lab
Tris = Biorad (cat #161-0719)
DTT = Akron Biotechnology (cat #AK2948-0005)
5M NaCl = Sigma-Aldrich (cat #56546-1L)
Glycerol 99.5% = Acros (cat #327255000)
Tween 20 = Sigma-Aldrich (cat #P1379)
Corning high base black plates = Corning (cat #3724)
Molecular grade water = Cellgro (cat #46-000-CM)

B. Plate Map:
Negative (low) control in columns 1 and 2 is 6nM DNA and 35nM Protein, DMSO
Positive (high) control in columns 3 and 4, Protein at 750nM and 6nM DNA, DMSO
Test compound in columns 5 - 48, Protein at 35nM + 6nM DNA + test compound

C. Procedures:
Step#Description
1#Prepare 2X Rev-erb alpha protein stock and 2X DNA stock
2#Using LabCyte Echo, transfer xnL from a 2 mM Echo qualified plate containing test compounds into assay plate Col. 5 - 48. Add same volume of DMSO in col 1-4.
3#Spin plates at 1000 rpm for 1 minute in centrifuge.
4#Using the bioraptr, add 3 uL/well of (35nM protein control) to columns 1 and 2 and test compound wells.
5#Using the bioraptr, add 3 uL/well of Mix 2 (750nM protein) to col. 3-4 for the positive control
6#Using the bioraptr, add 3uL/well of Mix 3 (DNA) to col. 1-48.
7#Spin plates at 1000 rpm for 1 minute in centrifuge.
8#Incubate plates in the dark at room temperature for 90 minutes.
9#Set up Perkin Elmer EnVision as described in section Instrument setting.
10#Read plates on EnVision using FP Dual enhanced mirror, FP 480 excitation filter, FP-P-pol 535 and FP-S-pol 535 emissin filters

Comment: Actives were selected based on, % response = 45% or greater