High Content Analysis of β-Lactamase Reporter Gene Assays Using Microplate Cytometry

High-throughput screening (HTS) plays a pivotal role in the identification of chemical leads for new therapeutic targets. Continuous technological advancement has made the screening aspect easier, but its expansion to include target identification and converting assay hits to qualified leads has created new challenges. A number of reporter gene assays have been widely employed for G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) HTS since they can provide both drug affinity and functionality in a single screen. The application of high content analysis (HCA) technologies to such assays offers a new opportunity for improving their performance. Here we describe the use of microplate cytometry for β-lactamase reporter gene analysis and discuss its benefits in the context of improved quality of hit compound identification.