SCREENING METHODS

摘要

A method of identifying a compound that modulates NCKX-mediated calcium ion exchange across a cell membrane, the method comprising the steps of providing an adherent cell, the cell membrane of which comprises a NCKX polypeptide or a functionally equivalent variant thereof, exposing the cell in suspension to a fluorescent calcium-sensitive dye, thereby causing intracellular uptake of the dye, settling the cell onto a solid support without allowing the cell to adhere to the solid support, exposing the cell to a test compound, exposing the cell to calcium and potassium ions, and measuring fluorescence from the intracellular calcium-sensitive dye after exposure of the cell to the test compound and the calcium and potassium ions, thereby to determine the rate and/or amount of calcium ion exchange across the cell membrane in the presence of the test compound.