FLUORESCENCE-BASED ASSAY FOR DETECTING COMPOUNDS FOR MODULATING THE SODIUM-CALCIUM EXCHANGER (NCX) IN FORWARD MODE

摘要

Transporters are an emerging target family with enormous potential, offering scientific and economic opportunities. The Sodium/Calcium exchanger is an important mechanism for removing Ca2+ from diverse cells. In heart, it extrudes Ca2+ that has entered through Ca2+ channels to initiate contraction, while Na+ enters the heart cell. It is of considerable interest to identify compounds that modulate the activity of Sodium/Calcium exchangers. The present invention is directed to a fluorescence-based assay for detecting NCX“forward mode”modulating compounds. It further refers to a kit of parts comprising cells expriming NCX and the use of the kit of parts to test a compound for activity as an agonist or antagonist of NCX.