摘要 |
Methods for identifying modulators of ion channel permeability are described which comprise: a) providing an ion channel in the presence and absence of a candidate modulator of the permeability of the ion channel; b) providing a fluorescent dye (such as MEQ, SPQ, or LZQ) and halide ions, which act as a fluorescence quencher, on a first side of the ion channel; c) providing thallium ions on a second side of the ion channel which precipitate the halide ions when they are caused or allowed by the ion channel to pass from the second to the first side of the ion channel, thereby relieving fluorescence quenching by the halide ions; and d) comparing any change in the fluorescence signal in the absence of the candidate modulator with any change in the fluorescence signal in the presence of the candidate modulator. Such methods are particularly suited for high throughput screening of candidate modulators of ion channel permeability. Methods for observing and assaying for ion channel permeability are also described.
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