ALS High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening Assay

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurological disorder that affects the motor neurons responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. The disease causes progressive muscle weakness, leading to paralysis and, eventually, death. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for ALS, and treatment options are limited. However, recent advances in stem cell technology have allowed for the development of patient-derived motor neurons, which can be used for drug screening and discovery.

At Creative Biolabs, we offer a cutting-edge ALS High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening Assay Service, utilizing these patient-derived motor neurons for quantitative HTS (qHTS) assays. In this article, we will discuss the advantages of our service and how it can aid in the development of new ALS therapies.

ALS Patient iPSC-Derived Motor Neurons

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are cells that have been reprogrammed from adult cells to a pluripotent state, meaning that they can differentiate into any cell type in the body. iPSCs can be generated from patient cells, such as skin cells, and differentiated into motor neurons, providing a unique opportunity to study disease mechanisms and drug responses in a patient-specific context. At Creative Biolabs, we use ALS patient iPSC-derived motor neurons to create a physiologically relevant model for ALS drug screening.

Fig.1 General Protocol for Neuron Production.

Quantitative HTS (qHTS) Assay

High-throughput screening (HTS) is a method used to rapidly test large numbers of compounds for their ability to modulate a specific biological target. In the context of ALS drug discovery, qHTS assays can be used to screen large libraries of compounds for their ability to improve motor neuron survival and function. Our ALS High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening Assay Service utilizes a quantitative HTS assay that measures motor neuron survival and morphology. We use a fully automated screening platform to efficiently test thousands of compounds in a short amount of time.

Fig.2 Assay Optimization (left) and qHTS Screening Data Summary (right).

Assay Applications

The ALS High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening Assay Service offered by Creative Biolabs has several benefits for researchers in the field of ALS drug discovery. These benefits include:

• Rapid Screening of Large Compound Libraries

The ALS High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening Assay Service enables the screening of large compound libraries in a relatively short amount of time. This can help to accelerate the drug discovery process by identifying promising compounds more quickly.

• Identification of Compounds with Novel Mechanisms of Action

The phenotypic screening approach used by the Creative Biolabs ALS High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening Assay Service enables the identification of compounds with novel mechanisms of action. This can help to identify new targets for drug development and may lead to the discovery of more effective therapies for ALS.

Customized Assay Development

Creative Biolabs offers customized assay development to meet the specific needs of individual research projects. This ensures that the most appropriate assays are used to screen for compounds that are most relevant to the specific research question.

With our expertise, customization, efficiency, and quality control, we are committed to providing high-quality service to our clients and advancing the field of ALS drug discovery. Get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can support you in your endeavors!