Using the Tempest® liquid dispenser from Formulatrix and in collaboration with HighRes Biosolutions® for integration of the instrument with an existing automation platform, researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital were able to rapidly screen a focused compound library screening early cancer drug candidates in an AlphaLISA® assay. The success of this project was facilitated by a number of key Tempest® features, namely an in-built capacity to recirculate the AlphaLISA® beads, the ability to dispense multiple reagents from a single dispenser, and extremely low dead volumes.
About AlphaLISA®
AlphaLISA® is widely used to support high throughput screening campaigns due to its sensitivity, versatility and innate compatibility with automation. Following a homogeneous, no-wash protocol, the technology produces a measurable light signal when specialized donor and acceptor beads are brought into close proximity through a binding event. By using AlphaLISA® to screen a chemical library for its ability to disrupt binding, researchers can quickly identify compounds for hit-to-lead progression.
Although AlphaLISA® offers many benefits, the technology suffers from several limitations. Firstly, the beads have a propensity to settle, necessitating the use of instrumentation to maintain a uniform suspension. AlphaLISA® reagents are also relatively expensive, meaning dead volumes must be minimized to reduce waste and keep costs down. In addition, the donor beads are light sensitive, requiring reagents to be handled away from direct sunlight and laboratory lighting to be dimmed.
Working with TEMPEST®
Using the Tempest® liquid dispenser from Formulatrix and in collaboration with HighRes Biosolutions® for integration of the instrument with an existing automation platform, researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital were able to rapidly screen a focused compound library screening early cancer drug candidates in an AlphaLISA® assay. The success of this project was facilitated by a number of key Tempest® features, namely an in-built capacity to recirculate the AlphaLISA® beads, the ability to dispense multiple reagents from a single dispenser, and extremely low dead volumes.
Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have demonstrated the Tempest® to be a powerful enabling technology for AlphaLISA®, showcasing its potential for use with other bead-based high throughput screens. The recirculation function, low dead volumes and instrument flexibility are augmented by many additional product attributes, all of which support the improvement of existing techniques and increase the scope of emerging assay technologies.
To learn more about this study, read the application note or listen to the webinar using the links below