New Tag-lite® Ligands Enable Non-radioactive Study of Chemokines

Cisbio Bioassays today announced the introduction of new ligands into its Tag-lite® cell surface receptor platform catalogue that enable the non-radioactive binding of chemokines. Also, Tag-lite research partner Dr. Jean-Philippe Pin, head of the Department of Molecular Pharmacology at the Functional Genomics Institute (IGF), was awarded the Grand Prix Léon Velluz from the French Academy of Sciences.

Chemokines and chemokine receptors are highly-sensitive and important targets in the study of pathologies such as cancer, hematology, and HIV. Their interaction on the surface of a cell transmits signals following ligand binding, which is difficult to study and possible only by using radioactive methods that can result in high levels of non-specific binding. In September 2009, Cisbio Bioassays introduced a catalogue of an initial selection of peptidic and non-peptidic fluorescent ligands as part of the development of Tag-lite, its cell surface receptor dimerization and ligand binding study platform. These newest ligands now enable scientists to investigate and screen chemokine receptor activity such as CXCR4, using a fluorescent SDF1 alpha homogeneous method that results in reduced non-specific binding and more accurate data.

“The Tag-lite platform addresses GPCR mechanistics and function from broad angles, and we are regularly introducing new extensions which enhance cell receptor ligand binding studies, dimerization studies and eventually other novel ways of investigation,” said François Degorce, head of marketing at Cisbio Bioassays. “In particular, Tag-lite represents a new, non-radioactive alternative to challenging ligand binding assays. This is the fruit of R&D dedication and collaborative research programs that we continue to this day with recognized experts such as Jean-Philippe Pin.”

For nearly a decade, Dr. Pin and his team at IGF have teamed with Cisbio Bioassays to introduce new tools to the field of GPCR studies. He was notably responsible for the testing and validation of Tag-lite for dimerization, one of the platform’s many applications. Created in 1986, the Grand Prix Léon Velluz is awarded every other year by members of France’s Academy of Sciences to scientists worldwide who have made an impact on the chemistry behind human therapeutics. Dr. Pin was recognized by the Academy of Sciences for his work on metabotropic glutamate receptors, GPCRs that offer new therapeutic perspectives on the study of cerebral function.

Cisbio Bioassays and IGF have combined the know-how of our two organizations to put in place tools which respond to scientific needs in GPCR research,” added Dr. Pin. “I was honored to receive this award which recognizes the importance of specific therapeutic targets in the pharmaceutical industry and, in turn, the impact of French innovation on a global scale.”