Comparison of 3 AT1 Receptor Binding Assays: Filtration Assay, ScreenReady™ Target, and WGA Flashplate®

Abstract

In this article, the study of 3 different angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor binding assays in terms of reproducibility, robustness, and feasibility for high-throughput screening (HTS) is described. The following methods were used: a nonhomogeneous filtration assay in a 96-well format using CHO-AT1 cell membranes and 2 homogeneous assays, which include the commercially available ScreenReady™ Target for the AT1 receptor and the wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) Flashplate®, which was coated “in-house” with the CHO-AT1 cell membranes. Receptors were labeled with [125I]-Sar1-Ile8-angiotensin II, and radioligand binding was displaced using the antagonist losartan and the natural agonist angiotensin II. Reproducible Kd, Bmax, and Ki values and good total binding/nonspecific binding (TB/NSB) ratios were obtained with both the ScreenReady™ Targets and the filtration assay, whereas the WGA Flashplates® showed unacceptably high nonspecific binding and high variation when applied as a homogeneous assay. However, when applied as a heterogeneous assay (i.e., when a wash step at the end of the assay is included), the results were significantly better. Interestingly, ligand affinities were consistently lower in Flashplate®-based assays than in the filtration assay. This may be due to the immobilization of the receptors onto the solid surface of the plate, affecting their conformation. In terms of reproducibility, robustness, and feasibility for HTS, the authors conclude that the ScreenReady™ Target plates are most suitable for AT1 receptor binding screening.