In this application note a stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD) assay is used to illustrate the power of Agilent RapidFire/MS systems for screening intractable targets.
Introduction
The RapidFire high-throughput mass spectrometry system provides drug discovery researchers with mass spectrometry-based, high-throughput screening solutions for targets that have proven challenging to screen using conventional approaches. These intractable targets have substrates and products that are either too small to label or undergo modifications that are difficult to detect. RapidFire technology provides the most relevant data, with label-free native analyte detection that eliminates the need for cumbersome and costly labeling methods. RapidFire technology enables traditionally low-throughput, intractable assays to be converted into high-throughput assays processed at speeds approaching plate-based optical methods.
Using RapidFire High-throughput Mass Spectrometry to Analyze SCD Assay Samples
This application note presents an example of a RapidFire high-throughput mass spectrometry assay developed for SCD that overcomes the need for radioactive labeling, making this target class a candidate for a high-throughput screening approach.
The SCD example in the application note illustrates that RapidFire/MS delivers a high-throughput alternative, with integrated sample preparation and sensitive mass spectrometry detection that streamlines the drug discovery process for even the most difficult assays.
Conclusion
The Agilent RapidFire high-throughput mass spectrometry system demonstrated a number of key benefits for the high-throughput screening of stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase, an intractable target traditionally requiring extremely laborious labeling methods. RapidFire provides sample processing speeds of 6 to 10 seconds, increasing throughput over conventional methods by more than 10-fold.
RapidFire/MS enables sensitive and reliable analysis of challenging drug target classes with label-free, native molecule detection. The system can be used to efficiently screen chemical libraries with results comparable to optical methods. As a result, incorporation of RapidFire/MS systems into the lead discovery phase of the drug discovery process delivers efficiency and productivity advances unrivaled by other technologies.