Method for Generating a Recombinant Clonal Cell Line and Novel Reagents for Use in the Method

A method for generating a clonal cell line expressing a target cell surface receptor, the method comprising:

• (c) incubating a cell population expressing a known target cell surface receptor selected from G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ligand-gated ion channels and tyrosine kinase receptors with a target cell surface receptor specific fluorescent non-peptide ligand or salt thereof, comprising a non-peptide ligand moiety for the target cell surface receptor that binds to the target cell surface receptor, linked to a fluorescent moiety;
• (d) selecting single cells from step (c) expressing the target cell surface receptor at a given level of expression by monitoring the specific binding of the fluorescent ligand using flow cytometry;
• and additionally (e) expansion of selected single cells from step (d) into a clonal cell line.