Fret-based microarray screening platforms

A method for detecting an interaction of a target molecule and a ligand molecule, the method comprising:

• (i) treating a surface modified with a target molecule, wherein either the surface or the target molecule is further modified with a FRET donor moiety,
• with a ligand molecule, wherein the ligand molecule is modified a FRET acceptor moiety;
• and
• (ii) exciting the surface with a light of a wavelength capable of being absorbed by the FRET donor moiety, waiting an amount of time sufficient for energy transfer from the FRET donor moiety to the FRET acceptor moiety, and detecting a light of a wavelength emitted by the FRET acceptor moiety by a fluorescence imaging technique.

A method of identifying a compound that modulates a protein of interest, the method comprising:

• (i) treating a surface modified with a target molecule, wherein either the surface or the target molecule is further modified with a FRET acceptor moiety,
• with a protein of interest, wherein the protein of interest is modified with a FRET donor moiety;
• (ii) exciting the surface with a light of a wavelength capable of being absorbed by the FRET donor moiety, waiting an amount of time sufficient for energy transfer from the FRET donor moiety to the FRET acceptor moiety, and detecting a light of a wavelength emitted by the FRET acceptor moiety by a fluorescence imaging technique;
• (iii) treating the surface with a test compound;
• (iv) after (iii), detecting a light of a wavelength emitted by the FRET acceptor moiety by the fluorescence imaging technique;
• and
• (v) determining whether an intensity of fluorescence detected from the FRET acceptor moiety in step (iv) is decreased compared to an intensity of fluorescence detected from the FRET acceptor moiety in step (ii),
• wherein said decrease in fluorescence intensity in an indication that the test compound is a modulator the protein of interest.