# US 8,568,973 B2 · Cell-signaling assays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,568,973 B2 - Document ID: US8568973B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/713,107 - Filed: 2010-02-25 - Published: 2010-06-17 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 1999-06-09 - Assignees: Molecular Devices, LLC - Applicants: J. Richard Sportsman; Lawrence M. Kauvar - Inventors: J. Richard Sportsman; Lawrence M. Kauvar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8568973B2 ## CPC - C07K 7/06: having 5 to 11 amino acids - B01L 3/50853: {with covers or lids (closures for test tubes B01L3/50825)} - C07K 7/08: having 12 to 20 amino acids (gastrins C07K14/595; somatostatins C07K14/655; melanotropins C07K14/68) - C12Q 1/485: {involving kinase} - G01N 33/5308: {for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites} - G01N 33/542: with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching - G01N 33/566: using specific carrier or receptor proteins as ligand binding reagents {where possible specific carrier or receptor proteins are classified with their target compounds} - G01N 33/582: {with fluorescent label} - G01N 35/028: {having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates} - G01N 35/1011: {Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device} - G01N 35/1074: {arranged in a two-dimensional array} - G01N 2035/00237: {Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks} - G01N 2035/0405: {manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers} - G01N 2035/0425: {Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates} - G01N 2333/9121: with an alcohol group as acceptor (2.7.1), e.g. general tyrosine, serine or threonine kinases - G01N 2500/00: Screening for compounds of potential therapeutic value - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Assays for detecting the presence and activity of cell-signaling components. These assays include luminescence polarization assays for detecting cell-signaling nucleotides and modulators of receptors and enzymes related to the generation and activity of such nucleotides. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of testing a compound for modulation of a receptor or enzyme involved in generation of a cyclic nucleotide, the method comprising: contacting a sample with a tracer comprising a cyclic nucleotide coupled to a luminophore, and with an opposite member of a specific binding pair to the cyclic nucleotide; illuminating the sample with polarized light, wherein the light is capable of inducing emission of polarized light from the luminophore; measuring the extent of polarization of light emitted from the luminophore in the presence and in the absence of a compound; and identifying the compound as a modulator of the receptor or enzyme if the extent of polarization changes in the presence relative to the absence of the compound. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying includes a step of identifying the compound as an inhibitor of the receptor or enzyme if the extent of polarization increases in the presence relative to the absence of the compound. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying includes a step of identifying the compound as an activator of the receptor or enzyme if the extent of polarization decreases in the presence relative to the absence of the compound. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the extent of polarization of light comprises a step of evaluating a function selected from the group consisting of polarization and anisotropy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the opposite member of a specific binding pair is an antibody. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the nucleotide is cyclic AMP (cAMP) or cyclic GMP (cGMP). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the nucleotide is cyclic AMP (cAMP). ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the nucleotide is cyclic GMP (cGMP). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes a step of contacting whole cells or a cell lysate with the compound. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying includes a step of identifying the compound as an inhibitor or activator of a G-protein-coupled receptor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying includes a step of identifying the compound as an inhibitor or activator of adenylyl cyclase. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying includes a step of identifying the compound as an inhibitor or activator of guanylyl cyclase. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing the tracer in a lysis buffer.