ChromoTek introduces novel real-time cell cycle assay for HCA screening

ChromoTek, a company specializing in bioimaging reagents, has launched the U2OS Cell Cycle Chromobody®, the first real-time HCA screening assay to monitor the complete cell cycle in live cells. The intracellular expression of the fluorescent Cell Cycle Chromobody® enables scientists to simultaneously analyze a set of different cellular parameters: cell size and morphology, nuclear morphology, progression of S phase (early - mid - late stage) and mitosis. This powerful assay enables screening of compounds such as cancer drugs for effects on the cell cycle and toxicity in one experiment. The U2OS Cell Cycle Chromobody® can be applied in early drug development and validation as well as in basic research.

The U2OS Cell Cycle Chromobody® is a cell line stably expressing a small binding protein which targets and traces an endogenous cell cycle marker protein. In contrast to widely used fluorescent fusion proteins, the Cell Cycle Chromobody® provides information about the distribution and dynamics of the native factor. In addition, the Cell Cycle Chromobody® is not cytotoxic and does not affect normal cell function making it an ideal tool for the analysis of molecular processes in the cell in response to external factors such as drug candidates.

With the Cell Cycle Chromobody® ChromoTek introduces a product line for cell scientists who want to analyze cellular processes in real time and to detect dynamic protein-protein interactions in biomedical research and pharmaceutical compound screening. Further Chromobody products addressing other essential cellular pathways will follow soon.