Sensitive protein:ligand biochemical assays using Corning® Epic® label-free technology on the EnSpire Multimode Plate Reader

While antibody-based fluorescence and radioactive detection technologies have dominated drug discovery and biological research worldwide, label-free technology is becoming widely accepted as a valuable research tool for mechanism-of-action (MOA) studies in lead optimization and receptor pharmacology. Here we introduce EnSpire® Multimode Plate Reader with Corning® Epic® label-free technology. This orthogonal platform enables the use of both label-free and labeled technologies to comprehensively identify, and characterize target and ligand behavior in both cell-based and biochemical assays, with greater confidence. The integration of Corning® Epic® label-free optical sensor technology can be used in multiwell microplate formats to interrogate protein:protein and protein:small molecule biomolecular interactions. In biochemical assays, label-free has the advantage over functional assays of recording actual binding events rather than the downstream functional effect of binding. Label-free eliminates the need for costly targeted antibodies and issues such as background fluorescence or radioactive interference to detection associated with the use of labels, while providing access to novel biochemical and pharmacological information for basic research and drug discovery. Label-free Technology A P P L I C A T I O N N O T E