Gloria Meng, Senior Scientist of Technology at Genentech to Present at GTCbio 3rd Assay Development & Screening Technologies Conference, June 5-6, 2008 in San Francis

Monrovia, CA, April 30, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The detection of cell surface proteins is often essential to evaluate its biological functions and to develop therapeutic drugs. Conventionally, Flow cytometry and cell-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been used for this purpose. Recently, Dr. Meng and her colleagues used a quantitative high throughput electrochemiluminescent (ECL) assay method using carbon surface electrodes built into the bottom of microwell plates to detect cell surface proteins on live cells. For suspension cells, Dr. They found that this assay method has a higher throughput than cell-based ELISA, since the carbon surface plates bind cells tightly enough to allow plates to be washed on a plate washer, avoiding the centrifugation steps used in the cell-based ELISA. For adherent cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) can be grown, activated, and assayed in the same carbon surface plate. Using this method, Genentech has developed an assay to evaluate inhibition of I-CAM expression on lymphotoxin stimulated HUVECs by different anti-lymphotoxin antibodies. This assay has a much lower background than a corresponding cell-based ELISA and is much easier to perform than a corresponding flow cytometry assay, which requires time-consuming cell detachment steps. This electrochemiluminescent assay method provides a useful tool to detect cell surface proteins on live cells.

GTCbio's 3rd Assay Development and Screening Technologies conference will provide attendees with critical information to utilize in the discovery and development of assays, while keeping them informed about the latest screening technologies for both high-throughput screening and high-content screening. Topics being covered include cell based assays, high throughput screening, high content screening, in vitro assays and screening, novel assay and screening technologies, and target validation. For more information visit www.gtcbio.com.

ABOUT GTCbio
GTCbio organizes conferences specifically for the biomedical and biopharmaceutical industries. Their goal is to facilitate the exchange of biopharmaceutical and biomedical intelligence between industry leaders, academic and government organizations, and the financial community.
GTCbio is a subsidiary of Global Technology Community, LLC, a privately held company founded in 2002.

Contact: GTCBIO (626) 256-6405, (626) 256-6460 fax, nina.tran@gtcbio.com

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