A state-of-the-art microplate reader for research in endocrine toxicology and cancer

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The SpectraMax M5 multi-detection microplate reader from Molecular Devices is a highly versatile instrument with important applications in toxicological research. It can measure absorbance, fluorescence intensity, polarized and time-resolved fluorescence, and luminescence in 6- to 384-well plate formats, or in cuvettes. It has continuous spectral scanning and kinetic capabilities and includes a sophisticated analysis software package. This system is necessary for the advancement and increased efficiency of the endocrine toxicology research group at our institute INRS-IAF. The diverse research activities of the (co-)applicants cover the study of mechanisms of cell toxicity, expression of mRNA, analysis of DNA (all applicants), measurement of catalytic enzyme activities (T Sanderson), detection and identification of proteins (C Vaillancourt, D Cyr), and the elucidation of steroid hormone- (T Sanderson), neurotransmitter- (C Vaillancourt) and cytokine- (D Girard) signalling pathways involved in endocrine disturbances and inflammation, either by chemicals or due to disease or aging. A good understanding of the identity and behaviour of second messengers, various protein kinases, and numerous other protein-protein interactions involved in the highly interdependent immuno-neuro-endocrine signalling system requires a sensitive, versatile and high-throughput microplate reader. Molecular Devices has developed unique technology facilitating the study of signalling pathways, such as CatchPoint (for detection of cAMP/GMP) and IMAP (for the measurement of various protein kinase activities), which are assays that require highly sensitive polarized and time-resolved fluorescence capabilities. The requested instrument is also highly suitable for the sensitive and rapid quantitative detection of proteins, cytokines, and caspases, using various ELISA methods. The instrument is further essential for the measurement of luminescence in organs isolated from luciferase-transfected transgenic mice designed for the study of steroid hormone-signalling and steroid enzyme-regulation, a project currently funded by the NSERC discovery grant of the main applicant (T Sanderson).