Assays with Detection of Fluorescence Anisotropy: Challenges and Possibilities for Characterizing Ligand Binding to GPCRs

Binding of fluorescent ligands (tracers) to their target receptors can be directly monitored over time, as the binding of a low-molecular-weight (LMW) tracer to a larger particle causes an increase of fluorescence anisotropy (FA). The combination of bright fluorophores, tracers with low nonspecific binding, and budded baculovirus particles (BVPs) for overexpression of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) ensures a high signal-to-noise ratio in FA assays. The obtained data enable quantitative assessment of equilibrium binding and kinetic parameters for both the tracer and competing compounds as well as an estimation of the receptor concentration. FA assays have clear potential for implementation in drug screening systems, but also in studies of ligand-binding mechanisms for particular GPCRs.