Chemical Screens
Chemical Screens - Related Videos
09:44
High-throughput Screening for Chemical Modulators of Post-transcriptionally Regulated Genes
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2015
Here we describe a cell-based reporter gene assay as a valuable tool to screen chemical libraries for compounds modulating post-transcriptional control mechanisms exerted through 3’ UTR.
10:49
Development of automated imaging and analysis for zebrafish chemical screens.
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Cited by 48 •
2010
We report the development of a system for automated imaging and analysis of zebrafish transgenic embryos in multiwell plates. This demonstrates the ability to measure dose dependent effects of a small molecule, BCI, on Fibroblast Growth Factor reporter gene expression and provide technology for establishing high-throughput zebrafish chemical screens.
11:34
High-throughput Screening for Broad-spectrum Chemical Inhibitors of RNA Viruses
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Cited by 14 •
2014
In vitro assays to measure virus replication have been greatly improved by the development of recombinant RNA viruses expressing luciferase or other enzymes capable of bioluminescence. Here we detail a high-throughput screening pipeline that combines such recombinant strains of measles and chikungunya viruses to isolate broad-spectrum antivirals from chemical libraries.
07:25
High-throughput Screening of Chemical Compounds to Elucidate Their Effects on Bacterial Persistence
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Cited by 1 •
2021
In this method paper, we present a high-throughput screening strategy to identify chemical compounds, such as osmolytes, that have a significant impact on bacterial persistence.
04:22
Embryo-Based Chemical Toxicity Screen: Assessing Effects on Developing Zebrafish Embryos
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2023
In this article, zebrafish embryos are used for chemical toxicity screening. Chemical toxicity is correlated with phenotype readouts. The sample protocol shows a methodological approach of performing the chemical toxicity screening.
FAQs
The measured phenotype serves as the bridge between a compound’s activity and a biological process. Changes in viability, gene expression, signaling, or morphology provide observable evidence that a molecule affects cellular or organismal function. Because these readouts represent different levels of biology, selecting one determines which pathway or functional consequence the screen can reveal.
Controls establish whether an observed change reflects the tested compound rather than the experimental setup. Dose-response analysis adds a second layer by showing how the measured effect varies as chemical exposure changes. Together, these features strengthen interpretation, help distinguish consistent activity from an isolated result, and guide decisions about which compounds merit validation.
Chemical screens can be performed with cells, proteins, or model organisms, and the choice changes what the result means. Cell-based assays can capture effects on viability, signaling, gene expression, or morphology, whereas protein-based or organismal settings examine activity at different biological levels. Matching the assay system to the question helps connect chemical effects with function.
Validation is necessary because an initial active result is not the final conclusion. Researchers retest selected compounds in follow-up assays to determine whether the measured phenotype persists under the intended conditions. This step links an observed chemical effect to a more reliable biological interpretation and supports later studies of pathways, gene function, or disease mechanisms.
A useful plan specifies the biological material, the collection of compounds, the exposure conditions, and the phenotype to measure. Researchers then test compounds individually under controlled conditions, record the selected readout, and prioritize active molecules for follow-up. This structured sequence makes results comparable across chemicals and keeps interpretation tied to a defined biological question.
A compound that changes a defined phenotype can serve as a probe for biological pathways connected to that phenotype. By examining which cellular or organismal functions respond, researchers can identify pathway components and characterize gene function. The approach also supports studies of disease mechanisms, where chemical perturbations help relate molecular activity to biological outcomes.
Active compounds can be recognized as potential leads when they produce a measurable biological effect in a relevant assay. Subsequent validation and dose-response analysis help determine whether the activity is sufficiently consistent and interpretable for further study. This connects chemical behavior with disease-related biology and supports the identification of molecules for therapeutic investigation.