- Empower lead selection and optimization earlier in the drug development process
- Use our Cardiac Safety services, on-target assays or our custom ion channel testing services
- Automated Patch Clamp assays offer the assurance of gold-standard electrophysiology data - scaled to meet the needs of discovery phase R&D
- Opt for the GLP hERG, ideal for IND submissions
- Our broad array of binding, tissue and functional assays provides ample opportunity to capture the ion channel data you need, when you need it
- Access to scientific expertise and technical support for data interpretation
Cardiac Safety Ion Channel Testing Services
The withdrawal of drugs from the marketplace due to arrhythmias underscores the need for effective cardiac safety screening and necessitates the identification of potential liabilities early in the drug discovery process. Sodium, calcium, and potassium comprise the major currents of the cardiac action potential.
Voltage-Gated Ion Channels
The voltage-gated channel family includes Na+, Ca2+ and K+ channels whose open and closed states are mediated by changes in cell membrane potential. These multimeric channels tightly regulate the flux of ions across cell membranes and maintain ionic gradients required for normal cell function including but not limited to, neurons, skeletal and cardiac muscle cells.
Ligand-Gated Ion Channels
The LGICs open in response to specific ligand binding to the extracellular domain of the receptor. Ligand binding induces a conformational change causing the channel gate to open and allow ion flux across the plasma membrane. LGICs include the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, ionotropic glutamate receptors, P2X receptors, and GABAA receptor.
TRP Ion Channels
The TRP family contains more than 28 members with diverse modes of activation. TRP subfamilies include classical (TRPC), vanilloid receptors (TRPV), melastatin (TRPM), polycystins (TRPP), mucolipins (TRPML), and ankyrin transmembrane protein 1 (TRPA). Some TRP channels are voltage-gated, though not strongly so, with others sensitive to intracellular Ca2+, pH, redox state, osmolarity, and mechanical stretch.
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