Finally, A Versatile Screening & Development System!
Experience the new-found freedom and flexibility that the VaryScreen I brings to assay screening and development for drug discovery research applications, and high throughput screening environments.
• Integrated Workcell
VaryScreen I integrates laboratory instrumentation with plate and liquid handling robots, and software to automate all aspects of an assay. The basic configuration includes a multimode microplate reader with fluorescence, luminescence, and UV-Visible detectors. The system's SoftLinx software controls all of the robots actions in an efficient, coordinated operation.
• One System Performs Six of the Most Common Assays
There's no need to purchase several dedicated systems for each assay type. Now there's a workcell that lets you shift from one type of assay to another. The VaryScreen performs six of the most of the common biological assays conducted today with pre-defined protocols below. And you can introduce countless variations with just a few user-friendly software modifications
1. Fluorescence Intensity
2. Fluorescence Polarization
3. FRET (and variations e.g., LANCE and VIPER)
4. Luminescence (e.g., Luciferase Reporter)
5. ELISA
6. AlphaScreen
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Speed up Assay Development, Validation and Execution
For the first time, VaryScreen I makes it easy to evaluate the impact of various changes in assay conditions to develop, model and validate your in-house screens.
AlphaScreen is a bead-based assay which can be used to determine the extent in which two molecules are bound to each other. One component is covalently bound to an acceptor bead, which produces singlet oxygen upon illumination. The other component is attached to an acceptor bead that reacts with singlet oxygen to produce a specific fluorescence signal. The signal will only be produced when the beads are in close proximity which can only occur when the two component molecules are bound. 
Many assays can be designed that take advantage of the specific absorbance of organic molecules that may be created or consumed in a biochemical reaction. Determination of the quantity of the absorbing substance, or analysis of kinetics of a reaction can be carried out. The Synergy 4 uses a xenon flash lamp and a monochromator for wavelength selection. It allows absorbance measurement within the range of 200 to 999 nanometers in 1 nanometer increments. 
This method that can be used to assess the degree of movement of a molecule after there is a change in its environment. For example, BioTek's Predictor hERG assay places a tracer molecule at the intracellular side of the ion channel. The tracer is designed to produce a strong response to polarized light. When an ion channel inhibitor is added, the tracer is displaced, and its resulting randomized motion greatly reduces the degree of polarization that is observed. 
The Synergy 4 is also capable of carrying out many reporter assays, such as beta-Galactoside, Glow and Firefly Luciferase. Luciferase reporter vectors are relatively easy to construct and transfect into plasmid DNA. Once cell extracts are prepared, measurement of luciferase activity is a good indicator of the presence of the desired gene expression.
Several key assays are frequently used in drug screening that take advantage of intermolecular transfer of fluorescense resonance energy transfer. Many kits are available that support such assays as LANCE, VIPR and other TR-FRET protocols. All of these are easily supported by the VaryScreen.
