Summary

The α7 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR α7) is integral to neurological and immune signaling, emerging as a promising therapeutic target for disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Yet, nAChR α7 electrophysiological studies face significant technical challenges due to the receptor's rapid desensitization, low ion channel conductance, and limited availability of selective ligands. To address these, recent innovations include the development of a stable nAChR α7/ric3 HEK cell line by Eurofins/DiscoverX, which improves receptor expression and enables enhanced acetylcholine response with positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) such as PNU-120596. These advancements help overcome receptor desensitization, allowing for more reliable assays.

This webinar will highlight the benefits of using Ready-to-Assay (RTA) frozen cells from this stable line, which deliver consistent performance post-thaw, eliminating the need for live cell cultures. Validation data will show acetylcholine potentiation using two distinct PAMs, PNU-120596 and NS-1738, on the SyncroPatch 384 platform.

Furthermore, Nanion Technologies introduces the NPC-384T F/M STIM chip, engineered for the SyncroPatch 384 system to enhance the precision and speed of ligand applications critical for the reliable activation of fast-desensitizing ion channels like nAChR α7. Compared to standard chips, F/M STIM chips deliver superior performance with higher seal resistance, greater current amplitudes, and faster response kinetics, while maintaining consistency in EC50 values for ligands such as acetylcholine, nicotine, and the PAM PNU-120596.

Join us to learn about these exciting developments in nAChR α7 assays.

Key insights will be presented by James Costantin from Eurofins/DiscoverX, who will discuss the stable cell line advancements, and Ilka Rinke-Weiß from Nanion Technologies, who will showcase the enhanced capabilities of the NPC-384T F/M STIM chip on the SyncroPatch 384. These tools represent a significant leap forward in enabling high-throughput, reliable nAChR a7 pharmacological screening.