The automated cell: compound and environment screening system (ACCESS) for chemogenomic screening

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Genomic screens in Saccharomyces cerevisiae often involve gene dose modulation to understand compound effects.
• Phenotypic experiments benefit from high-resolution growth curves and automated, controlled environments for multi-day assays.
• Precise control over drug dosing, exposure timing, and cell harvesting is crucial for optimal experimental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the automated cell, compound and environment screening system (ACCESS) as a platform for chemogenomic research.
• To highlight the system's capabilities in enabling high-throughput screening and detailed analysis of bioactive compounds.
• To demonstrate the utility of automated systems in advancing the discovery of novel compounds and drug targets.

Main Methods:

• Development of an automated platform for chemogenomic research, named ACCESS.
• Implementation of a highly automated, controlled environment for multi-well assays over extended periods.
• Integration of precise control mechanisms for drug dosing, exposure, and cell harvesting at specific generation times.

Main Results:

• Facilitation of fine distinctions in growth rates among mutant yeast strains.
• Enabled the discovery of novel bioactive compounds and potential drug targets through large-scale screening.
• Successful screening of over 100,000 unique compounds and approximately one thousand genome-wide screens.

Conclusions:

• The ACCESS system significantly enhances chemogenomic research by providing a robust, automated platform.
• Automation allows for large-scale screening projects, accelerating the identification of compounds and drug targets.
• The system's software tools simplify complex screen setup, execution, and evaluation for researchers.