CHEMBL5733616

Cell-Based Assay: The assay involves using a cell line that expresses the NR1 subunit together with either NR2C or NR2D. These cell lines can be prepared by transfecting a cell line with an appropriate vector that includes the DNA encoding the NR2C or NR2D receptors. One suitable cell line is BHK-1 (Syrian hamster kidney BHK-21 is a subclone (clone 13) of the parental line established from the kidneys of five unsexed, one-day-old hamsters in 1961).The NR2D receptor cDNA has also been cloned, for example, in 293T cells (Glover et al., “Interaction of the N-Methyl-D-Aspartic Acid Receptor NR2D Subunit with the c-Abl Tyrosine Kinase*,” J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 275, Issue 17, 12725-12729, Apr. 28, 2000). The cDNA for NR2D is also described in this reference.An NR2D cDNA (clone designation pNR2D422) is also disclosed in Arvanian, et al., “Viral Delivery of NR2D Subunits Reduces Mg2+ Block of NMDA Receptor and Restores NT-3-Induced Potentiation of AMPA-Kainate Responses in Maturing Rat Motoneurons,” J Neurophysiol 92: 2394-2404, 2004.The cDNA for the NR2C is described, for example, in Lin, Y. J., Bovetto, S, Carver, J. M., and Giordano, T., “Cloning of the cDNA for the human NMDA receptor NR2C subunit and its expression in the central nervous system and periphery, Molecular Brain Research, 1996, vol. 43, no 1-2, pp. 57-64 (41 ref.). Lin et al. describe several overlapping cDNA clones containing 3995 nucleotides of the human 2C NMDA receptor subunit (NR2C) that were isolated from human hippocampal and cerebellar cDNA libraries. The predicted protein sequence is 1233 amino acids long. Lin et al. noted that readily detectable levels of NR2C are present in the hippocampus, amygdala, caudate nucleus, corpus callosum, subthalamic nuclei and thalamus, as well as the heart, skeletal muscle and pancreas, demonstrating a widespread expression pattern of the NR2C gene, both in the CNS and in the periphery.In one embodiment, the high throughput bioassay uses commercially-available BHK-21 cell lines expressing NR1 under control of the Tet-On system (Clontech) (Hansen et al (2008), and which constitutively express either NR2C or NR2D. FIG. 4A illustrates vector design for the NR2D cell line. A similar strategy can be used for the NR2C cell line, except that the NR2C cDNA is used in place of NR2D cDNA.Stable expression of NMDA receptor subunits is cytotoxic. To avoid this toxicity, the culture media can be supplemented with NMDA receptor antagonists, for example, DL-APV and 7Cl-kynurenate. Functional NR1 expression can be induced by doxycyclin before the assay.