Advanced Cellular Dynamics

Frequently Asked Questions

In what form should I submit my compounds for evaluation?

While we prefer that you submit your compound as a solid (together with the formula weight), we will accept compounds solvated in DMSO. If you choose the latter, we encourage you to submit your compound in a 0-ring sealed microfuge tube and ship on dry ice. Solid compounds can be shipped at room temperature, which greatly reduces cost.

How much compound do you require for a profiling study?

We minimally require 100 microliters of a 1,000X concentrate. Most assays are conducted with a top concentration of 10 micromolar (M), requiring 100 L of a 10 mM stock.

How is my compound handled during the study?

Compounds are stored at the same temperature at which they were delivered (-80C for dry ice). The day of the assay, your compounds are either thawed or solvated in DMSO, and then arrayed into a 384-well plate for serial dilution. Once initiated, the plate is sealed with a gasketed steel lid until all data have been collected and validated for integrity. The plate is then sealed with aluminum foil and stored at -80C for six months.

How long do you retain our compound before disposal?

Compounds are retained for six months after completion of a study. Shorter or longer periods are possible with prior arrangement.

Why do you offer the same recombinant kinase with different fusion partners?

Not all fusion partners create a recombinant kinase capable of transforming Ba/F3 or FDC-P1 cells. Deploying alternative fusion partners often overcomes this obstacle. When we construct a new assay, we will typically deploy five different fusion partners and transduce all of them into the host cell(s). Those that lead to successful transformation are incorporated into our growing panel. Interestingly, different fusion partners yield different biological responses to small chemical entities. See our 2017 SLAS poster to learn more.

Why do you use different cell lines to express your recombinant kinases?

Like our use of different fusion partners, not all cell lines can be transformed by a specific kinase/fusion partner. As with alternative fusion partners, alternative host cell lines can also alter kinase biology and likely reflect real world biology associated with tumors in different anatomical locations. See our 2017 SLAS poster to learn more.

May I have the raw machine data for our study?

ACD typically evaluates compounds from multiple clients on a single plate. For this reason, we do not extract the raw machine data for our customers. All data are compiled in the GraphPad Prism software suite and the file is provided to the customer to facilitate alternative evaluation methods.

Our company doesn’t permit us to export our compound(s) to third parties, may I purchase your assays for internal use?

Yes, our assays may be purchased for unlimited and unrestricted internal use by you or your third-party providers. For the budget-conscious client, you may also lease our assays in six-month intervals. Contact an ACD sales representative to learn more.

I don’t see an assay for the gene I’m interested in studying, can you help me develop a custom assay?

Yes, we do so regularly. We will consult with you to determine the best type of assay for your needs, whether it be based on proliferation, survival, transcription, or some other aspect of an assay-tractable biology.