Advancements in Biomedical Research: Insights from SLAS Discovery, Volume 29, Issue 1

Exploring Innovations in Type-1 Diabetes Therapies, Drug Discovery
Hepatic Stability, and Anti-Influenza Drug Screening

Oak Brook, IL (March 15, 2024) – Volume 29, Issue 1 of SLAS Discovery features two review articles, five original research articles pertaining to Type-1 diabetes therapies, hepatic stability in drug discovery and anti-influenza drug screening and one short communication.

Reviews

• Key Aspects of Modern GPCR Drug Discovery
  This review summarizes G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery's journey since the first GPCR was cloned in 1986, highlighting key insights – such as GPCR internalization advantages – challenges and future prospects.


• Therapeutic Approaches for Type 1 Diabetes: Promising Cell-Based Approaches to Achieve Ultimate Success
  This review explores the development of insulin-producing cells (IPCs) derived from stem cells and reprogrammed differentiated cells for Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) treatment. IPCs generated from non-beta cell sources offer promising alternatives to traditional therapies, addressing the challenge of insulin dependence.

Original Research

• Consideration of Vendor-Related Differences in Hepatic Metabolic Stability Data to Optimize Early ADME Screening in Drug Discovery
  This article emphasizes the significance of hepatic metabolic stability in early drug discovery. It highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing such discrepancies to ensure accurate drug development.


• Multiplexed Experimental Strategies for Fragment Library Screening Against Challenging Drug Targets Using SPR Biosensors
  This article discusses the utility of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors in fragment-based lead discovery. It addresses the need for detailed protocols for challenging targets or when tool compounds are unavailable.


• Genome-Scale Functional Genomics Screening Highlights Genes Impacting Protein Fucosylation in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells
  This article delves into the importance of N-linked glycosylation in therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and its impact on efficacy and safety. Through a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in Chinese hamster ovarycells, the study identifies novel regulators of protein fucosylation, offering insights into potential enhancements in mAb production and therapeutic efficacy through genetic pathways modulation.


• Characterization and Comparison of Hypoxia Inducing Factors on Tumor Growth and Metastasis Between Two- and Three-Dimensional Cancer Models
  This article explores the role of monocarboxylic acid transporter 4 (Mct-4) in the cellular response to hypoxia using a 3D tumorsphere assay. The study highlights the differences in Mct-4's impact on growth in 3D models in comparison to 2D models, demonstrating the importance of establishing proper cell models and providing insights into tumor growth and migration mechanisms in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment.


• High-Throughput Cell-Based Immunofluorescence Assays Against Influenza
  This article presents a new way to quickly identify anti-influenza drugs through a highly sensitive cell-based imaging assay. The approach uses human A549 cells and is high-throughput compatible, making it a promising option for future drug screening and potency determinations.

Short Communication

• Virtual Plates: Getting the Best Out of High Content Screens
  This communication highlights the need for automated hit analysis and detection methods in high content screening (HCS). The study builds upon a statistical framework and introduces a novel concept called Virtual Plates, providing an automated approach to HCS hit detection. This facilitates data analysis and enhances accessibility to hit data despite technical issues encountered during screening campaigns.

Access to this issue of SLAS Discovery is available at https://slas-discovery.org/issue/S2472-5552(24)X0002-7

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SLAS Discovery reports how scientists develop and use novel technologies and/or approaches to provide and characterize chemical and biological tools to understand and treat human disease. The journal focuses on drug discovery sciences with a strong record of scientific rigor and impact, reporting on research that:

• Enables and improves target validation
• Evaluates current drug discovery technologies
• Provides novel research tools
• Incorporates research approaches that enhance depth of knowledge and drug discovery success

SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

SLAS Discovery: Advancing the Science of Drug Discovery, 2022 Impact Factor 3.1. Editor-in-Chief Robert M. Campbell, Ph.D., Redona Therapeutics, Watertown, MA (USA)

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