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TUTORIAL Cardiomyocyte beating parameters were measured on the SpectraMax i3 Platform using a kinetic, well-by-well fuorescence read mode and analyzed using Peak Pro software algorithms in SoftMax® Pro Software. Sixteen analysis parameters, including peak count, peak frequency, peak amplitude, peak width, decay time, and several others, were calculated. In this example peak count, the number of peaks measured during a 25-second reading, was used to quantify the effects of compounds on cardiac beating. To obtain additional information on possible toxicity of compounds that caused a decrease in the peak count, live cells were stained with the green-fuorescent viability dye calcein AM (Life Technologies) after compound treatment and beat measurement. Cells were imaged using the MiniMax Imaging Cytometer, an upgradable option for the SpectraMax i3 Platform. Several cell analysis methods are available in SoftMax Pro Software, including cell count, cell proliferation, and marker expression. Changes in cell viability due to compound toxicity were analyzed using the cell proliferation analysis protocol to measure the area covered by live, calcein AM-stained cells in each well. Using the combined analysis of cardiomyocyte beating and viability imaging, compounds with differing effects on cells were identifed. The average peak count for control wells was 12 peaks per 25 second read time, and wells in which peak count was signifcantly reduced could be easily distinguished by the software. Some compounds were identifed as generally cytotoxic, causing a signifcant reduction in peak count and a decrease in percent area covered by viable cells. Other compounds adversely affected cardiomyocyte beating without impacting cell viability, as evidenced by a low peak count and a high percentage of area covered by viable cells. Figure 1 shows plate views of the data for both cardiac beating (top) and area covered by viable cells (bottom). Plate views offer an easy visual check for correlation between the effects of compounds on beating patterns and cell viability. In Figure 2, more detailed views of individual kinetic traces and representative images are shown for compounds with different effects on cardiomyocytes. Several compounds that dramatically reduced the peak count were shown to have little or no effect on overall cell viability. For example, digoxin, a drug widely used in the treatment of arrhythmias, reduced peak count from the roughly 12 beats per 25-second reading down to one or two beats. However, cell covered area was 71% compared to 82% in DMSO-treated controls—not a signifcant reduction in cell viability. The dopamine inverse agonist haloperidol had a distinct effect on beating profle without impacting viability. Other compounds, like staurosporine, greatly reduced both cell viability and peak count (Figure 2). Based on results from the compound liCathy Olsen, Ph.D. (cathy.olsen@moldev. com), and Jayne Hesley are application scientists, and Oksana Sirenko, Ph.D., is research scientist at Molecular Devices. Website: www.moleculardevices.com. OMICS brary screen, compounds with observed effects on beating rate and cytotoxicity were selected for more detailed study. Representative compounds were added to cardiomyocytes in a 1:3 dilution series to determine IC50 values. As before, cardiomyocyte contractions were visualized using the EarlyTox Cardiotoxicity dye, and beating profles measured on the SpectraMax i3 Platform. Data were analyzed using Peak Pro algorithms in the SoftMax Pro Software (Figure 3, top). After the beating was measured, the same cells were stained with calcein AM and imaged using the MiniMax Imaging Cytometer to determine cell viability. Concentration-response curves were plotted as area covered vs. compound concentration (Figure 3, bottom). Conclusions The SpectraMax i3 Platform with MiniMax Imaging Cytometer enables detection of cardiomyocyte beating and fuorescence imaging of cell viability in a single instrument, with integrated data analysis provided by SoftMax Pro software. Compound-induced changes in observed beating rate, or abnormal rhythms, can be correlated to cell viability. Concentration-dependent effects on cardiomyocyte beating on the SpectraMax i3 Platform for several reference compounds have been demonstrated. The MiniMax Imaging Cytometer was used to image cytotoxic effects in the same wells that were monitored for cardiomyocyte beating. Measuring functional readouts, like calcium fux and cell viability, in the very same wells, provides complementary information on the impact of compounds upon cardiomyocyte function and overall cell toxicity. What's Next? For your NGS Library Prep from New England Biolabs With NEBNext®, take advantage of our suite of products specifcally designed for an improved NGS library prep experience. You asked and we delivered products to address the most common challenges with library prep. NEBNext solutions are available for: ✓ Fast, streamlined workfows ✓ Low input amounts ✓ Minimized GC bias ✓ Ultra high fdelity ✓ Multiplexing ✓ DNA and RNA (including Directional RNA and Small RNA) Visit NEBNext.com to view a webinar on how NEBNext Ultra™ is enabling library prep for multiple applications. NEBNext.com NEW ENGLAND BIOLABS® and NEBNEXT® are registered trademarks of New England Biolabs, Inc. ULTRA™ is a trademark of New England Biolabs, Inc. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News | GENengnews.com | September 1, 2013 | 37