Biophysical Society 60th Annual Meeting

Exhibitor Presentation

Molecular Devices

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm, Room 513

Pushing the Performance Envelope: Evaluation of the NMDA Receptor

Using Automated Electrophysiology and Fast Fluidics

Ligand gated ion channels (LGICs) mediate fast synaptic transmission

in the nervous system and are highly attractive drug targets due to the

pivotal role they play in many physiological functions. The N-Methly-D-

Aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a LGIC that is activated by glutamate, the

primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Functional

impairment or over-excitation of the NMDA receptor occurs in a variety

of disease states, however efficient screening for compounds that target

the NMDA receptor remains elusive.

Over the last decade, automated electrophysiology has become an

indispensable tool for analyzing ion channel activities. Here data will be

presented evaluating the fluidic performance of automated patch clamp

and its impact on measurement of NMDA receptor activity. We examine

channel biophysics both in the presence and absence of extracellular

, calculate the EC

of glutamate and the IC

s of antagonists D-AP5

and Ifenprodil, and explore use-dependent blockage by MK801. We also

examine differences between competitive and non-competitive inhibi-

tion models. Our studies demonstrate the robust fluidics performance of

our automated electrophysiology system and its successful application to

high-throughput screens and compound profiling assays targeting LGICs.

Speaker

Jeff Webber, Product Manager, Molecular Devices LLC

Exhibitor Presentation

Sutter Instrument

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, Room 505

Scientists Empowering Scientists

Patch clamp electrophysiology has matured from a highly specialized

scientific technique to a recognized method used to address a variety of

experimental questions. Sutter Instrument introduces a highly flexi-

ble, intuitive patch clamp instrumentation and software package that

enables the experimenter to quickly set up and perform routine tasks,

yet remains highly configurable to meet the demands of the experienced

electrophysiologist.

We will demonstrate how the IPA™ Integrated Patch Amplifier and Sut-

terPatch™ software can be used for a variety of commonly performed as-

says, including the characterization of an ionic current and the recording

of synaptic events in tissue slices. We will also highlight how the IPA and

SutterPatch software provide easy access and flexibility to perform and

fine-tune the most challenging acquisition and analysis scenarios.

Building on the basic pipette pulling tutorials presented at the 2015 user

meeting and a mid-year webinar, we will further teach advanced tech-

niques that enable the user to create specialized pipette morphologies

for unique applications.

There will be plenty of opportunity for discussion with hosts and speakers

from the Sutter Instrument Tech Support Team.

Who should attend?

• Electrophysiologists who use amplifiers, micropipettes and microma-

nipulators for patch clamp, sharp electrode or extracellular record-

ings.

• Researchers who performmicroinjections, including nuclear transfer,

sperm injection and application of substances into cell cultures or

intact organisms.

Speakers

Jan Dolzer, Tech Support and Product Development, Sutter Instrument

Gregory Hjelmstad, Tech Support and Product Development, Sutter

Instrument

Adair Oesterle, Tech Support Micropipette Fabrication and Microinjec-

tion, Sutter Instrument

Awards and National Lecture

8:00 pm - 9:30 pm, Concourse Hall

Reception and Dance

9:30 pm - 12:00 am, J.W. Marriott - Diamond Ballroom

Registrants are invited to attend the reception following the National

Lecture. Badges will be required for admittance. Guest badges for this

event are available for purchase during registration.

Reception and Quiet Room

9:30 pm - 12:00 am, J.W. Marriott - Gold Ballroom

Registrants are invited to attend the reception in a more quiet

atmosphere following the National Lecture. Badges will be required for

admittance. Guest badges for this event are available for purchase during

registration.