BlueScreen HC from Gentronix Ltd. uses genetically modified, human-derived cells to detect the genotoxic effects of compounds. The assay builds flexibility into the use of GADD45a assays for pharmaceutical, personal care, and consumer product testing.

Originally used for the highly successful GreenScreen HC assay, p53-competent Human TK6 cells have now been modified to report expression of the GADD45a gene which occurs as a result of genotoxic damage using an alternative reporter construct. Whereas GreenScreen uses fluorescence from green fluorescent protein (GFP) to signal GADD45a expression, the BlueScreen HC assay utilizes a luciferase from the marine copepod Gaussia princeps to generate a luminescent output that delivers both high specificity and high sensitivity, and also helps to reduce problems due to autofluorescence.

The addition of this alternative reporter construct builds flexibility into the choice of assay for the customer by extending the licensed range of applications for the GADD45a reporter assay to include, for example, flavours, fragrances and taste enhancers (FFTE). FFTE’s in personal care, cosmetics or consumer products can now be screened for genotoxicity in the same way as other components, giving greater consistency of results and convenience to the developer.

The first paper on the use of BlueScreen HC entitled “Development of a high-throughput Gaussia luciferase reporter assay for the activation of the GADD45a gene by mutagens, promutagens, clastogens, and aneugens” has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Biomolecular Screening. The conclusion of this peer reviewed paper is that BlueScreen HC was as effective as GreenScreen HC in producing positive results for all classes of genotoxicity, and negative results for all non-genotoxins tested.

Gentronix Ltd.