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G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
Luciferase Reporter Cell Lines

Signosis GPCR Luciferase Reporter Cell Lines: Pioneering Incretin & Metabolic Research

 

Obesity and diabetes are no longer just global health challenges—they are the primary drivers of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), and various cancers. While incretin-based therapies like GLP-1R agonists have revolutionized treatment, the next frontier requires more precise tools to address limitations like muscle mass loss and the need for oral bioavailability.

 

Signosis provides a high-sensitivity platform of GPCR/CREB Luciferase Reporter Cell Lines specifically engineered for the modern drug discovery pipeline. Our models allow researchers to monitor receptor signaling with unprecedented clarity, focusing on:

  • Single-Target Validation: High-fidelity models for GLP-1R, GIPR, and Amylin pathways.

  • Dual-Receptor Agonism: Specialized tools to study receptor crosstalk and synergistic effects—critical for "Twincretin" and next-generation multi-agonist research.

  • Small-Molecule Discovery: Optimized for the development of oral GLP-1R agonists and non-peptide modulators.

Beyond our standard single-receptor cell lines, Signosis also develops customized dual-receptor reporter models, giving researchers the ability to study receptor crosstalk, synergistic effects, and novel therapeutic mechanisms—key areas for next-generation obesity and diabetes research.

Principle: Transforming Cellular Signaling into Quantifiable Light 

 

Signosis GPCR Reporter Stable Cell Lines utilize a transcriptional reporter system to provide real-time, functional readouts of G protein-coupled receptor activation. Unlike binding assays that only show attachment, our system confirms biological activity.

 

The Signaling Cascade

The mechanism is built on the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway, which is the primary driver for metabolic receptors like GLP-1R and GIPR:

  1. Ligand Binding: An agonist (peptide or small molecule) binds to the receptor (e.g., GLP-1R, GIPR, or the CTR-RAMP3 complex).

  2. Pathway Activation: This triggers the G protein-coupled receptor, stimulating Adenylyl Cyclase to increase intracellular cAMP levels.

  3. Transcription Induction: Elevated cAMP activates Protein Kinase A (PKA), leading to the phosphorylation of CREB.

  4. Luciferase Expression: Phospho-CREB binds to the cAMP Response Element (CRE) in the promoter, driving the expression of the Firefly Luciferase gene.

  5. Quantitative Readout: The resulting luminescence is directly proportional to the receptor's activation state, offering a high signal-to-noise ratio and a wide dynamic range.

 

Validation & Reliability

  • Diverse Ligand Compatibility: Functionally validated with both high-molecular-weight peptides and synthetic small molecules.

  • Stability: Established through rigorous antibiotic selection to ensure consistent performance over 25+ passages.

  • Pharmacological Precision: Ideal for determining EC50 and IC50 values in competitive inhibition or activation studies.

Workflow for GPCR reporter cell line assays showing receptor activation, signal transduction, and luciferase expression.

Ligand binding to GLP1R, GIPR, or the CTR-RAMP3 complex activates Gs-coupled signaling, leading to increased cAMP, PKA activation, and CREB phosphorylation. Phospho-CREB drives transcription of a CRE-luciferase reporter, producing light via firefly luciferase.

Benefits

High Induction

Over 100x Induction delivers clear, measurable responses for confident data interpretation.

Mycoplasma free

Rigorously screened to ensure clean, contamination-free cultures for reliable results.

Ligand-Responsive Readout

Uses the cAMP luciferase system to give a strong, measurable signal only when a ligand activates the receptor.

Mechanism-Focused Research

Helps researchers better understand how specific GIPR isoforms function in different pathways or diseases.

Ready to Use

Stable Cell Lines are immediately ready to use — no extra transfections or optimization needed.

Isoform-Specific Detection

Designed to measure the activity of GPCR, avoiding cross-reactivity seen in traditional assays.

Stable and Reproducible

Stably integrated reporter constructs ensure reproducible performance without the need for repeated transfections.

Fully Validated Performance

Each cell line is tested for correct receptor expression, ligand response, and antibiotic selection.

Fast and Easy Compound Screening

Compatible with both high-throughput and common assay formats, making them ideal for testing drugs or compounds that target GPCR receptors.

Improved Accuracy

Focuses on the receptor’s ligand-binding domain (LBD) instead of the shared DNA-binding region for more precise results.

Broad Agonist Responsiveness

The cell line is functionally validated to respond to both peptide and non-peptide agonists.

We offer a highly sensitive Firefly Luciferase Substrate, which can accurately measure firefly luciferase activity in cells.

Customer Q&As

Q: What GPCR pathways do these reporter cell lines detect?
A: These cell lines primarily monitor GPCR-mediated cAMP/CRE signaling using a luciferase reporter system.

 

Q: Are these GPCR reporter cell lines suitable for high-throughput screening?
A: Yes. These cell lines generate a robust luminescent signal with low background and are fully compatible with 96-, 384-, and 1536-well HTS formats, making them ideal for drug discovery and screening applications.

 

Q: Can you customize GPCR reporter cell lines?
A: Yes, Signosis offers custom GPCR reporter cell line development upon request.

Q: What cell background is used for GPCR reporter cell lines?

A: Most GPCR luciferase reporter cell lines are generated in HEK293 cells, providing high transfection efficiency, robust growth, and consistent assay performance.

Q: Can these cell lines be used for agonist and antagonist screening?

A: Yes. GPCR luciferase reporter cell lines are commonly used to evaluate agonist activity, antagonist inhibition, and dose-response relationships (EC50/IC50).

Q: Can these cell lines be used for compound profiling and SAR studies?

A: Yes. These cell lines are well suited for compound profiling, structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies, and lead optimization.

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