The Challenge
Studies carried out in the “Peptide Synthesis and Functional Screening” department of the Cell Imaging Platform of the University of Rouen in Haute-Normandie (the Plateforme de Recherche en Imagerie Cellulaire de Haute-Normandie or PRIMACEN) aim to identify bioactive molecules and to determine the biological activity of natural or synthetic molecules. Equipment in the platform can be used independently, upon reservation and following training. Biological tests consist of, for example, measuring secondary messengers such as cAMP or calcium, membrane potential, enzymatic activities, or cell survival and death. They are performed using low- and medium-throughput approaches depending on the number of samples and the type of analysis required.
Dr. Dubessy, Senior Lecturer, says “We needed to evaluate the biological activity of peptides by measuring the intracellular mobilization of calcium they induce. It was important that we were able to make several hundred measurements per day, to adapt to our academic environment.”
Les études menées dans le service « Synthèse de Peptides et Criblage Fonctionnel » de la Plateforme de Recherche en Imagerie Cellulaire de Haute-Normandie (PRIMACEN) ont pour but d'identifier des molécules bioactives et de déterminer l'activité biologique de molécules naturelles ou de synthèse. Les équipements sont accessibles de façon autonome, sur réservation et après une formation. Les tests biologiques consistent par exemple à mesurer des seconds messagers tels que l’AMPc ou le Calcium, le potentiel membranaire, des activités enzymatiques ou encore la survie et la mort cellulaire. Ils sont réalisés par des approches à faible et moyen débit selon le nombre d'échantillons et le type d’analyses à effectuer.
Dr. Debussy, Maître de Conférences, dit “Nous avions besoin d’évaluer l’activité biologiques de peptides en mesurant la mobilisation intracellulaire de calcium qu’ils induisent. Il était important que nous puissions effectuer plusieurs centaines de mesures par jour, ce débit étant adapté à notre environnement académique”.

The Solution
Dr. Dubessy continues, “The FlexStation 3 perfectly met this need by simultaneously measuring 8 different conditions, allowing us to analyze a 96-well plate in less than 30 minutes. No other device on the market can achieve this capacity. In addition, the FlexStation 3 allows the measurement of other secondary messengers such as cAMP.”
“We also bought the iD3 reader for the teaching of practical work in biochemistry and cellular biology which takes place at the University of Rouen, Normandy. The overall performance of the device, as well as its ease of use via the touchscreen, appealed to us. The students have had no difficulty handling the reader independently and the teaching staff are satisfied with the quality of the measurements obtained.”
“We have been working with Molecular Devices for over 15 years and we appreciate the technical quality of the instruments as well as the control and analysis software. This has also enabled us to develop a good business relationship.”
“No other device on the market can achieve this capacity”.
The Results
Dr. Dubessy says “The two systems are controlled by the same software, SoftMax Pro, which makes them easy to use. Furthermore, after evaluating several microplate readers, it appears that SoftMax Pro is one of the most intuitive to use. We also appreciate how robust the devices are, and the numerous possibilities of configuration options, in particular with regard to reading modes.”
Dr. Debussy dit “Les deux systèmes sont pilotés par le même logiciel, SoftMaxPro, ce qui facilite leur prise en main. D’autre part, après avoir évalué plusieurs lecteurs de plaques, il apparait que SoftMaxPro est l’un des plus intuitifs à utiliser. Nous apprécions également la robustesse de ces appareils et les nombreuses possibilités de paramétrage notamment en ce qui concerne les modes de lecture”.
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