Temperature-Dependent Expression of a CFP-YFP FRET Diacylglycerol Sensor Enables Multiple-Read Screening for Compounds That Affect C1 Domains

Intramolecular CFP-YFP fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensors expressed in cells are powerful research tools but have seen relatively little use in screening. We exploited the discovery that the expression of a CFP-YFP FRET diacylglycerol sensor (DAGR) increases over time when cells are incubated at room temperature to assess requirements for robust measurements using a Molecular Devices Spectramax i3x fluorescence plate reader. Expression levels resulting in YFP fluorescence >10-fold higher than untransfected cells and phorbol ester-stimulated FRET ratio changes of 60% or more were required to consistently give robust Z′ > 0.5. As a means of confirming that these conditions are suitable for screening, we developed a novel multiple-read protocol to assay the NCI’s Mechanistic Set III for agonists and antagonists of C1 domain activation. Sixteen compounds prevented C1 domain translocation. However, none blocked phorbol ester-stimulated protein kinase C (PKC) activity assessed using a phospho-specific antibody—six actually stimulated PKC activity. Cytometry, which produces higher Z′ for a given FRET ratio change, might have been a better approach for discovering antagonists, as it would have allowed lower phorbol ester concentrations to be used. We conclude that CFP-YFP FRET measured in a Spectramax i3x plate reader can be used for screening under the conditions we defined. Our strategy of varying expression level and FRET ratio could be useful to others for determining conditions needed for robust cell-based intramolecular CFP-YFP FRET measurements on their instrumentation.