Abstract: Automated measurement apparatus and methods for automated drug screening procedures are provided. The apparatus is capable of initiating and measuring rapid or transient events, such as cell receptor and/or ion channel activity. In particular, the apparatus is capable of aligning with predetermined positions, one or more samples contained in a multi-well container, initiating the reaction with reagent addition and measuring a resultant attribute for a period of time. The apparatus can substantially continuously measure and record data corresponding to the measured attribute before, during and after initiation of the reaction so that a time course of the rapid or transient event may be determined. After the reaction(s) are complete in one or more wells of the multi-well container, the apparatus can align one or more different wells to be assayed with the predetermined position and repeat the cycle until a predetermined number of wells are assayed.

Abstract: Automated drug screening method and a method of studying receptor and ion-channel activity are provided.

Abstract: Automated assays for detecting and measuring ion channel and cell surface receptor activity and for identifying compounds that modulate or potentiate such activity are provided. Among the assays are fluorescent indicator-based assays that use cells containing effective levels of a fluorescent indicator that is responsive to changes in ion concentration. Activation of the ion channels or receptors is initiated in the automated measurement apparatus by injection into one or more predetermined cell-containing wells of a reagent which is a known or possible activator or inhibitor of the ion channels or receptors of interest. The resulting activity of the ion channels or receptors, which causes changes in ion concentration in the cytoplasm, is determined by measurement of fluorescence intensity changes of the indicator in response to an excitation wavelength.

Abstract: Calcium channel (alpha).sub.1 -subunit and (alpha).sub.2 -subunit-encoding DNA, and related compositions and methods, are provided.

Abstract: Human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits are described, as are methods for producing cells containing functional receptors employing such subunits. Also described are assay methods for determining the presence of functional HnAChRs in transfected cells, and for determining the agonist or antagonist activity of compounds with respect to such cells.

Abstract: Calcium channel .gamma.-subunit-encoding cDNAs, and related compositions and methods, are provided.

Abstract: .alpha..sub.1 - and .alpha..sub.2 - protein subunits of voltage-dependent calcium channels are provided.

Abstract: Calcium channel (alpha).sub.1 -subunit and (alpha).sub.2 -subunit-encoding DNA, and related compositions and methods, are provided.

Abstract: Automated measurement apparatus and methods for automated drug screening and for studying ion channel and cell surface receptor activity are provided. The apparatus is designed to initiate and measure rapid or transient events, such as cell receptor and/or ion channel activity. The apparatus can effect measurements of transient reactions in or more samples in a multi-well container, initiate the reaction with reagent addition and measure a resulting attribute of the sample for a period of time. The apparatus is capable of substantially continuously measuring and recording data corresponding to the measured attribute before, during and after initiation of the reaction so that a time course of the rapid or transient event is determined. Automated drug screening methods and methods for studying receptor and ion channel activity using the apparatus are also provided. The drug screening assays identify compounds that activate, inhibit or potentiate cellular ion channel or receptor activity.