Abstract: The invention relates to a simple quantitative fluorescent assay method for determining the activity of transport proteins, more specifically multi-drug resistance associated proteins (MRPs). The method of the invention is performed on a well sealed culture of polarized cells expressing a transport protein of interest grown to confluency on a permeable support, said confluent cell culture forming well separated apical and basolateral compartments. The cells are contacted with a cell permeable non-fluorescent derivative of a fluorescent compound (e.g. calcein AM) in one compartment and, after a certain period of incubation, the fluorescence intensity detected in a sample taken from the opposite compartment is indicative of the activity of the transport protein of interest expressed in the cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a simple quantitative fluorescent assay method for determining the activity of transport proteins, more specifically multi-drug resistance associated proteins (MRPs). The method of the invention is performed on a well sealed culture of polarized cells expressing a transport protein of interest grown to confluency on a permeable support, said confluent cell culture forming well separated apical and basolateral compartments. The cells are contacted with a cell permeable non-fluorescent derivative of a fluorescent compound (e.g. calcein AM) in one compartment and, after a certain period of incubation, the fluorescence intensity detected in a sample taken from the opposite compartment is indicative of the activity of the transport protein of interest expressed in the cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing L0-specific inhibitors of transporter proteins of the MRP-family and for testing inhibitors specific to the predicted amphipatic helical region of the L0 region, the tested inhibitors L0 peptide, mutants thereof, polynucleotides coding the peptides. Vectors and hosts cells comprising the polynucleotides and reagent kits for testing and developing the inhibitors. The invention is especially useful for combatting multidrug resistance in cancer patients and in the field of related research.