This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 677, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison, Spring 2012.
Small Molecule Assays
What is a bioassay?
Bioassays are experiments designed to test a wide array of biological compounds for a specific effect on a protein or organism. They are used to help aid in drug discovery to fight diseases like ALS. PubChem is a database that compiles bioassay data.
SOD1 Bioassay Results
Below are the results from one bioassay involved in ALS drug discovery. These nine compounds were found to decrease cell death in mice with mutations in SOD1 [1]. (Click on each image for more information about each compound.)
Analysis
Bioassays are a useful tool to screen thousands of possible drugs targeting the neurodegeneration and its suspected causes in ALS patients. Once identified, these compounds can undergo further screenings and tests in model organisms with the goal of being used in clinical trials in ALS patients and gaining FDA approval, like the one and only drug currently approved to help treat the symptoms of ALS, Riluzole (Rilutek), pictured below.