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In Vitro and In Vivo Assays in E.coli

CD Biosynsis provides expert In Vitro and In Vivo Assay Services utilizing the E. coli platform , offering a comprehensive suite of tools for compound screening, enzyme kinetics, and cellular function testing. We bridge the gap between target discovery and lead optimization by evaluating candidates against purified targets ( in vitro ) and within the living cellular context ( in vivo ). Our services are crucial for drug discovery, pathway characterization, and synthetic biology validation, delivering high-quality, quantitative, and reproducible results with high throughput capability.

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Bridging Target-Based Screening and Cellular Function

The E. coli system serves as an unparalleled platform, enabling the rapid and cost-effective production of purified proteins for target-based in vitro assays , while also being the ideal host for creating sophisticated whole-cell biosensors and cellular function assays ( in vivo ) . We leverage E. coli 's robust genetics to design, optimize, and validate assays that accurately measure compound potency (IC50/EC50), enzyme activity, and cellular toxicity. This dual approach ensures that potential drug candidates or engineered pathways are assessed under the most relevant conditions, maximizing the chances of successful downstream development.

In Vitro and In Vivo Assay Solutions

In Vitro Assays (Purified Targets) In Vivo Assays (Whole-Cell) Custom HTS & Assay Development

Measuring Target Activity and Binding Kinetics

Quantitative Analysis with Purified Proteins

Enzyme Activity & Inhibition (IC50)

Assays for measuring the kinetic parameters (Km, Vmax) and inhibition constants (Ki, IC50) of target enzymes expressed and purified from E. coli .

Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Assays

Using platforms like ELISA, AlphaScreen, or FRET to quantify the binding affinity and disruption of key protein interactions.

Ligand Binding & Screening

High-throughput screening of chemical libraries against a purified receptor or target using technologies like Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) or fluorescence polarization.

Assessing Compound Impact in Living E. coli Cells

Cellular Function and Biosensor Readouts

Reporter Gene Assays (EC50)

Engineering E. coli strains with promoter-reporter fusions (GFP, Luciferase) to quantify drug effects on gene expression, pathway induction, or stress response.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) & Toxicity

Standard and high-throughput microdilution assays to determine the efficacy of antimicrobial agents and general compound toxicity against E. coli growth.

Pathway Flux & Product Titer Assays

Measuring the performance of engineered metabolic pathways through in-cell quantification of intermediates or final products via LC-MS or HPLC.

Scale-Up and Custom Assay Platforms

High-Throughput and Flexible Screening

Custom Assay Development

Design and optimization of a novel assay from scratch to meet unique research specifications, ensuring robustness and signal-to-noise ratio.

Compound Library Screening

Robotic, high-throughput screening of custom or commercial small molecule libraries in 96- to 384-well formats using validated in vitro or in vivo assays.

Assay Miniaturization & Automation

Transitioning bench-scale assays to automated, miniaturized, high-density formats for cost-effective and large-scale screening campaigns.

Assay Design, Validation, and Screening Pipeline

A structured, quality-controlled process for delivering reliable assay data.

Target & Assay Selection

Assay Optimization & Validation

HTS Execution & Data Collection

Analysis & Reporting

Strategy: Define the biological question (target inhibition or cellular effect) and select the appropriate in vitro or in vivo readout system.

Preparation: In Vitro - Protein expression/purification. In Vivo - Strain construction/circuit assembly.

Optimization: Determining optimal concentrations, incubation times, buffer conditions, and cell density.

Validation: Determining Z'-factor, linearity, sensitivity, and reproducibility to ensure the assay is robust for screening.

Screening: Running the validated assay against the designated compound or genetic library using automated liquid handling systems.

Quality Control: Monitoring assay performance (e.g., control activity) throughout the screening campaign.

  • Data Processing: Calculating raw and normalized activity, dose-response curves, and parameters (IC50/EC50).
  • Comprehensive Report: Detailed protocols, raw data, statistical analysis, and discussion of results.

Precision, Throughput, and Reproducibility

Integrated In Vitro & In Vivo

           

Ability to test compounds against both purified molecular targets and within the complex environment of the living E. coli cell.

High-Throughput & Automation

           

Utilizing automated liquid handling and plate readers for rapid screening of tens of thousands of samples with exceptional precision.

Robust Assay Validation

           

Every custom assay is rigorously validated (Z'-factor > 0.5) to ensure high signal-to-noise ratio and minimal false positives/negatives.

Flexible Readout Options

           

Support for various detection methods including fluorescence, luminescence, absorbance, LC-MS, and standard plate-based assays.

Client Testimonials on Assay & Screening Services

   
   

"The dual in vitro/in vivo assay approach allowed us to confirm that our compound not only inhibited the purified enzyme target but also successfully penetrated the E. coli cell wall, which was a critical validation step."

Dr. Emily Watts, Senior Scientist, Infectious Disease Research

"We commissioned CD Biosynsis to screen a 10,000-compound library. Their HTS service delivered highly reproducible data with an impressive Z'-factor, quickly identifying 5 promising hits for follow-up."

Mr. Kenji Tanaka, Director of HTS Core Facility

"The custom reporter gene assay they developed was exquisitely sensitive, enabling us to detect subtle changes in pathway regulation that we couldn't measure with standard methods."

Ms. Nicole Kim, Research Scientist, Biofuel Engineering

"We commissioned CD Biosynsis to support an intricate gene editing project with multiple targets. Their talent in producing high-quality work in a short period of time was impressive. Their solutions were custom made to suit our needs, and they went above and beyond to ensure our experiments worked. Their support has been a great asset to our research department and we look forward to further working with them."

Dr. Raj Patel, Principal Investigator, Department of Molecular Biology

"As a pharmaceutical company working to discover new cancer therapies, we require accurate, trustworthy gene editing solutions. CD Biosynsis did more than what we expected when it came to providing strong, accurate CRISPR/Cas9 solutions for our preclinical research. Their technical support team was excellent and responsive, and they quickly replied to our questions. This alliance has been pivotal in helping us move our drug pipeline forward. Thank you, CD Biosynsis, for your amazing service!"

Dr. Clara Rodriguez, Chief Scientist, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Spain

   
   
   
           
   

FAQs about In Vitro and In Vivo Assays in E.coli

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Why should I use both In Vitro and In Vivo assays?

In Vitro assays provide clear, target-specific data (e.g., direct enzyme inhibition). In Vivo assays confirm if a compound can enter the cell, avoid toxicity, and work in the complex cellular environment, providing a more physiologically relevant result.

What is a Z'-factor and why is it important for HTS?

The Z'-factor is a metric used in High-Throughput Screening (HTS) to assess the quality of an assay. A Z'-factor typically above 0.5 indicates an excellent, robust assay with high separation between positive and negative controls, minimizing false results.

What is the throughput capacity of your screening service?

We routinely handle screening campaigns for compound libraries containing up to 100,000 small molecules or genetic variants, utilizing our automated robotic systems and validated HTS protocols in 96- to 384-well microplate formats.

Can you perform assays for proteins that require complex cofactors?

Yes, our E. coli expression system can often be engineered to co-express or incorporate necessary cofactors for target proteins. For in vitro assays, we optimize the buffer and reaction mixture to ensure all required cofactors and metal ions are present for activity measurement.

How much does an assay development project cost?

The cost of assay development depends on the complexity of the target, whether protein purification is required, the type of detection method, and the degree of automation needed. We provide customized quotes after a detailed discussion of your specific research objectives.

What to look for when selecting the best gene editing service?

We provide various gene editing services such as CRISPR-sgRNA library generation, stable transformation cell line generation, gene knockout cell line generation, and gene point mutation cell line generation. Users are free to select the type of service that suits their research.

Does gene editing allow customisability?

Yes, we offer very customised gene editing solutions such as AAV vector capsid directed evolution, mRNA vector gene delivery, library creation, promoter evolution and screening, etc.

What is the process for keeping data private and confidential?

We adhere to the data privacy policy completely, and all customer data and experimental data are kept confidential.

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