Academy · Advanced

Research Methodologies

Choosing the right in-vitro model for peptide research: receptor binding, cell viability, signalling assays and stability studies.

Receptor binding assays

Radioligand or fluorescent displacement assays quantify affinity (Kd, Ki). Useful when comparing analogues with the same target.

cAMP, calcium flux, β-arrestin recruitment, or downstream phosphorylation assays tell you whether binding actually translates into signalling.

Time-course HPLC of peptide in serum, plasma or buffer at 37°C reveals half-life and degradation products.

Which assay first?+

Usually a functional readout — binding without signalling has limited interpretive value.