Patent ID: 7138240

Claim:
A method of automatically screening compounds for an effect on G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway activity in a cell under test conditions in response to exposure to a test compound comprising: a. providing cells including a detectably labeled cellular component involved in the desensitization pathway of a GPCR, wherein said cellular component is an arrestin, said cells over-expressing said GPCR; b. providing a tool for at least one of detecting or measuring said detectably labeled cellular component; c. providing a computer for controlling said tool for at least one of detecting or measuring said detectably labeled cellular component; d. exposing the cells to one or more test compounds; e. detecting or measuring translocation of said detectably labeled cellular component involved in the desensitization of a GPCR with said tool, said computer controlling said tool, wherein the detectably labeled cellular component is translocated from the cytosol of a cell to the membrane edge of said cell; and f. wherein said detecting or measuring translocation indicates an effect on said protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway activity.