FFAR4 (GPR120) Reporter Assay Kit

FFAR4/GPR120 is a G protein-coupled receptor for long chain fatty acids such as DHA and EPA ω-3 fatty acids. It is involved in the regulation of glucose uptake in adipocytes and mediates anti-inflammatory activity in macrophages. Cayman’s FFAR4 (GPR120) Reporter Assay Kit consists of a 96-well plate coated with a transfection complex containing DNA constructs for the short isoform of FFAR4 (FFAR4S), an engineered G protein that directs Gαq activation signals to the Gαs pathway, and a cAMP response element-regulated SEAP reporter (FFAR4 reverse transfection strip plate). Cells grown on the transfection complex will express FFAR4S at the cell surface and the recombinant G protein inside the cell. Binding of agonists to FFAR4S initiates a signal transduction cascade resulting in expression of SEAP which is secreted into the cell culture medium. Aliquots of culture medium are collected 16-24 hours after stimulation and SEAP activity is measured following addition of a luminescence-based alkaline phosphatase substrate provided in the kit. The kit is easy to use and can be readily applied to high-throughput screening for therapeutic compounds regulating activation of FFAR4S. A known FFAR4 agonist, GSK137647A1, is included in the kit for use as a positive control. The kit provides sufficient reagent to measure SEAP activity at three time points using the three included white assay plates.