Phenotype MicroArrays for Mammalian Cells

Phenotype MicroArray Mammalian assays are cell-based assays used to investigate up to 1,400 metabolic and chemical sensitivity

phenotypes of mammalian cells. They use 96 well plates pre-loaded with carbon-energy and nitrogen substrates, ions, 

hormones/cytokines and anti-cancer agents. Plates are inoculated with the cells of interest and Biolog’s proprietary redox dye. 

In some wells, the cells are stimulated and in other wells inhibited. The generation of energy-rich NADH by the cells reduces the 

redox dye and brings about a color change which is then read with Biolog’s OmniLog automated incubator-reader.

Phenotype MicroArray Mammalian Assays can be used for diverse research and applications including:   

 •   Assay of the Multiple Energy-Producing Pathways of Mammalian Cells

 •   Assay of Cell Growth, Stasis, or Death Under Different Nutritional Conditions

 •   CRISPR Gene Editing and Metabolic Phenotype Expression in a Haploid Cell Line

 •   Differential Metabolic Profiling of Preadipocytes and Adipocytes

 •   Metabolic Fingerprinting of Cancer Cells

 •   Profiling Drug Toxicity in Liver Cells

 •   Synergy of Gossypol and an HMT G92a Inhibitor to Induce Cell Death in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

 •   Cell Line Quality Control and Authentication

 •   High Throughput Screening of Cell Culture Supplementation for Improved Bioprocess Outcomes

The Assay Portfolio for Mammalian Cells Includes the Following:

 •  PM-M1 - PM-M4 :       Carbon-Energy and Nitrogen Substrates

 •  PM-M5 :                 Ions

HOW PHENOTYPE MICROARRAY TECHNOLOGY WORKS

DNA Microarrays and Proteomic Technologies allow scientists to detect genes or proteins that are coregulated and whose

patterns of change correlate with something important such as a disease state. However there is no assurance that these 

changes are really significant to the cell. Phenotype MicroArrays are a complementary technology providing the needed 

information at the cellular level. 

Phenotype MicroArrays are preconfigured sets of phenotypic tests deployed on microplate panels. Each well of the array is

designed to test a different phenotype after inoculation with a standardized cell suspension, allowing simultaneous testing of 

thousands of phenotypes in a single experiment. 

Phenotype MicroArrays use Biolog’s patented redox technology, with cell respiration (NADH production) as a universal reporter. 

If the phenotype is strongly “positive” in a well, the cells respire actively, reducing a tetrazolium dye and forming a strong color. 

If it is weakly positive or negative, respiration is slowed or stopped, and the result is less color or no color.

The redox assay provides for both amplification and precise quantitation of phenotypes. Incubation and recording of phenotypic

data is performed automatically by the OmniLog instrument.

To compare the phenotypes of two cell lines, one is recorded as a red tracing and one as a green tracing. These graphs can 

then be overlaid by the bioinformatic software to detect differences. Areas of overlap are colored yellow, whereas differences are

highlighted as patches of red or green. 

KINETIC DATA CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS

OmniLog PM software contains a suite of algorithms that work in conjunction with the OmniLog PM system and 

Phenotype MicroArray panels to automate incubation of up to fifty microplates at a fixed user-controlled temperature with 

complete collection of colorimetric assay data over time. These programs allow for display of kinetic data from PM panels 

recorded by the OmniLog PM system, manage and analyze the data, export it in a variety of raw and processed forms, 

and generate reports. 

Software Functions

•  Drives the operation of the OmniLog PM system

•  Guides loading and reading of plates or PM panels

•  Creates a kinetic data file for each plate or PM panel for use in the other

   program modules

File Management/Kinetic Analysis

•  Assembles plate or PM panel data files into data lists

•  Displays kinetic plots of the data

•  Allows export of kinetic plots as bmp or jpeg files

Parametric Analysis

•  Extracts data lists from the File Management /Kinetic Analysis module

•  Calculates parameters from kinetic data

•  Allows comparison of two data lists

•  Highlights wells and generates a report on PM phenotypes that differ

   significantly in any selected kinetic analysis parameter

•  Allows identification of substrates in all PM panels

•  Links metabolic substrates in PM panels to KEGG database

•  Export the original OmniLog kinetic dataExport data parameters for

   statistical & bioinformatic analysis 

               Phenotype MicroArrays for mammalian cell technology overview from Biolog on Vimeo.