A chemical and bio-chemical assay method is described which screens
compounds for enzyme inhibition, or receptor or other target binding.
Inhibition or binding by the library compounds causes a change in the
amount of an optically detectable label that is bound to suspendable cells
or solid supports. The amounts of label bound to individual cells or solid
supports are microscopically determined, and compared with the amount of
label that is not bound to individual cells or solid supports. The degree
of inhibition or binding is determined using this data. Confocal
microscopy, and subsequent data analysis, allow the assay to be carried
out without any separation step, and provide for high throughput screening
of very small assay volume using very small amounts of test compound.
