Antibody-based fluorescence polarization assay to screen combinatorial libraries for sweet taste compounds

Technological advances in instrumentation, chemical synthesis methods, mole cular biology and biochemistry have fueled the recent growth in high throug hput screening. Assays are available in a vast range for formats, including fluorescence, luminescence, absorbance, and scintillation detection. Antib odies represent a powerful tool for novel compound discovery and their util ity in this regard should not be underestimated. We have designed a fluores cence polarization immunoassay for the identification of novel sweeteners. The assay is based on monoclonal antibodies that bind superpotent sweet tas te compounds and libraries of suitable test compounds can be rapidly screen ed using these antibodies as "artificial taste receptors."