A Framework for Classification of Heterogeneous Calcium Dynamics

G-protein coupled receptors are the target receptors for designing almost 45% of the drug in current drug market. For drug screening using cell-based assays, fluorescent imaging of GPCR mediated calcium dynamics in single cells can be used to obtain the dose-response profile. However, \ud construction of a dose-response function based on single cell responses is rather challenging as the cells in a population respond heterogeneously to the drug. Here we developed a live cell imaging-based approach to quantify the heterogeneity of the HeLa cell population in response to GPCR mediated drugs. First, we found that activation of CXCR4 by SDF-1α induces calcium responses in Hela cells. We measured the temporal dynamics of cytosolic calcium through time-lapse imaging using confocal microscopy for various drug doses