Screening for cell migration inhibitors via automated microscopy reveals a rho-kinase inhibitor

Small-molecule kinase inhibitors are predominantly discovered in pure protein assays. We have discovered an inhibitor of Rho-kinase (ROCK) through an image-based, high-throughput screen of cell monolayer wound healing. Using automated microscopy, we screened a library of 16,000 compounds finding many that affected cell migration or cell morphology as well as compounds that blocked mitotic progression. We tested 200 compounds in a series of subassays and chose one, 3-(4-pyridyl)indole (Rockout), for more detailed characterization. Rockout inhibits blebbing and causes dissolution of actin stress fibers, phenocopying Rho-kinase inhibitors. Testing Rho-kinase activity in vitro, Rockout inhibits with an IC50 of 25 mu M (5-fold less potent than Y-27632) but has a similar specificity profile. We also profile the wound healing assay with a library of compounds with known bioactivities, revealing multiple pathways involved in the biology.