Until recently, assays of kinase activity have been performed using radioactive isotopes or highly specific antibodies. In contrast, IMAP® technology provides a non-radioactive, homogeneous assay applicable to a wide variety of kinases without regard for substrate peptide sequence. The assay is a simple "mix-and-read" procedure that allows accurate determination of kinase, phosphatase, and phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity. 
 
Based on the specific, high-affinity interaction of trivalent metal-containing nanoparticles with phosphogroups, IMAP is a generic platform to assess kinase, phosphatase, and phosphodiesterase activity. An enzyme reaction is performed using fluorescently labeled substrate. Addition of the IMAP Binding System stops the enzyme reaction and specifically binds the phosphorylated substrates. Binding of the substrate to the beads can be detected using either FP or TR-FRET as a readout.