Protein arrays - in which hundreds of samples are added to a single slide - are used to test protein expression levels, protein-protein interactions or the protein-binding patterns of small-molecule drugs, and have emerged as an important new tool in proteomics.
However, getting the samples of protein onto the slide can be problematic. Genetix' new Protein Array Platform is not based on any novel technology but instead brings together a tried and tested combination of instruments, reagents and consumables to ensure accurate and reliable printing of proteins, peptides and antibodies.
At the heart of the system is the company's QArraymini microarray spotter and aQu spotting pins protein which are widely-used to print DNA microarrays. DNA is a robust molecule that is relatively easy to amplify and spot onto slides, but proteins more fragile, tending to denature when applied to substrates
To solve this problem, the samples are diluted and spotted in Protein Array Spotting Solution onto epoxy coated slides in the Protein Array Platform. The spotted slides are then processed using a process that removes any non-bound proteins and blocks non-specific binding.
Following hybridisation of the microarray slides with a fluorescently labelled probe, a slide may be scanned and the data analysed on system's aQuire confocal laser scanner.