Protein microarray
The protein chip or protein microarray is a promising proteomic -mix tool in clinical diagnostics, molecular biology research as well as food and environmental analysis. A related method is the DNA chip.
Method
Is the operation of the protein chip technology similar to an ELISA ( enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in a reduced size. To proteins can be immobilized on a support chip ( glass or plastic) in a precise arrangement. The proteins most frequently used are here antibodies which are also referred to as an antibody chip. In general, the protein chip technology offers the opportunity to detect any binding to a protein in an assay format. Other coupling proteins as enzymes for the detection of certain substrates or antigens for the detection of specific antibodies in a biological sample.
A protein chip is incubated with a biological sample and binding of a biological marker to the immobilized protein is detected in the following steps. The detection method varies depending on the experimental setup, used for example in a displacement immunoassay format.
Like a DNA chip, compared with a Southern blot or Northern blot, the protein chip format has several advantages over other techniques:
- Reduction of the antibody and reagent consumption
- Proof lowest concentrations of biomarkers
- Integration of multiple assays on a chip ( such as various biomarkers)
- Miniaturization and automation of the analytical system for routine diagnostic
Application
Applies the protein chip for clinical diagnostics and research as well as food and environmental analysis. In diagnostics, the use for the determination of tumor markers, autoimmune diseases was ( for example, juvenile diabetes) and infectious diseases described. In research, protein chips are used in the determination of functions in high-throughput methods, such as in the search of a substrate for kinases, ligands of receptors or of protein interactions. The diagnosis of certain heterogeneous hereditary diseases by protein chip are in development, for example, when Usher 's syndrome.