Protein microarrays: new tools for pharmaceutical development

Abstract

Protein microarrays are a relatively new technology, which will dramatically impact the pharmaceutical industry. The critical need for more rapid identification of novel drug targets, and for obtaining high-quality information early in the target validation process is a major driver for the industry. High-throughput protein analytical techniques are critical for obtaining biological information beyond that which transcript analysis can provide, given that proteins are the "worker bees" in cells. The vast complexity of proteins when compared to DNA and RNA in terms of sheer number, and structural and biochemical diversity requires a higher degree of sophistication in both assay design and data analysis. High-throughput microarray technology platforms allow for simultaneous, multi-parametric analysis of complex protein mixtures. Protein microarrays have tremendous potential as a tool for the study of protein-protein, enzyme-substrate, and antibody-antigen interactions among others. They can also be used for biomarkers and drug target identification via comparative proteomic analysis of healthy and disease tissues. More recently, cellular microarrays that enable identification of cell-surface receptors and other cell-surface proteins allowing rapid screening of cell-specific, novel drug targets, are being developed. This review will focus on the technical issues and potential applications of protein microarrays in pharmaceutical discovery.

Potential-controlled chromatography for the separation of amino acids and peptides

“…For this reason, there is a steady demand for new and appropriate separation techniques in that field [10]. Apart from the field of downstream processing, potential-controlled chromatography could find further application in proteome analysis, where a fast, continuous separation system for amino acids, peptides and proteins is needed [11].…”

Toxicoproteomics in diagnostic toxicology

“…Microarrays require immobilization of a capture ligand or chromatographic media onto a planar solid support, often resulting in thousands of spots per slide (MacBeath and Schreiber, 2000;Kumble, 2003). Samples of interest are added to the microarray and the entire array is scanned to detect proteins or peptides that interact with the ligand or chromatographic media.…”

Oncoproteomics: New trends in analytical techniques

“…Protein microarrays have tremendous potential as a tool for the study of protein-protein, enzyme-substrate, and antibody-antigen interactions among others. They can also be used for biomarkers and drug target identification via comparative proteomic analysis of healthy and disease tissues [3]. Antibody microarrays have great potential for significant value in biological research and experimental formats can be broadly categorized into two classes: (i) direct labeling experiments, and (ii) dual antibody sandwich assays.…”

“…Proteomic research first came to the fore with the introduction of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. At the turn of the century, proteomics has been increasingly applied to cancer research with the wide-spread introduction of mass spectrometry and proteinchip [3]. Many myriad processes are involved in the diseased states; the goal is similar to 'finding a needle in a haystack'.…”