Posts Tagged ‘biomarker’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Top-down proteomics approach to identifying low-abundance biomarkers

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 09-15-2010

A recent article has demonstrated the validity of a new top-down proteomics approach to identifying low-abundance biomarkers in the one per cent of serum/plasma proteins known as the deep proteome. The study used a 4-step approach including sample collection, fractionation with proteominer technology, biomarker discovery with SELDI and biomarker identification using the Lucid system to identify a potential biomarker that might be used to track a patient’s recovery from a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

According to Bio-Rad product manager Dominic Casenas, ‘The workflow in this publication provides scientists with a promising approach for accessing, profiling, and identifying clinically relevant biomarkers.’

Read more on the laboratory talk website.

Check out the video below for an entertaining look at how combining top-down and bottom-up proteomics will change biomarker research forever.

tags: , , ,

No Comments » | cool tools, Interesting Studies

Digging Deeper Into the Proteome

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 08-27-2010

As discussed in an earlier post, biomarker studies are quickly becoming the hottest research topic around. Many techniques such as 2D, SELDI and Mass Spectrometry are widely deployed in biomarker research. Nonetheless, whichever technique is utilized (a multifaceted approach is generally recommended as each technique contain its own set of advantages) adequate sample preparation is crucially important in obtaining accurate results.

Bio-Rad’s Proteominer technology is a fantastic tool for enriching low abundant proteins which helps identify the proverbial biomarker needle in the protein haystack. In this video, Kate Smith takes you on a tour of Proteominer Enrichment Technology and shows you how it will help you dig deeper into the Proteome.

tags: , ,

No Comments » | Bio-Rad Tutorial

Multiplex Analysis of Diabetes and Cytokine Biomarker Expression

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 06-25-2010

Bio-Rad Laboratories recently announced the launch of 2 multiplex bead array panels for scientist engaged in Diabetes research. The assays are for the detection of 8 mouse and 10 human biomarkers of diabetes and obesity and can be run on Bio-Rad’s Bio-Plex instrument (or other Luminex based platforms).

The Bio-Plex Pro Diabetes Assays only require 12.5 ug of sample and will produce accurate and sensitive results in under 3 hours.

In recognition of the important role that cytokines play in the progression of diabetes, Bio-Rad has ensured that the Bio-Plex Pro Diabetes Assay is fully compatible with its Bio-Plex Pro cytokine, chemokine and growth factor assays. Now diabetes researchers can perform a multi-plex analysis in order to quantify the most important diabetes biomarkers AND cytokine, chemokine and growth factor expression from just 12.5 ug of sample…all in the same tube! This is a huge benefit to any diabetes researcher as it helps eliminate inter-experimental variability that can arise when quantifying analytes from different aliquots of the same sample.

The Bio-Plex Pro Mouse Diabetes Assay includes a multiplex analysis of Ghrelin, GIP, GLP-1, glucagon, insulin, leptin, PAI-1 and Resistin. The Bio-Plex Pro Human Diabetes Assay quantifies levels of c-peptide, visfatin, ghrelin, GIP, GLP-1, glucagon, insulin, leptin, PAI-1 and Resistin in your 12.5 ul sample.

See the Bio-Plex Pro Mouse Diabetes Assay and the
Bio-Plex Pro Human Diabetes Assay brochures from Bio-Rad Laboratories for more information on ordering options and assay parameters including sensitivity, cross-reactivity, assay range and specificity.

tags: , , , ,

3 Comments » | Bio-Rad Product Highlight, Diabetes Research

How to Enrich Low Abundance Proteins from Tissues, Cell Lines and Bacteria

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 05-06-2010

Biotechnologists engaged in protein biomarker studies are well aware of some of the challenges they face trying to identify biomarkers in albumin and IgG rich serum and plasma. Protein biomarkers generally tend to be low-abundance proteins which are very difficult to detect among highly complex samples. Furthermore, an ever-increasing amount of biomarker studies are focused on identifying biomarkers in other biological sources such as muscle tissue and cell lines. Traditional approaches to solving this problem include depletion methods for removing high abundant proteins so that the proverbial “needle in the haystack” biomarker is easier to locate. While this approach has its advantages, it suffers from being too specific and may not work well in sample types other than serum and plasma.

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. has developed the ProteoMiner protein enrichment technology which uses a library of hexapeptides to bind all proteins in a complex mixture allowing reduction of high-abundance proteins and enrichment of medium and low-abundance proteins.

This Tech Note discusses the use of ProteoMner protein enrichment kits for the enrichment of low- and medium- abundance proteins and the depletion of high-abundance proteins in tissue, cell line and bacterial samples, with detailed experimental parameters in a 2-D gel based proteomics workflow.

Enrichment of Medium- and Low-abundance Proteins

tags: , ,

No Comments » | Technical Note

Is the term BioMarker being used properly or am I a pedantic nut?

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 03-15-2010

Over the last few months we have posted several articles on biomarker research. It seems that wherever you look, people are engaged in biomarker studies and are trying to find biomarkers for one type of condition or another. While the concept of finding biological indicators that can identify those at risk of developing pathogenic processes or individuals who respond favorably to a given therapeutic is the ultimate goal of biomarker research, it is questionable whether scientist are indeed engaging in biomarker research as intended.

According to D. Martins-de-Souza from the Max Plank Institute of Psychiatry, Proteomics and Biomarkers in Germany, the use of the word “biomarker” has increased exponentially in recent years. A Pubmed search of the term “biomarker” returns more than 470,000 articles published within the last 10-15 years.

Is the overuse (misuse?) of the word biomaker harmful to proteomic researchers? Must reviewers insist that the strict definition of the word biomarker as defined by the US Food and Drug Administration be adhered to when publishing in peer reviewed journals? Or am I just a pedantic nut?!?

tags:

No Comments » | Deep Thoughts
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »