ケミカルプリンタを用いたミクロスケールプロテオミクスの展開

抄録

The main stream in the proteomics field today is the identification of proteins resolved in two-dimensional electrophoresis, by performing in-gel protein digestion and the peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). In that case, the entire sample on a protein spot is sacrificed for just one analysis. The Chemical Inkjet Printer (ChIP) is a revolutionary new approach to PMF and protein macroarray analysis. The ChIP reproducibly dispenses picoliter volumes of reagents to defined locations, only tiny areas in the protein spot, opening new horizons for microscale protein research. Protein samples are to be processed by the ChIP after blotted onto PVDF membrane from the gel, that is, proteins on the membrane are successfully digested and MALDI-TOF mass spectra can be obtained directly from the membrane (see Figure). Then microscale on-membrane protein identification and characterization can be rapidly generated bypassing time- and sample-consuming procedures of in-gel digestion, peptide extraction and desalting steps. The technology can also rapidly microdispense multiple antibodies to screen for antigens and achieve minute-scale Western blotting. In this session, key features of the ChIP and its applications in biochemical sciences will be discussed.