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Lucid Proteomics System from Bio-Rad and Bruker Combines Top-Down and Bottom-Up Proteomics to Improve Biomarker Discovery

Bio-Rad
27 Sept 2009
Sarah Sarah
Marketing / Sales

Product news

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and Bruker Corporation have announced the launch of the Lucid Proteomics System, the first system to combine top-down and bottom-up proteomics approaches for biomarker discovery. With both techniques on one platform, the Lucid Proteomics System accelerates biomarker research programs by improving the chances of discovering biomarkers that have clinical relevance.

In the past, researchers have been limited by protein biomarker discovery systems that have required a choice between top-down and bottom-up methods. Top-down proteomics enables processing of native biological samples, critical for the detection and identification of intact proteins and peptides under 30 kilodaltons and discovery of biologically generated protein cleavages and post-translational modifications as potential biomarkers. The main advantage of the widely used bottom-up approach (proteolytic digestion of proteins prior to mass spectrometry analysis) is achieving high-resolution separations. Although this method has proven successful for profiling and identifying proteins, researchers continue to face challenges when screening for biomarkers, particularly for candidates under 30 kDa.

The Lucid Proteomics System combines Bio-Rad’s ProteinChip® surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI)-based array technology with Bruker’s ultrafleXtreme matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometer. The top-down solution includes high-throughput protein profiling and identification of biomarker candidates, either by direct on-chip TOF/TOF analysis suitable for small peptides or by enrichment, purification, and digestion followed by TOF/TOF analysis for larger proteins. For the bottom-up approach, Bruker’s ultrafleXtreme MALDI-TOF/TOF offers unmatched performance with high sensitivity, resolution, and mass accuracy.

The Lucid Proteomics System is comprised of the following components from Bio-Rad and Bruker:

o Lucid profiling access pack – includes array holders, system license, software, system qualification kit, ProteinChip arrays, buffers, and accessories required to perform SELDI-based protein profiling

o Lucid ID access pack - includes array holder, system license, consumables, protocols, and guidelines necessary to perform protein and peptide identification

o ultrafleXtreme MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometer (or autoflex series) configured for ProteinChip SELDI products


Other key features include:

o Methods for easy and robust protein profiling across the entire mass range

o Intuitive protein profiling software that incorporates many facets of the biomarker analysis workflow, from tracking clinical information from patients through statistical determination of viable biomarker candidates

o Quality control standards to ensure experimental reproducibility

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ProteomicsProteomics is the systemic bioinformatics study of proteins and amino acids, including their structure, size, function and identification. Tools used in proteomics include chromatography, blotting and gels, protein arrays, mass spectrometry and ELISA and associated analysis software. Analyzers and proteomic systems should be sensitive, high resolution, fast and may be automated for high-throughput.Microarray AnalysisMicroarrays, also known as biochips, are used for the detection and analysis of multiple genes, proteins, antibodies, or biomarkers on a single microchip. This can reveal information on protein or gene expression, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), copy number variation (CNV), epigenetics and patient health in clinical diagnostic tests. Discover a range of microarray scanners and prefabricated antibody, protein, RNA and DNA microarrays for your analysis or consider creating your own custom microarrays with a microarray printer. Find the best microarray products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.MALDI-TOF MSMALDI-TOF mass spectrometers (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight) are used for the mass analysis of large molecules, including proteins, DNA, polymers and other macromolecules due to its relatively soft ionization, reducing fragmentation whilst allowing fast data acquisition. Tandem mass analyzers such as TOF/TOF systems can be used to increase resolution and sensitivity of your analysis. Find the best MALDI-TOF products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Protein PurificationProtein purification is a vital step in drug discovery, therapeutics, biotech and life science research. The purification process typically involves subcellular or membrane protein extraction with cell lysis kits, separation of proteins from cell debris by filtration or spin columns, and the isolation of proteins of interest from other proteins and impurities with affinity purification (including fusion protein tags and antibody binding proteins A, G and L), immunoprecipitation or chromatographic methods, such as ion exchange, size exclusion and immobilized metal affinity chromatography. All purification methods come in multiple formats for your laboratory needs, including agarose or magnetic beads, resins, columns and filter plates. Find the best protein purification equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.RNA InterferenceRNA interference (RNAi) uses siRNA or miRNA for transcriptional silencing, gene knockdown and regulation of gene expression. RNAi requires chemical synthesis, introduction of DNA vectors into cells, an assay of RNAi effects and RNAi quantification or analysis. Consider target sequence selection, reagent preparation, controls, high specificity and effectiveness and low non-specific gene knockdown.

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Lucid Proteomics System from Bio-Rad and Bruker Combines Top-Down and Bottom-Up Proteomics to Improve Biomarker Discovery