Speaker: Donna M. Felschow, Ciphergen Biosystems®, Inc., Freemont, CA

Topic: ProteinChip® Arrays: Biomarker Discovery and Protein Analysis on a Single Platform

Place: Building 426, Conference Room, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD

Time: Tuesday, March 13, 2001, at 2:00 PM

Abstract: Recent reports have documented the map of the entire human genome. An extraordinary finding indicated the genome does not contain the high diversity researchers once expected. In order to discover the variety thought to exist at the genetic level, investigators must now turn to study the product of genes: proteins. To fully elucidate the proteome, Ciphergen Biosystems has developed a novel platform to characterize, study and identify proteins. The unique surface chemistries of the different ProteinChip arrays captures specific proteins within a sample dependent upon their individual characteristics. The specificity of interaction is enhanced by altering binding conditions and by the stringency of washes, thus isolating a select set of proteins on the biochip. The ProteinChip System permits for rapid protein profiling and biomarker discovery from a variety of sample sources such as serum, whole blood, tissue extract, urine, cell lysates or LCM. These proteins or biomarkers can be further examined or identified rapidly on the ProteinChip platform. Published studies have demonstrated the utility of the ProteinChip proteomics platform by the discovery of biomarkers for prostate cancer, kidney stone disease, and breast cancer. Additionally, the ProteinChip platform can be employed to study more complex characteristics of proteins including post-translation modifications such as phosphorylation and glycosylation. The technology has been exploited to study and define protein partners, DNA:protein interactions and antibody:antigen complexes. The technology offers the ability for high throughput screening, the study of small sample volumes, rapid results, and assay development. Introduced and discussed throughout the seminar will be the utility of ProteinChip arrays.