BIOMOLECULTURALYSIS ON ARRAY BASIS

摘要

An array (100) of macromolecules (the primary array), typically proteins is generated by 2D electrophoresis, for example, and subsequently transferred to a support membrane (102) by electroblotting or the like. An image of the primary array is captured (202) and the coordinates of the various macromolecular spots in the primary array are determined (402). The next step of the process is to print a secondary (or micro) array of one or more reagents or chemicals onto one or more spots/coordinates of the primary array with a pico-litre (pl) dispenser (702). If the macromolecules are proteins, the reagents may be enzymes such as Trypsin or GluC. Use of two different enzymes deposited onto different coordinates on the same spot will cleave the protein at different amino acid sites and, when the spot is analysed in a MALDI-TOP mass spectrometer, will provide increased coverage or matching of peptides in the protein.