Reverse Phase Arrays

The reverse-phase array is a faster more powerful way of measuring protein levels in complex samples than the traditional Western blot.  The concept is similar to the direct ELISA except a complex mixture (cell lysate or tissue homogenate) rather than a purified antigen is placed down on the surface.  Tissue from cancerous and non-cancerous patients can be spotted down.  Or lysates from cells receiving treatment and untreated controls.  Lysates can be spotted down in dilution series, in replicates, or next to lysates from different doses or treatment groups; the array is very flexible.  The researcher then probes with primary antibodies to the proteins of interest.  The 96-well plate format allows for the screening with multiple antibodies without the need to strip and re-probe, and assays can be performed in hours rather than days.

Using Quansys custom spotting services you can send in your samples and they can be spotted into the wells of 96 well plates in whatever fashion best suits your research goals.  The plates will be rapidly returned to you ready for testing.  At prices starting around $250 per plate with substantial volume discounts the cost savings of the reverse phase array over the time consuming Western blot becomes clear.

The greatest limitation of the reverse-phase array is where the antibody detects multiple bands.  For example a reverse phase array with an antibody that detects both the full length and active cleavage product of caspase-3 (http://www.cellsignal.com/products/9662.html) would not be able to distinguish between the two lengths, however an antibody that detects only the active cleaved protein (http://www.cellsignal.com/products/9664.html) would be appropriate.

Please contact Quansys for further information on how a reverse phase array can help you in your research.

More information on Reverse Phase Arrays:

http://home.ccr.cancer.gov/ncifdaproteomics/pdf/Reverse_phase_prostate.pdf

http://www.genengnews.com/articles/chitem.aspx?aid=2065&chid=2

http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/emrw/9780470011539/ggpb/article/g302414/current/abstract