Affinity proteomics: the role of specific binding reagents in human proteome analysis

Abstract

Affinity proteomics is the field of proteome analysis based on the use of antibodies and other binding reagents as protein-specific detection probes. In this review, the particular strengths of affinity methods for determination of protein localization, functional characterization, biomarker discovery and intracellular applications, and their resulting impact in basic and clinical research are highlighted. An additional focus is on the requirements for systematic binder generation and current large-scale binder projects, including bioinformatic frameworks for epitope selection and for documentation of available binding reagents and their performance. In addition to current affinity proteomics methods and applications, including arrays of proteins, binders, lysates and tissues, approaches coupling mass spectrometry-based proteomics and affinity proteomics are reviewed.

Keywords::

• affinity proteomics
• antibody
• biomarker discovery
• high-throughput screening
• protein microarrays
• protein–protein interactions
• proteomics

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support by the EU programmes Affinity Proteome (grant agreement 222635) and AFFINOMICS (grant agreement 241481) under the 7th Framework Programme. MJ Taussig is founder and CEO of Cambridge Protein Arrays Ltd. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.