Advantages
Many of the advantages of cell-free protein array technology address the limitations of cell-based expression system used in traditional methods of protein microarray production.
- Rapid and cost-effective
- Avoids DNA cloning (with the exception of NAPPA) and can quickly convert genetic information into functional proteins by using PCR DNA.
- The reduced steps in production and the ability to miniaturize the system saves on reagent consumption and cuts production costs.
- Improves protein availability
- Many proteins, including antibodies, are difficult to express in host cells due to problems with insolubility, disulfide bonds or host cell toxicity. Cell-free protein array makes many of such proteins available for use in protein microarrays.
- Enables long term storage
- Unlike DNA, which is a highly stable molecule, proteins are a heterogeneous class of molecules with different stability and physiochemical properties. Maintaining the proteins’ folding and function in an immobilized state over long periods of storage is a major challenge for protein microarrays. Cell-free methods provide the option to quickly obtaining protein microarrays on demand, thus eliminating any problems associated with long-term storage.
- Flexible
- Amenable to a range of different templates: PCR products, plasmids and mRNA.
- Additional components can be included during synthesis to adjust the environment for protein folding, disulfide bond formation, modification or protein activity.
Read more about this topic: Cell-free Protein Array
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