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Table 1 Overview of selected protein profiling technologies

From: Comparing protein abundance and mRNA expression levels on a genomic scale

Technology

Type of labeling required

Ability to detect many post-translational modifications

Biomolecules that are optimally quantified

Approximate dynamic range (and reference)

Number of proteins/spots quantified (and reference)

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Silver staining

Yes

Naturally occurring forms of proteins larger than 10 kDa

10 [9]

1,500 [8]

Differential two-dimensional fluorescence gel electrophoresis (DIGE)

In vitro with Cy2, Cy3 or CY5 fluorophores at primary amines

Yes

Naturally occurring forms of proteins larger than 10 kDa

10,000 [9]

1,100 [51]

SELDI- or MALDI-MS disease biomarker discovery

None

Yes

Naturally occurring forms of proteins smaller than 10 kDa

25

Not applicable

Isotope-coded affinity tag (ICAT) - LC/MS

In vitro with H1/D or C12/C13 ICAT reagent at cysteine

No

Cysteine-containing tryptic peptides from digests of protein extracts

10,000*

496 [18]

N14/N15 - LC/MS

In vivo at nitrogens in amino acids

Yes

Tryptic peptides from digests of protein extracts

10,000 [19]

872 [20]

  1. *Assumed to be similar to that for multidimensional protein identification. Abbreviations: SELDI-MS, surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry; MALDI-MS, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry; LC/MS, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.