Most human disease results from complex interactions between the products of gene expression, the proteins. The identification and characterization of the gene products and the elucidation of the mechanisms by which they interact to cause disease remains a difficult scientific problem. This project will develop technology to monitor protein expression levels and to determine protein-ligand interactions for the functional analysis of gene products. A microarray of affinity probes will be used to interrogate protein samples. The binding pattern of the sample to the microarray will be used to quantitate protein expression levels and to elucidate protein-protein interactions. Phase I will assess the feasibility of synthesizing affinity probe microarrays using an active semiconductor chip. An immobilized affinity probe will be used to analyze protein mixtures, and software will be written to analyze the data produced by an affinity probe microarray.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should benefit the pharmaceutical industry by rapidly identifying drug targets.
