The second annual European symposium on protein fractionation and biomarker discovery featured papers on a wide range of advances in proteome research.
Spotlight on Beckman Coulter technology
Liquid- phase fractionation of the protein sample was shown to provide a powerful tool for biomarker discovery, evaluation of disease processes and development of treatment strategies. Hosted by Beckman Coulter at Oriel College, Oxford, the two-day meeting attracted researchers from around the world. Several speakers highlighted the liquid fractionation method as a complementary technique giving valuable additional information when used in combination with conventional two-dimentional (2D) gel studies, revealing protein species not found in the 2D gel analysis. Beckman CoulterÆs ProteomeLab PF 2D provides an automated 2D fractionation system, combining chromatofocusing followed by non-porous reverse-phase chromatography for ultra-high resolution of proteins. Presentations also included results from Beckman CoulterÆs new ProteomeLab IgY system, which utilises avian antibodies to partition the more abundant proteins from human biofluids, such as plasma and serum, to yield an enrichment of low-abundance proteins for subsequent separation by liquid-phase fractionation or 2D gel.