AUTOMATED LANDMARKING FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTROPHORESIS

摘要

Two-dimensional electrophoresis gels are analyzed in sets, each set containing a multitude of gels where the gels typically represent samples taken at different times from the same source. This type of analysis permits observations of sequential progressions and changes in the protein compositions of biological samples. The present disclosure provides a means of standardizing, normalizing, and establishing proper correspondence between the protein spots in the various gels in the set, by the addition of marker proteins whose spots are detectable in a manner that distinguishes them from the spots representing the proteins of the samples. The gels are therefore scanned twice, once to detect the marker protein spots and once to detect the sample protein spots, the former serving as landmarks for the automated processing of the scanning data. This avoids the need for manual landmarking as practiced in the corresponding systems of the prior art.