Protein Expression Microarray

Background

Protein expression microarrays are powerful tools in the field of proteomics, enabling the simultaneous analysis of the expression levels of thousands of proteins within a biological sample. This high-throughput technology provides critical insights into protein function, regulation, and interaction networks, serving as a key platform for biomarker discovery, drug development, and systems biology research.

Unlike traditional gene expression arrays that focus on mRNA levels, protein expression microarrays measure the actual proteins—the functional molecules responsible for executing biological processes. This distinction is crucial, as protein abundance and activity do not always correlate directly with mRNA expression, especially in complex regulatory environments.

• High Throughput: Enables the analysis of thousands of proteins in parallel, significantly increasing research efficiency.
• Sensitivity and Specificity: Provides accurate detection of low-abundance proteins with high specificity, depending on the quality of capture agents.
• Comparative Analysis: Facilitates differential expression studies under varying conditions, such as healthy vs. diseased states or treated vs. untreated samples.
• Low Sample Volume: Requires minimal sample input, making it suitable for precious or limited clinical specimens (5-10 µl).

• Biomarker Discovery: Identifying protein markers associated with specific diseases or therapeutic responses.
• Drug Development: Monitoring changes in protein expression in response to pharmaceutical compounds.
• Functional Genomics: Bridging the gap between gene expression and phenotypic outcomes by studying protein-level changes.
• Clinical and Translational Research: Supporting diagnostics, prognosis, and personalized medicine approaches through proteomic profiling.

Creative BioMart offers an advanced, high-throughput Protein Expression Microarray Service designed to analyze protein expression levels across hundreds of biological samples with exceptional sensitivity and specificity. Using proprietary technology, this service allows for proteome-wide profiling from various sample types—accelerating biomarker discovery, drug response monitoring, and translational research.

What We Offer?

Technical Overview

What We Need from You

1. Sample Type & Volume

   • Accepted formats:
     • Cell lysates
     • Biofluids (e.g., serum, plasma, CSF)
     • Fixed tissues (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded or fresh frozen)
   • Required quantity per sample:
     • Cell lysate/biofluid: Minimum 50–100 µg of total protein
     • Tissue: Contact us for sectioning and extraction recommendations

2. Sample Preparation Information

   • Total protein concentration (µg/µL)
   • Lysis buffer composition (if applicable)
   • Storage and shipping conditions used

3. arget Protein List (Optional)

   • If specific proteins of interest are to be included, a prioritized list of targets (including UniProt IDs or aliases) can be submitted.

4. Experimental Design

   • Number of biological replicates
   • Group or condition labels
   • Any special statistical comparisons or controls to be included

What You Get

1. High-Quality Data Output

   • Raw image files from microarray scans (TIFF or compatible format)
   • Quantified signal intensity data for each target across all samples
   • Normalized and background-corrected data (optional formats: Excel, CSV)

2. Detailed Data Analysis Report

   • Heatmaps, scatter plots, and volcano plots
   • Differential protein expression analysis
   • Clustering and pathway enrichment (optional add-on)
   • Statistical interpretation and summary of key findings

3. Quality Control Metrics

   • Signal-to-noise ratio
   • Intra-array and inter-array reproducibility
   • Antibody binding efficiency and specificity checks

4. Expert Consultation

   • Pre-analysis discussion (optional): help with experimental design and antibody selection
   • Post-analysis review call: interpretation support and next-step guidance

Why Choose Us?

Flexible Project Design: We offer fully customizable workflows—from cell models and assay formats to data outputs—to fit your specific scientific and regulatory objectives.

Ultra-Sensitive Detection: Our proprietary surface chemistry enables detection of low-abundance proteins with high specificity, even in complex biological matrices like serum or lysate.

Low Sample Volume Requirement: Achieve comprehensive profiling using just a few microliters of sample, ideal for limited or precious clinical and preclinical materials.

Custom Array Content: Design your own protein panels, including proprietary targets, AOCs, or rare biomarkers relevant to your research or therapeutic program.

Rapid Turnaround Time: Receive high-quality, publication-ready results in as little as 2–3 weeks, helping you accelerate decision-making and project timelines.

Integrated Bioinformatics Support: We provide complete data analysis, including normalization, clustering, and pathway mapping—turning complex results into clear biological insights.

Case Study

* NOTE: We prioritize confidentiality to safeguard our clients’ technology and intellectual property. As an alternative, we present selected published research articles as representative case studies. For details on the assay services and products used in these studies, please refer to the relevant sections of the cited literature.

Case 1:Protein microarray analysis of broad autoantibody responses in COVID-19

Jiang et al., 2022. doi:10.1002/jmv.28134

A protein microarray was used to profile IgG and IgM antibodies against 12 viral and 103 self-antigens in COVID-19 patients. The analysis revealed elevated antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and widespread autoreactivity in infected individuals compared to uninfected controls. However, autoantibody levels—including those against type I interferons—did not correlate with disease severity.

Interestingly, only IgGs targeting spike proteins of common cold coronaviruses (HCOV-229E and HCOV-NL63) were associated with milder outcomes. These findings suggest COVID-19 induces broad, non-specific B cell activation, and highlight the protein microarray’s power for comprehensive immune profiling in infectious disease research.

Figure 1. Plasma IgM levels in healthy controls and patients presenting with or without lymphopenia. (Jiang et al., 2022.)

Case 2: Ganoderma sterols suppress inflammation via p38 and NF-κB pathways

Xu et al., 2021. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2021.112073

This study demonstrates that sterols from Ganoderma lucidum (GLS), isolated through an efficient single-step method, significantly contribute to the fungus's anti-inflammatory effects. GLS reduced LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages by decreasing pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) at both protein and mRNA levels. Mechanistically, GLS inhibited the MAPK pathway by blocking p38 phosphorylation and suppressed NF-κB activation by preventing IκB-α degradation and p65 phosphorylation. Molecular docking confirmed direct sterol binding to p38 and p65, suggesting GLS as promising, natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Figure 2. Transcriptomic analysis of DEGs in subchondral bone (A) Correlation analysis with samples from the Control and UAC groups. (B) Volcano plot representation of gene expression analysis, highlighting the most affected DEGs. Red represents upregulated DEGs and blue represents downregulated DEGs. (C) Heatmap showing integrated analyses of DEGs. X-axis: Group clustering; Y-axis: Gene clustering. (Qin et al., 2024)

Customer Testimonials

"We used Creative BioMart's protein expression microarray service to profile cytokine responses during our AOC screening campaign. The sensitivity was impressive, especially for low-abundance targets such as IL-33 and IFN-λ1. Their ability to incorporate custom targets into the array saved us weeks of assay development."

— R&D Director | Mid-size Pharmaceutical Company

"As someone who’s run far too many ELISAs in my life, Creative BioMart is a breath of fresh air. We analyzed >300 inflammation-related proteins from mouse serum with only 10 µL per sample—and the data quality was phenomenal. No cross-reactivity issues, and the Z’ factors were solid across the board. Plus, their team actually talks science—not just sales."

— Principal Investigator | Academic Immunology Lab

"The pathway profiling service from Creative BioMart provided us with a comprehensive overview of MAPK signaling under drug treatment. The turnaround time was fast, and the interpretation was accurate."

— Director of Preclinical Pharmacology | Mid-sized Pharma

"We were skeptical at first—multiplexing protein detection with high specificity isn’t easy. But Creative BioMart’s team nailed it. We ran a panel including custom antibody-oligo conjugates against novel CNS targets, and the signal-to-noise ratio was the best we’ve seen. We now use this service in parallel with our LC-MS proteomics to validate candidates faster."

— Biomarker Discovery Lead | Global Biotech Company

"We used this service to support one of our pharma clients looking at AOC biodistribution markers. Creative BioMart provided a completely custom array including oligo-tagged antibodies we supplied, and it integrated seamlessly with our downstream qPCR readouts. Reliable, fast, and scientifically sound—our client was thrilled."

— Senior Scientist | Contract Research Organization (CRO)

FAQs

• Q: What is a Protein Expression Microarray, and what are its key applications?

  A: Protein Expression Microarray is a high-throughput platform that enables the simultaneous detection, quantification, and profiling of hundreds to thousands of proteins in a single experiment. This technology is widely used for biomarker discovery, immune profiling, pathway analysis, and validation of therapeutic targets, offering significant advantages over traditional single-analyte assays such as ELISA and Western blot.

• Q: What distinguishes your Protein Expression Microarray service from others?

  A: Our service is characterized by several core advantages:

  • Exceptional sensitivity and specificity, enabled by proprietary surface chemistry and precise protein immobilization techniques.
  • Highly customizable arrays, allowing clients to select target proteins relevant to their specific research objectives.
  • Rapid turnaround times, with results typically delivered within 2–3 weeks.
  • Comprehensive data reporting, including normalized expression values, quality control metrics, and pathway-level insights.

• Q: Is it possible to tailor the protein panel to meet specific research needs?

  A: Yes. We offer fully customizable array designs to accommodate unique project requirements. Clients can select from a wide range of validated targets or request the inclusion of proprietary antibodies or antigens. This flexibility is particularly valuable in applications such as AOC (antibody-oligonucleotide conjugate) development, immune profiling, and disease-specific biomarker studies.

• Q: What are the sample requirements for the assay?

  A: Our platform is optimized for minimal sample input. Typically, only a few microliters of biological material—such as serum, plasma, cell lysate, or tissue extract—are required. Detailed sample preparation guidelines are provided to ensure consistency and optimal assay performance.

• Q: What is the typical turnaround time?

  A: Under standard conditions, data are delivered within 2 to 3 weeks from receipt of samples and finalized assay design. Expedited options may be available for time-sensitive projects.

• Q: Is your platform suitable for clinical or regulatory applications?

  A: At present, our Protein Expression Microarray platform is intended for research use only. However, the technology adheres to stringent quality control and validation procedures aligned with preclinical and translational research standards. If regulatory-compliant workflows are required, we are open to collaborative discussions regarding potential development pathways.

References:

1. Jiang W, Johnson D, Adekunle R, et al. COVID‐19 is associated with bystander polyclonal autoreactive B cell activation as reflected by a broad autoantibody production, but none is linked to disease severity. Journal of Medical Virology. 2023;95(1):e28134. doi:10.1002/jmv.28134
2. Qin W, Gao J, Yan J, et al. Microarray analysis of signalling interactions between inflammation and angiogenesis in subchondral bone in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis. Biomater Transl. 2024;5(2):175-184. doi:10.12336/biomatertransl.2024.02.007