The recombinant protein array: use in target identification and validation

The human genome contains ∼30,000 genes, but it is proposed that these genes could encode up to a million different proteins. Alternative splicing of genes results in the same gene encoding for multiple proteins that can then undergo further transformation via various posttranslational modifications – it is a combination of these two processes that could lead to diversity in the proteins produced. Characterization of the interaction of proteins with each other, DNA and ligands remains an enormous challenge, particularly for traditional techniques that typically enable resolution of the interactions of a single protein. It is not surprising that the technologies that facilitate the direct and concurrent probing of all (or a significant subset of) the proteins of an organism have generated considerable interest from researchers and pharmaceutical companies alike. This review highlights new technologies available for the study of protein function, with a particular focus on the applications of recombinant protein arrays.