BME273SeniorDesign-VanderbiltUniversity.docVIP

BME 273: Senior Design New Technology for Protein Separation Cathy Castellon Advisor: Dr. Haselton April 23, 2002 Abstract While the world around us is rapidly advancing in the biomedical field, proteomics is a forerunner in the race. There is a compelling reason to pursue the human proteome; doing so will bring the industry that much closer to understanding the molecular basis of disease1. Everyday proteins are separated to compare their expression from an arbitrary reference state of a cell, tissue, or organism, to the profile of a non-standard condition. This process utilizes the SDSmethod, which separates proteins based on size and isoelectric point2. According to innovative workbench (Appendix 1), to find a way to separate proteins not based on size and isoelectric point will decrease the time and effort needed. The new technology outlined separates proteins based on hydrophobic characteristics. Micro-sizing this process using soft lithography allows us to have a greater resolution of proteins, decrease the work space for experimentation, and reduce time and labor. The glass slides used will also decrease the labor time since the process is fairly simple and easy. Introduction Proteomics is a rapidly emerging technology in which SDSis the leading method used to separate proteins for the purpose of comparing the expression of protein profiles from an arbitrary reference state of a cell, tissue, or organism, to the profile of a non-standard condition. Proteins are the master molecules of all living things. Enzymes and hormones are composed of proteins3. Structural, membrane, contractile, protective, transport, and storage proteins are also vital and present in all living things3. Proteins are made up of amino acids and each amino acid is composed of an alpha carbon chains with four groups attached: a carboxylic acid group, an amine group, a hydrogen atom, and an “R”group that make it distinct from other amino acids3. Th