Applied Biosystems Unveils New Real-Time PCR Assays

Applied Biosystems Unveils New Real-Time PCR Assays That Quantify Proteins in Human Cells

TaqMan Protein Expression Assays Provide Novel Method for Stem Cell Research Applied Biosystems, part of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE), today announced the introduction of a new line of TaqMan® real-time PCR assays that enable researchers to rapidly detect and quantify proteins in human cell samples. The TaqMan Protein Expression Assays enable researchers to correlate relative levels of specific proteins with cell functions and behaviors, such as different disease conditions, or states of pluripotency or differentiation in stem cells. The initial release of these molecular tools includes assays that enable relative quantification of protein markers for pluripotency from limited quantities of cultured human embryonic stem cells. These new molecular tools offer researchers a more quantitative, simpler, and more standardized approach to protein analysis of various cell types, especially stem cells, compared to other more complex methods that also require large amounts of cell sample. The new assays detect and quantify proteins by an innovative technology that combines an antibody-oligonucleotide-tagged immunoassay with a TaqMan Assay to generate real-time PCR data for specific proteins present in as little as 10-250 cells. The initial release of these assays in August will consist of six pre-designed protein expression assays. Four of the assays target stem cell pluripotency markers, and two, target more commonly expressed proteins in a variety of cell types. When combined with Applied Biosystems TaqMan Assays for microRNA and messenger RNA and run on one of its family of real-time PCR systems, they form the life-science industry’s only quantitative protein analysis method that enables researchers to make comparisons of protein and RNA molecular markers identified on the same platform with the same starting samples. The new assays for targets in stem cells have already been used by a team of scientists at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands to quantify protein biomarkers for pluripotency using small quantities of human stem cell and testicular germ cell samples. In a study being presented this week at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) conference in Spain, the scientists used the TaqMan Protein Expression Assays to analyze germ cell tumors and derived cell lines to characterize protein biomarkers for stem cell pluripotency. These kinds of biomarkers can potentially be used in research to identify and characterize malignant cells. Prof Leendert Looijenga, Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center “The development of the TaqMan Protein Expression Assays will result in a significant step forward in the investigation of the biology of many proteins, including those involved in stem cell regulation — both normal and malignant — using limited amounts of material, in a standardized set up.” Sam Raha, Vice President of Life Technologies’ Genomic Assays Business “This innovative real-time PCR technology expands our industry-leading line of TaqMan assays for gene expression and genotyping to now include solutions for protein detection and quantitation. Our combined portfolio of TaqMan assays and real-time PCR systems will provide scientists with a more complete picture of the biology of living organisms.” Additional Resources Technical Details TaqMan Protein Expression Assay Workflow Schematic Poster Presentation from ISSCR Overview of Technology About Applied Biosystems Products Life Technologies’ Applied Biosystems brand is a global leader in providing innovative, optimized instrument systems and workflows to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis. Through its Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen brand of reagents, kits and bench-top devices, Life Technologies markets the most comprehensive portfolio of solutions for molecular and cell biology. Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world. For more information, please visit: www.appliedbiosystems.com and www.invitrogen.com. About Life Technologies Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. 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