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- Posted Thursday October 3, 2024
TGen gains early access to Illumina Protein Prep
Illumina Protein Prep provides TGen with multiomic insights and a deeper look into the plasma proteome
PHOENIX, AZ (October 3, 2024) – The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, is collaborating with Illumina, Inc., to become one of the first Early Access sites for its NGS-based proteomics solution, featuring the SOMAmer® Reagents from Standard Biotools. The platform enables TGen’s proteomics team to more easily and quickly assess protein biology and protein-protein interactions within human plasma and serum, which accelerates the opportunity for biomarker discovery. This effort is led by TGen’s Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry (CCTMS) and START, TGen’s Scientific Technology Assessment Research Team, which supports the Institute’s goals of identifying innovative research that advances precision medicine.
Proteomics gives researchers valuable insights into biological processes and disease mechanisms. It works well for profiling plasma because blood proteins reflect the current state of various tissues and organs. Proteomics reveals information about active biological processes that genomics alone cannot provide, as protein levels and modifications can change rapidly in response to environmental factors and disease states. However, analyzing large numbers of proteins in plasma samples has posed significant challenges. Illumina Protein Prep, the NGS solution which leverages SOMAmer® Reagents and Illumina’s high-throughput sequencing platforms will allow TGen researchers to analyze over 6000* different proteins in thousands of samples.
“We are thrilled to be among the early adopters of the Illumina Protein Prep. Our pilot study, which involved analyzing hundreds of plasma samples from a multi-cancer cohort, demonstrated outstanding reproducibility and unmatched proteome coverage,” said Patrick Pirrotte, Ph.D., TGen Associate Professor and Director of the CCTMS. “Integrating this cutting-edge technology into our services will empower our scientific community to uncover new biological insights that were previously out of reach.”
This innovative proteomics assay uses SOMAmer® (slow off-rate modified aptamer) Reagents for protein capture to achieve high specificity for target proteins compared to antibody-based approaches. Combining this advanced proteomics assay with NGS-based readout and the bioinformatics power of Illumina data analysis software provides COH, TGen, & the scientific community a streamlined sample-to-results solution for evaluating more than 6000 unique human proteins in a single plasma or serum sample.
“Illumina Protein Prep represents a significant advancement in high-throughput proteomics by seamlessly integrating our trusted sequencing by synthesis (SBS) chemistry with the high sensitivity of the SOMAmer technology,” said Jason Johnson, head of Global Product Management at Illumina. “Illumina is committed to advancing NGS-based multiomics solutions, and collaborations like Illumina Protein Prep are vital in making these powerful tools more accessible to scientists across the globe.”
The CCTMS employs advanced mass spectrometry-based techniques for protein analysis, including shotgun proteomics, targeted proteomics, data-independent acquisition, phosphoproteomics, and proteogenomics. These methods enable high-throughput, high-sensitivity protein identification and quantification, allowing researchers to detect even low-abundance proteins and post-translational modifications.
The integration of multi-omics data is crucial for providing comprehensive biological insights and improving biomarker discovery. By combining proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, and transcriptomics data, researchers can better understand gene-protein-metabolite relationships and elucidate complex cellular processes. This integrated approach enhances personalized medicine efforts by providing detailed molecular profiles of individual patients. It also facilitates more comprehensive pathway analysis, aids in drug target identification, and reveals temporal and spatial dynamics of biological processes. Ultimately, this holistic data integration approach is invaluable for precision medicine trials, offering a nuanced understanding of tumor biology and potentially identifying patient-specific therapeutic strategies.
The CCTMS is excited to be adding Illumina Protein Prep to their catalog of services. Please email [email protected] for more information around the service and submission process.
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