4.1.3 Reverse-phase protein microarray
Reverse phase protein microarrays (RPA) are a subtype of analytical microarrays. RPA involves lysing cells from different tissues, arranging them on a nitrocellulose slide, and probing specific proteins with antibodies. Detection is typically done using chemiluminescence, fluorescence, or colorimetry, with reference peptides enabling protein quantification [47]. RPA excels at comprehensive protein profiling, including the detection of various modifications like phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitylation, cleavage, and alteration. This makes RPA valuable for identifying disease-related protein variations and potential targeted therapies [50]. It’s instrumental in identifying defective protein pathways, potentially leading to targeted drug development for disease treatment.