Protein arrays: a high-throughput solution for proteomics research?

High-density DNA and protein arrays are small flat surfaces that allow the simultaneous analysis of thousands of molecular parameters within a single experiment. DNA array technologies have resulted in smaller sample volumes, more efficient analyses and higher throughput. As proteins are more complex and more diverse compared with nucleic acids, development of similar platforms for proteomics has proved difficult. This review outlines current techniques used in the generation and applications of high-density protein arrays, with emphasis on recent developments and applications in proteomics.