Rapid screening of peptide probes through in situ single bead sequencing microarray.
Anal Chem. 2014 Nov 5. [Epub ahead of print]
Wang W, et al.
The authors describe a continuous-flow microfluidic method for one-bead-one-compound combinatorial peptide library screening. They screened a peptide bead library within four hours and discovered 140 non-canonical peptide hits targeting the tumor marker aminopeptidase N. They believe the new nanotechnology for peptide screening and identification can "open a new avenue for rapid discovery of new peptide-based reagents for disease diagnostics and therapeutics."
Landscape of DNA methylation on the X chromosome reflects CpG density, functional chromatin state and X-chromosome inactivation.
Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Nov 7. [Epub ahead of print]
Cotton A, et al.
The authors examined the interplay of DNA methylation with CpG density, transcriptional activity, and chromatin state at genes on the X chromosome using over 1,800 female samples analyzed with the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. DNA methylation was used to predict an inactivation status for 63 novel transcription start sites across 27 tissues. The authors believe that their categorization of genes that escape from X inactivation provides candidates for sex-specific differences in disease.
Multiple tumor marker protein chip detection system in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
World J Surg Oncol. 2014 Nov 8;12(1):333.
Liu F, et al.
Twelve tumor markers were measured using protein biochips in serum in 235 pancreatic cancer patients, 230 benign pancreatic disease patients, and 240 healthy people. Five markers in particular — CA19-9, NSE, CEA, CA242, and CA125 — were determined to be helpful in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.