Scimagix launches 2D-gel analysis and mining application for proteomics
The application, which was developed using the company's proprietary visual characterization and retrieval technology, is designed to search 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2D) gels, according to set visual criteria including intensity, size, shape and location of protein spots.
ProteinMine is designed to enable users to conduct high-throughput searching of thousands of gels to find the selected combination of protein patterns and differentially expressed proteins. The Scimagix application allows access to data using a Web-browser and enable users to store, analyze and search for information across a number of 2D gels.
"Searching 2D gels according to visual content has never been done before," said Robert Dunkle, President and CEO of Scimagix. "With our software system, researchers can identify and select a particular protein pattern and ask 'Where have I seen this before?'."
ProteinMine was developed through an alliance with Pfizer Global R&D (formerly Parke-Davis), which now uses the 2D-gel application software with SIMS (Scientific Image Management System), a data management system designed to store, search and retrieve all types of images generated in drug discovery research and development. According to Scimagix, the advanced search capabilities of the application may save pharmaceutical companies millions of dollars and time whenever it is able to recognize an expression pattern known to be indicative of toxicity.