Prolinx Announces Release of Protein Microarray Product Line.

Business Editors

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 2001

Prolinx(R), Inc., an emerging force in the development of proteomics and genomics tools and technologies, today announced that it has released its protein microarray product line, Versalinx(TM) Protein Microarray Technology.

Versalinx Protein Microarray Technology is an open-platform array system that utilizes a synthetic chemical affinity surface chemistry based upon the reversible complexation of phenyl(di)boronic acid (P(D)BA) with salicylhydroxamic acid (SHA). Prolinx developed and holds 26 issued and additional pending patents on the Versalinx chemistry. The protein microarray system includes: a high capacity, stable, optimized array substrate (3 x 1 inch glass slides), preformulated buffers, and wash solutions. In addition, Prolinx is expanding its Versalinx tools line by offering Versalinx Proteomics Grade Protein Conjugation Reagents. These new products are compatible with common laboratory spotting and detection instrumentation to allow rapid and efficient implementation into basic research, proteomics and drug discovery applications.

Biochips or microarrays are miniaturized assay platforms typically requiring the immobilization of ligands on solid surfaces. Such miniaturization is driven by the need to accelerate discoveries by analyzing hundreds to thousands of samples using robust and universal methods. For proteomics and drug discovery, protein microarrays represent a promising new approach to high throughput studies. Technologies developed for nucleic acid biochips have found only limited success when used for protein ligands due to issues inherent to the maintenance of functional three-dimensional structures and optimal presentation of active regions for proteins.

The Prolinx Versalinx Protein Microarray Technology is the first system developed specifically for protein immobilization on array surfaces and overcomes many of the limitations of existing technologies. Improvements to current technology include a unique, stable, polymeric presentation of binding moieties resulting in high signals, low noise, and superb spot morphology -- even when spotting unpurified conjugates. Solution phase conjugation with a selection of different reagents allows conditions for protein immobilization on the array to be optimized on a spot to spot basis, ensuring preservation of biological activity of every protein on the array. Further, detection requires no blocking that might introduce artifacts or reduce assay sensitivity.

"The need for new technologies that enable the high throughput analysis of functional proteins is clear. And, while the use of microarray technology for proteins has been envisioned, the availability of enabling technologies has been elusive," comments Jim Mahoney, President and CEO of Prolinx, Inc. "We believe that the unique attributes of the Versalinx Protein Microarray Technology will eliminate the technological obstacles hampering the implementation of this critically important proteomics research method."

Prolinx, founded in 1995, is a privately held biotechnology company located north of Seattle, Washington, USA. The company develops, manufactures, and markets tools, applications, and systems that advance developments in bioresearch, biotechnology and drug discovery. The company has commercialized a number of proprietary technologies including Versalinx Chemical Affinity Tools, a synthetic chemical affinity technology targeted at the proteomics and genomics markets, and Versalinx Protein Microarray Technology, a novel open platform array system specifically designed to enable developments in the emerging protein array market. The company is also developing instruments for label-free molecular interaction analysis based upon advances in surface plasmon resonance technology. The first instrument, the Octave(TM) Molecular Interaction Analysis System will be released in early 2002. Information about Prolinx is available at www.prolinxinc.com or by phoning 425/487-3401. Prolinx is a registered trademark, and Versalinx and Octave are trademarks, of Prolinx, Inc.