Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features methods for analyzing protein interactions

Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Fri., Sept. 8, 2006 – Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, an online journal that publishes methods used in a wide range of biology laboratories, has added over 40 new peer-reviewed protocols to its archive today. The new collection highlights two techniques for characterizing protein interactions, which will aid many cell and molecular biologists–including those who seek to identify the molecular basis of human diseases. Both of these methods are freely accessible from the journal's website: www.cshprotocols.org.

Given the importance of characterizing the molecular networks and signaling pathways that form the biological basis of all living organisms, techniques aimed at probing protein interactions have come to the forefront in recent years. The new methods published today by CSH Protocols will be useful for researchers seeking to identify the molecular partners–such as other proteins or DNA–to which specific proteins bind.

The featured protocols describe how proteins of interest can be labeled with detectable markers and then used to probe thousands of different DNA and protein sequences. The protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions that are identified will eventually be useful for tracking down the causes of diseases, as well as for designing new drugs to aid in their prevention and treatment.

The latest issue of CSH Protocols also includes a variety of other standard and specialized techniques that will be useful to many researchers. These include methods for synchronizing cell growth, investigating embryonic development, and preparing specimens for immunostaining.