Capabilities using 2-D DIGE in proteomics research : the new gold standard for 2-D gel electrophoresis.

The use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for differential analysis in proteomics was revolutionized by the introduction of 2-D fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE). This fluorescence-based technique allows the use of multiplexed samples and an internal standard that virtually eliminates gel-to-gel variability, resulting in increased confidence that differences found between samples are due to real induced changes, rather than inherent biological variation or experimental variability. 2-D DIGE has quickly become the "gold standard" for gel-based proteomics for studying tissues, as well as cell culture and bodily fluids such as serum or plasma. This chapter will describe the basic 2-D DIGE technique using minimal labeling, image acquisition using high-quality fluorescence scanners, and software capable of analyzing the multiplexed images and normalizing the data using the internal standard.