Comparison of three commercially available DIGE analysis software packages: minimal user intervention in gel-based proteomics.

The success of high-performance differential gel electrophoresis using fluorescent dyes (DIGE) depends on the quality of the digital image captured after electrophoresis, the DIGE enabled image analysis software tool chosen for highlighting the differences, and the statistical analysis. This study compares three commonly available DIGE enabled software packages for the first time: DeCyder V6.5 (GE-Healthcare), Progenesis SameSpots V3.0 (Nonlinear Dynamics), and Dymension 3 (Syngene). DIGE gel images of cell culture media samples conditioned by HepG2 and END2 cell lines were used to evaluate the software packages both quantitatively and subjectively considering ease of use with minimal user intervention. Consistency of spot matching across the three software packages was compared, focusing on the top fifty spots ranked statistically by each package. In summary, Progenesis SameSpots outperformed the other two software packages in matching accuracy, possibly being benefited by its new approach: that is, identical spot outline across all the gels. Interestingly, the statistical analysis of the software packages was not consistent on account of differences in workflow, algorithms, and default settings. Results obtained for protein fold changes were substantially different in each package, which indicates that in spite of using internal standards, quantification is software dependent. A future research goal must be to reduce or eliminate user controlled settings, either by automatic sample-to-sample optimization by intelligent software, or by alternative parameter-free segmentation methods.