Recombinant antibodies for the generation of antibody arrays.

Affinity proteomics, mainly represented by antibody microarrays, has in recent years been established as a powerful tool for high-throughput (disease) proteomics. The technology can be used to generate detailed protein expression profiles, or protein maps, of focused set of proteins in crude proteomes and potentially even high-resolution portraits of entire proteomes. The technology provides unique opportunities, for example biomarker discovery, disease diagnostics, patient stratification and monitoring of disease, and taking the next steps toward personalized medicine. However, the process of designing high-performing, high-density antibody micro- and nanoarrays has proven to be challenging, requiring truly cross-disciplinary efforts to be adopted. In this mini-review, we address one of these key technological issues, namely, the choice of probe format, and focus on the use of recombinant antibodies vs. polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for the generation of antibody arrays.