Protein technologies

Science programme: Genomic technologies

Proteins perform the functions encoded by genes and are therefore at the forefront of developmental and physiological processes. 'At the end of the day, proteins, not genes, are the business end of biology.'  Nature (editorial) Sept 2005.  Understanding the role genes play is often only possible through examination of the corresponding protein and how it interacts with other proteins, DNA or small molecules. 

In recent times protein technologies have experienced a renaissance due to significant advances in instrumentation.  HortResearch has invested in two prominent protein technologies to facilitate the isolation of important proteins/genes and to investigate their function. The Immunomolecular Biology team uses modern immunological tools provide a range of specific methods for isolating, quantitating and characterising proteins in samples.  On the other hand, the Proteomics section with its suite of sample processing options provides different approaches to the identification and detailed analysis of these proteins.  The complementarity of these technologies provides a powerful analytical capability that is enhanced even further by regional links to the specialist Proteomics Unit at the School of Biological Sciences , University of Auckland .