February 4, 2009: Protea Biosciences Inc. has launched a new microfluidic protein recovery technology platform, the GPR-800, which offers simultaneous recovery of eight proteins from gels in less than 20 minutes, the company announced in a news release.

“Our new GPR-800 benchtop instrument uses an advanced, proprietary, multichannel microfluidic chip technology, and is an important advance in the proteomics field,” said Protea marketing director Reid Asbury said in the release. “Because it allows the biologist to prepare ‘mass spectrometry ready’ protein samples in a fraction of the time, we believe the GPR-800 represents a major breakthrough and productivity advancement for today’s busy proteomics research laboratory.”

The GPR-800 system uses a novel protein surfactant that solubilizes the protein, then degrades, eliminating any interference with the mass spectrometer, the release said. It also allows recovery in a closed system, with minimal dead volume, assuring no introduction of contaminants, according to the company.

Protea’s GPR-800 Gel Protein Recovery System. (Image courtesy of Protea Biosciences Inc.)