Aushon BioSystems, a provider of microarray instrumentation and services, today announced the expansion of its microarray service line to include offerings dedicated to reverse phase arrays (RPA). Previously, Aushon offered RPA print services through its Custom Microarray Printing Services, but has now added downstream array processing and data analysis.

Unlike forward phase arrays in which antibodies or recombinant proteins are printed onto substrates, reverse phase arrays are created by depositing the samples to be analyzed, such as cell/tissues lysates or blood plasma, directly onto substrates. These arrays are particularly useful for high throughput analysis of protein levels and post-translational modifications, which in turn are key in biomarker identification and drug discovery programs. Since 2004, Aushon has recognized the power of reverse phase arrays and tried to enable its widespread use via a novel solid-pin arrayer architecture that overcomes the difficulties of arraying highly viscous samples like cell lysates. Aushon anticipates that with their expanded RPA services there will be an even greater adoption of the technology.

“Aushon’s unique array deposition technology has already enabled discoveries in biomarker identification and cancer research previously too cumbersome to undertake,” says Peter Honkanen, CEO at Aushon BioSystems. “But there is still a large group of researchers unfamiliar with the processing and analysis of this type of array. The goal of our new RPA processing service is to allow that group of scientist to benefit from this type of assay as well as reduce the risks of evaluating and adopting this technology.”

In addition to expanding its RPA service offering, Aushon scientists recently teamed with RPLA expert Satoshi Nishizuka, to author a peer-reviewed research paper entitled: Protein and Lysate Array Technologies in Cancer Research; Biotechnology Advances 26 (2008): 361-369. “Our goal in this review was to summarize recent advances in protein and cell lysate arrays while providing real-world examples of their usage,” says John Austin, contributing author, Executive VP and CSO at Aushon BioSystems. “The RPA is a valuable research tool that has the potential to increase the efficiency of the drug discovery process and to greatly affect how patients are treated for disease in the future. We hope by sharing our knowledge of this method as well as enabling the scientific community to use RPAs through our instrumentation and our expanded RPA service offerings, we can help enhance the pace of life science research.”

About Aushon BioSystems

Aushon BioSystems provides advanced microarray products, instruments and services for life science research, drug discovery/development and diagnostics. The Company’s proprietary 2470 Arrayer — now used in leading research centers around the world — enables researchers in the life science and pharmaceutical industries to create high quality arrays ranging from DNA to cell lysates. Aushon BioSystems is a privately held company based in Billerica, MA. For more information about Aushon BioSystems, please visit the company’s website at http://www.aushon.com.