Advances of Single-Cell Protein Analysis

Overview

Journal Cells

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Biophysics
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2020 May 24

PMID 32443882

Citations 10

Authors

Lixing Liu

Deyong Chen

Junbo Wang

Jian Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Proteins play a significant role in the key activities of cells. Single-cell protein analysis provides crucial insights in studying cellular heterogeneities. However, the low abundance and enormous complexity of the proteome posit challenges in analyzing protein expressions at the single-cell level. This review summarizes recent advances of various approaches to single-cell protein analysis. We begin by discussing conventional characterization approaches, including fluorescence flow cytometry, mass cytometry, enzyme-linked immunospot assay, and capillary electrophoresis. We then detail the landmark advances of microfluidic approaches for analyzing single-cell protein expressions, including microfluidic fluorescent flow cytometry, droplet-based microfluidics, microwell-based assay (microengraving), microchamber-based assay (barcoding microchips), and single-cell Western blotting, among which the advantages and limitations are compared. Looking forward, we discuss future research opportunities and challenges for multiplexity, analyte, throughput, and sensitivity of the microfluidic approaches, which we believe will prompt the research of single-cell proteins such as the molecular mechanism of cell biology, as well as the clinical applications for tumor treatment and drug development.

Citing Articles

Deciphering cellular complexity: advances and future directions in single-cell protein analysis.

Zhao Q, Li S, Krall L, Li Q, Sun R, Yin Y Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2025; 12:1507460.

PMID: 39877263 PMC: 11772399. DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1507460.

Digital Microfluidics for Sample Preparation in Low-Input Proteomics.

Steinbach M, Leipert J, Matzanke T, Tholey A Small Methods. 2024; 9(1):e2400495.

PMID: 39205538 PMC: 11740955. DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400495.

Single-cell omics: experimental workflow, data analyses and applications.

Sun F, Li H, Sun D, Fu S, Gu L, Shao X Sci China Life Sci. 2024; 68(1):5-102.

PMID: 39060615 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2561-0.

Emerging technologies in adipose tissue research.

Avtanski D, Hadzi-Petrushev N, Josifovska S, Mladenov M, Reddy V Adipocyte. 2023; 12(1):2248673.

PMID: 37599422 PMC: 10443968. DOI: 10.1080/21623945.2023.2248673.

An automated spray-capillary platform for the microsampling and CE-MS analysis of picoliter- and nanoliter-volume samples.

Li J, Huang L, Guo Y, Cupp-Sutton K, Wu S Anal Bioanal Chem. 2023; 415(28):6961-6973.

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