SomaScan® 11K Assay v5.0
The SomaScan® 11K Assay, from Standard BioTools, is the most advanced proteomics technology available for global characterization of the human proteome. This assay allows simultaneous quantification of more than 10,000 unique proteins from small sample volumes (55 µL of plasma or serum), offering unprecedented coverage and the ability to explore both high and low abundance proteins within a dynamic range of 10 orders of magnitude. However, there is a wider range of samples (e.g. CSF, synovial fluid, culture media, etc.) and different species that can be processed in the assay.
| SOMAmer Reagents | Antibodies |
|---|---|
| Short single-stranded DNA sequence with modified nucleotides (~ 20 kDa) | Large, multichain protein (~ 150 kDa) |
| Chemically synthesized, providing consistent structure | Produced by biological systems, introducing a degree of natural variability in structure |
| Selected for specific performance characteristics from a synthetically generated library of 10^15 DNA aptamers | Selection is random based on immune response |
| Universal polyanionic competitor used in assay to eliminate non-specific binding | No universal competitor to eliminate non-specific binding |
| Highly specific (binding site dimensions of 1100–1200 Ų) | Highly specific (binding site dimensions of 1100–1200 Ų) |
The principle of operation is based on the use of SOMAmer® (Slow Off-rate Modified Aptamer) Reagents, DNA aptamers chemically modified using SELEX technology. These modifications broaden the chemical diversity and improve the specificity and binding affinity to native proteins in their three-dimensional conformation. SOMAmer act as capture reagents that, after washing, partitioning, photo-release and sequential capture, generate quantifiable signals on DNA hybridization microarrays.
Compared to antibodies, SOMAmer reagents offer significant advantages: standardized chemical synthesis, reduced variability, affinity control by SELEX and reduced non-specific binding, resulting in increased robustness and reproducibility.
| Sample Type | Requested Volume | |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Human plasma or serum | 130 µL (2×55 µL aliquots) |
| Human urine | 550 µL (2×260 µL aliquots) | |
| Non-Core | Non-human primate, dog, cat, mouse or marmot plasma or serum | 130µL (2×55 µL aliquots) |
| Plasma bone marrow aspirate | ||
| Human/dog synovial fluid (pre-treated to reduce viscosity) | ||
| Human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) plasma/serum | 75 µL (2×30 µL aliquots) | |
| Cell lysate | ||
| Tissue homogenate Bronchoscopy and Lavage Lymphocytes Amniotic fluid Nuclear extract Exosomes Wound fluid | 75 µL (2×30 µL aliquots) | |
| Cell culture conditioned media Sputum Nasal lavage | 100 µL (2×40 µL aliquots) | |
| Aqueous humor Vitreous humor | ||
| Bovine or rat plasma/serum Saliva Blister fluid Bovine milk | 50 µL (2×15 µL aliquots) | |
| Cerebral spinal fluid | 100µL (2×40 µL aliquots) |
Technology has demonstrated very low coefficients of variation (CV) (median <5% in plasma and serum), enabling the detection of subtle protein changes with high statistical power, significantly reducing the cohort size required in clinical studies.
Clinical and research applications include biomarkers in oncology, cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in translational pharmacology, clinical trials and precision medicine.
How does it work?
Key Aspects
- Coverage of ~11,000 protein measurements (over 10,000 unique proteins), measured in small volumes of biological samples.
- Requires only 55 µL of human plasma or serum, or others.
- 10-log dynamic range, detecting proteins from fM to µM.
- High reproducibility: median CV <5% in serum/plasma.
- SOMAmer reagents: chemically modified aptamers with high specificity and stability.
For more information on the SomaScan assay service, please consult Citogen, the only laboratory in Europe certified by Standard Biotools to perform this assay.
