Applications of difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) in the study of microorganisms

Abstract

OMICs-based investigations of microorganisms are becoming more and more widespread in the upcoming era of systems and synthetic biology. Here, proteomics plays a key role and two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) remains the “gold-standard” for globally determining protein abundance changes on a quantitative and statistically confident level—in particular also for laboratories not having full-cycle proteomic facilities at their disposal. In this contribution we summarize our methodological procedures and experiences with 2D DIGE accumulated over the past 15 years.