Abstract

A detailed knowledge on how proteins interact with other proteins or nucleic acids is essential for basic research as well as for the development of drugs and therapeutic leads. In this context, peptide arrays represent a powerful tool to analyze individual interactions within complex protein networks. Moreover, peptide arrays allow for incorporation of artificial building blocks during synthesis and secondary modification of amino acid side chains after synthesis, which makes them even more versatile. Within this review, we summarize the spectrum of applications of solid-supported peptide arrays generated by the SPOT method and provide an introduction into the entire volume dedicated to the topic.

Keywords: Epitope mapping, peptide synthesis, protein-protein interaction, protein-RNA interaction, proteomics, SPOT, protein, Peptide arrays, complex protein