Patent ID: 6924115
Filing Date: 2005-08-02
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A process for identifying cell-specific target structures, the process comprising the following steps: (a) automatically depositing a reagent solution Y1 that includes at least one marker molecule on an object X1 which contains cells and/or cell membranes originating from a cell or tissue sample; (b) allowing the reagent solution Y1 to react, and automatically detecting at least one marker pattern of the object X1 labeled with the reagent solution Y1; (c) removing said reagent solution Y1 before or after detecting the marker pattern, and repeating steps (a) and (b) with further reagent solutions Yn (n=2, 3, . . . , N) each containing said at least one marker molecule, at least another marker molecule; or both; (d) combining the marker patterns detected in step (b) to give a complex molecular combination pattern of object X1; (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) with at least one further object Xn (n=2, 3, . . . , N) containing other cells and/or other cell membranes that originate from a different cell or tissue sample; (f) determining at least one difference between the combination pattern of object X1 and that of object Xn; (g) identifying at least one reagent solution Y1 or Yn whose marker pattern causes the difference determined in step (f); (h) selecting molecules or molecular complexes bound by at least the one marker molecule of the reagent solution Y1 or Yn identified in step (g) from a homogenate of cells and/or cell membranes originating from the cell or tissue sample of the object Xn differing as determined in step (f); and (i) biochemically characterizing the molecules or molecular complexes selected in step (h).