Method for Detection and Analysis of Macromolecular Complexes

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for the detection and/or analysis of the structure of macromolecular complexes and/or macromolecules comprising the steps of (a) purifying or separating said macromolecular complexes and/or macromolecules from a sample containing said macromolecular complexes and/or macromolecules by applying in a porous matrix a separation force in a first dimension (X-axis); (b) transferring in a second dimension (Z-axis) by adsorption forces the macromolecular complexes and/or macromolecules purified or separated in step (a) from the porous matrix onto a carrier wherein said carrier contacts the surface of the porous matrix and is positioned parallel to the surface of said matrix and parallel to the direction of the separation force applied in step (a); (c) immobilizing the macromolecular complexes and/or macromolecules on said carrier after transfer of step (b); and (d) assessing the structure of the macromolecular complexes and/or macromolecules on said carrier after immobilization of step (c).;Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for analyzing whether a subject is afflicted by a disease or prone to developing a disease, wherein said disease is correlated with the presence or absence of protein complexes, and/or virus complexes, and/or bacterial complexes and/or fungal complexes, and/or prion-related complexes comprising the steps of (a) assessing for the presence and optionally the structure of said protein complexes, and/or virus complexes and/or bacterial complexes and/or fungal complexes and/or prion-related complexes by (aa) purifying or separating said protein complexes, and/or virus complexes, and/or bacterial complexes, and/or fungal complexes, and/or prion-related complexes from a sample putatively containing said protein complexes, and/or virus complexes and/or bacterial complexes and/or fungal complexes and/or prion-related complexes by applying in a porous matrix a separation force in a first dimension (X-axis); (ab) transferring in a second dimension (Z-axis) by adsorption forces the protein complexes, and/or virus complexes, and/or bacterial complexes, and/or fungal complexes, and/or prion-related complexes purified or separated in step (aa) from the porous matrix onto a carrier, wherein said carrier contacts the surface of the porous matrix and is positioned parallel to the surface of said matrix and parallel to the direction of the separation force applied in step (aa); (ac) immobilizing the protein complexes, and/or virus complexes, and/or bacterial complexes, and/or fungal complexes, and/or prion-related complexes on said carrier after transfer of step 2(ab); and (b) correlating the presence or absence or the structure of the protein complexes, and/or virus complexes, and/or bacterial complexes, and/or fungal complexes, and/or prion-related complexes on said carrier with the affliction of said subject by a disease or proneness to developing a disease.;The present invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method of the invention.