Protein extraction from hard tissue samples using the Omni Bead Ruptor Elite bead mill homogenizer

The Omni Bead Ruptor Elite™ bead mill homogenizer enables rapid and efficient tissue homogenization for a variety of samples types and is capable of homogenizing up to twenty-four samples in tube sizes ranging from 0.5 mL to 50 mL using optimized bead matrices to facilitate sample disruption. Hard samples such as muscle, skin and bone represent a significant challenge for extraction of target analytes such as proteins and nucleic acids. Proteins are an important target in scientific research. They serve as biomarkers for disease, targets for therapeutic purposes, and provide essential physiological functions in living organisms. Extraction and recovery of a sample’s proteome is often the first step in proteomic research. However, tissue composition variability creates a significant barrier for developing a universal extraction method. Although soft tissue types are easier to disrupt, hard tissues such as bone, skin, and muscles are difficult to disrupt quickly without degrading the analyte of interest. Traditional disruption methods can include incubation in the presence of harsh chemicals or pulverization under cryogenic conditions. 1,2 For optimal protein recovery, an efficient and reproducible method is necessary that is effective across a broad range of sample types. Herein, we demonstrate protein extraction from tough tissues via bead milling in the Omni Bead Ruptor Elite bead mill homogenizer.

Table 2. Sample type and protein yield.