Total Protein Quantification from Placenta Using the Bead Ruptor Elite for Sample Preparation

Processing and analysis of umbilical cord tissue has become a widespread method to analyze biomarkers that diffuse into tissue cells and may only be present in the blood for a short period of time1. Analysis of umbilical cord tissue, directly, by common methods like ELISA, Western blot and LC-MS/MS often gives researchers a more comprehensive picture to regulation of key indicators in gestational syndromes like pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes1. 

Upstream of analysis methods is sample preparation, which is frequently accomplished manually, chemically or a combination of the two. The Omni Bead Ruptor Elite™ bead mill homogenizer is a quick and efficient way to overcome the harsh and time-consuming nature of alternative homogenization methods, while still producing a homogenate suitable for downstream analysis. 

Herein, we outline sample preparation of fixed umbilical cord tissue on the Omni Bead Ruptor Elite for downstream total protein quantification.

Table 3: Calculated protein concentrations from umbilical cord tissue.