Table 1

The number of protein spots resolved in replicate gels of the same biological sample.

Sample No (Treatment group)

No. of Replicates

Total Proteins resolved (occurring in at least one replicate) (%)

Number resolved in all replicates (%)

Number resolved in all but one replicate (%)

Number resolved in all but two (%)

Number resolved in just one (%)

6 (GSE)

3

4064 (100)

309 (8)

563 (14)

3192 (78)

-

7 (GSE)

4

546 (100)

169 (31)

130 (26)

97 (18)

150 (27)

8 (GSE)

4

954 (100)

186 (19)

120 (12)

105 (11)

543 (57)

9 (GSE)

2

904 (100)

342 (39)

562 (62)

-

-

10 (GSE)

2

396 (100)

229 (58)

167 (42)

-

-

22 (CONT)

4

924 (100)

234 (25)

89 (10)

109 (12)

492 (53)

23 (CONT)

4

950 (100)

161 (17)

151 (16)

102 (11)

536 (59)

24 (CONT)

2

879 (100)

312 (35)

567 (65)

-

-

25 (CONT)

3

957 (100)

272 (28)

117 (12)

568 (59)

26 (CONT)

2

432 (100)

183 (42)

249 (58)

-

-

The variability in the resolution of protein spots in technical replicates in a 2D gel experiments is one of the causes of the large number of missing spot intensities. The variability in the table above demonstrates the need for technical replicates as a quality control measure to identify spots that are most 'reliable' and common and therefore most useful to generalize to a larger population.

Meleth et al. BMC Biotechnology 2005 5:7   doi:10.1186/1472-6750-5-7