Proximity Ligation Assay: From a Foundational Principle to a Versatile Platform for Molecular and Translational...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Traditional methods for cellular imaging and quantification have limitations in specificity, sensitivity, and spatial information preservation.
• Precise analysis of protein interactions and quantification of protein abundance are crucial for understanding health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the principles, development, and applications of Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) platforms.
• To highlight technological advancements in PLA for systems biology and clinical diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) converts protein recognition events into amplifiable DNA signals.
• Two major formats exist: in situ PLA (isPLA) for cellular visualization and solution-phase PLA for liquid sample quantification.

Main Results:

• isPLA enables high-resolution visualization of protein-protein interactions, PTMs, and subcellular architecture in cells and tissues.
• Solution-phase PLA allows sensitive quantification of low-abundance biomarkers in liquid samples for diagnostics.

Conclusions:

• PLA is a versatile platform overcoming traditional method limitations, offering exceptional sensitivity.
• Innovations in PLA are transforming it into a powerful tool for both fundamental research and clinical applications.