Need to understand where your protein of interest is expressed? Wondering if it’s a viable drug target or biomarker? The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) is the world’s most comprehensive open-access database for the human proteome.
But for a researcher, data is only the beginning. To move from a digital image to a published result, you need the exact tools that created the data. At Atlas Antibodies, we were founded by the same researchers who started the HPA project. We manufacture the HPA-validated antibodies that power the database, ensuring your lab results match the world's standard.
What is the Human Protein Atlas?
The Human Protein Atlas is a Swedish-based, global effort to map all ~20,000 protein-coding genes. By combining antibody-based imaging with transcriptomics and systems biology, the HPA provides a high-resolution view of the human body at the molecular level.
- Coverage: ~78% of the human proteome
- Evidence: Over 10 million high-resolution IHC and IF images.
- The Atlas Antibodies Connection: As the HPA’s original manufacturing partner, we provide the antibodies used to generate the database's core imaging. When you see an "HPA-validated" result, you can find the exact reagent here to replicate it.
Navigating the Nine Specialized Sub-Atlases
The Human Protein Atlas is organized into nine specialized sub-atlases, each providing unique proteomic insights:
| Atlas | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Tissue Atlas | Protein and RNA profiles across human organs. |
| Single Cell Atlas | Expression data at single-cell resolution. |
| Subcellular Atlas | Localization in 35 different organelles and structures. |
| Cancer Pathology Atlas | Prognostic data and expression in 20 common cancers. |
| Brain Atlas | Detailed protein mapping in the human, mouse and pig brain. |
| Blood Protein Atlas | Profiles of circulating proteins (potential biomarkers). |
| Cell Line Atlas | Expression data for commonly used human cell lines. |
| Structure Atlas | Predicted 3D structure of proteins and their related isoforms. |
| Interaction Atlas | Protein-protein interaction networks. |
4 Ways to Leverage the HPA for Faster Research
1. Validate Drug Targets & Therapeutic Windows
Before investing months in a new protein target, use the HPA to answer critical questions regarding antibody specificity and expression:
- Is it expressed in my target tissue?
- What about off-target expression in other organs?
- Is it upregulated in disease versus normal tissue?
👀 Example: Searching for a potential pancreatic cancer drug target?
Check the Pathology Atlas to see if it's overexpressed in tumors but absent or low in normal tissues, this is a key indicator of therapeutic window.
2. Discover Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers
The Blood Protein Atlas shows you which proteins are detectable in circulation, serving as a shortcut for biomarker discovery:
- Search your tissue-specific protein of interest
- Check if it's secreted or released into blood
- Assess its potential as a non-invasive biomarker
👀 Example: Researching liver disease biomarkers?
Find liver-elevated proteins that are also detectable in blood samples.
3. Design Experiments Based on Real Localization Data
Stop guessing where your protein is and see it through High-Resolution IF images:
- View immunofluorescence images showing exact subcellular location (nuclear, cytoplasmic, membrane-bound).
- Select appropriate cell fractionation methods
👀 Example: Planning a co-localization study?
Verify that your two proteins of interest actually occupy the same cellular compartment before starting experiments.
4. Identify Cell-Type-Specific Markers
The Single Cell Atlas reveals which cell types express your protein, essential for flow cytometry and lineage tracing:
- Identify highly specific markers for cell sorting
- Understand heterogeneity in expression across cell populations
👀 Example: Need a specific marker for pancreatic beta cells?
Search and filter for proteins with highly restricted expression patterns.
From Database to Bench: The Atlas Antibodies Connection
Atlas Antibodies was founded in 2006 by the same researchers who created the Human Protein Atlas, specifically to maintain the highest antibody validation standards.
Why This Matters: When you view protein expression data in the HPA, you're not just seeing theoretical predictions. You're seeing real experimental data generated with real antibodies.
Complete Transparency: Every antibody used in the database is identified, and you can access its full validation data, specificity testing, reproducibility across batches.
Zero Guesswork: When you order an HPA-validated antibody from Atlas Antibodies, you know exactly how it will perform because you've already seen it work in the database.
👉🏼Getting Started: From Search to Bench
1. Start exploring
Visit the Human Protein Atlas database at www.proteinatlas.org
2. Search for your protein of interest by:
Gene name (e.g., "TP53", "EGFR") or
Protein name (e.g., "Tumor protein p53") or
Ensembl ID or UniProt accession number
3. Find the Atlas you need
Navigate through tissue, subcellular, cell lines, pathology amd much more data
4. Download data and images
All images and data are freely available
5. Order the antibodies
Purchase the exact antibodies used in the database at www.atlasantibodies.com