Highly sensitive and multiplexed in situ protein profiling with cleavable fluorescent streptavidin

The ability to perform highly sensitive and multiplexed in situ protein analysis is crucial to advance our understanding of normal physiology and disease pathogenesis. To achieve this goal, here we develop an approach using cleavable biotin conjugated antibodies and cleavable fluorescent streptavidin (CFS). In this approach, protein targets are first recognized by the cleavable biotin labeled antibodies. Subsequently, CFS is applied to stain the protein targets. Though layer-by-layer signal amplification using cleavable biotin conjugated orthogonal antibodies and CSF, the protein detection sensitivity can be enhanced by at least 10 fold, compared with the existing methods. After imaging, the fluorophores and the biotins unbound to streptavidin are removed by chemical cleavage. The leftover streptavidin is blocked by biotin. Upon reiterative analysis cycles, a large number of different proteins with a wide range of expression levels can be unambiguously detected in individual cell in situ.