Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins. It is used to detect protein expression patterns in response to a specific stimulus, but also to determine the functional protein network that exists at the level of the cell, tissue, or whole organism. Proteomics is an emerging field that studies the genome of living things. This research is vital to understand the genetic basis of health and disease. The word proteomics actually derives from the word protein, which means around or within. Proteomics is basically the study of proteins, the large number of complex proteins that make up all living things. Proteins are essential parts of all living organisms, having numerous important roles to play in the metabolism and growth of an organism.
However, many proteins did not display significant association with one another. Because of these initial difficulties in the field of proteomics, the Mass Spectrometry experiment was designed and eventually performed on human plasma samples. Mass Spectrometry allows researchers to simultaneously sample multiple tissues, for in depth analysis of the transcriptome and proteomics. Analysis of the transcriptome and proteomes enable researchers to determine the functions of all proteins produced by the organisms under study. In addition, by identifying the proteins produced by the organism, researchers can also monitor the efficiency of protein synthesis and decipher the role of regulatory mechanisms in controlling protein production.
Although the major focus of proteomics so far has been on the cellular level, recent years have witnessed an impressive growth in the applications of this technique to the proteasome level. There are two major areas in which proteomics can be applied. One is to screen large numbers of therapeutic proteins to identify those with therapeutic utility and a corresponding set of standards for clinical trials. The second area is to identify, characterize, and regulate novel therapeutic proteins associated with new therapeutics for the heart, lungs, or other organs... Read more