What is proteomics?
Proteins make the difference
Once the Human Genome project generated the first complete drafts of the genome sequence, the number of identified genes (30,000 - 35,000) was significantly lower than the 100,000 genes expected from earlier calculations. News headlines from these days almost all retained the ‘disappointing’ fact that humans have hardly more genes than an ordinary worm. The secret lies in the proteins that each gene codes for: they make the difference between appearance and performance, and often hold the key to being ill or healthy. Proteins - the major functional entities responsible for all biological processes - might possibly overrate the number of 1,000,000.
The most striking example that illustrates the all-important role of proteins for a living organism, is the difference between a butterfly and its wormlike larva: the caterpillar. They both share the exact same set of genes, but they are also as different as night and day. The same holds for the diverse cell types within one organism. Differences in cell function between e.g. skin, eye or liver tissue, are determined by the specific protein networks in these cells, encoded by the same genome.
Often pathological states of cells and tissues do not simply result from damage to the genome, but are caused by imbalances in the protein profile determining cell functions. Cancerous growth for instance can result from mutations at different points in specific regulatory protein systems designed to regulate normal cellular growth. This limits the impact of the DNA analyses in the full elucidation of multi-genic disorders such as cancer, diabetes type II and many psychiatric disorders.
The sequencing of the human genome and many other genomes has initiated a new age in human biology, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve human health and to stimulate scientific, industrial and economic activity. Following this historical landmark in science, the emphasis is now rapidly moving to the biological interpretation of the genome sequence information. This biological interpretation, which encompasses the immense tasks of identifying structure, function and interactions of the gene-products, i.e. the proteins, and their role in biological processes, is heavily relying on the field of proteomics. Proteomics is the application of evolving technologies to analyze proteins on a large scale to measure protein expression profiles and protein modifications and networks related to development, health/disease and other biological processes. Research in this innovative field and its rapid implementation into biological and biomedical research and applications, is the core activity of this project
So the role of proteins is extremely important, and so is research in that field. By improved understanding of biological processes at the molecular (i.e.protein) level, it will be possible to improve drug therapy, obtain better biomarkers for health and disease, and improve the application of proteins in plants, animals, food and nutrition. Once the proteomics tools will be efficient enough, social implications of results generated by proteomics related biomedical and biotechnology research, will be immense. Proteins do indeed make the difference.
The most striking example that illustrates the all-important role of proteins for a living organism, is the difference between a butterfly and its wormlike larva: the caterpillar. They both share the exact same set of genes, but they are also as different as night and day. The same holds for the diverse cell types within one organism. Differences in cell function between e.g. skin, eye or liver tissue, are determined by the specific protein networks in these cells, encoded by the same genome.
Often pathological states of cells and tissues do not simply result from damage to the genome, but are caused by imbalances in the protein profile determining cell functions. Cancerous growth for instance can result from mutations at different points in specific regulatory protein systems designed to regulate normal cellular growth. This limits the impact of the DNA analyses in the full elucidation of multi-genic disorders such as cancer, diabetes type II and many psychiatric disorders.
The sequencing of the human genome and many other genomes has initiated a new age in human biology, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve human health and to stimulate scientific, industrial and economic activity. Following this historical landmark in science, the emphasis is now rapidly moving to the biological interpretation of the genome sequence information. This biological interpretation, which encompasses the immense tasks of identifying structure, function and interactions of the gene-products, i.e. the proteins, and their role in biological processes, is heavily relying on the field of proteomics. Proteomics is the application of evolving technologies to analyze proteins on a large scale to measure protein expression profiles and protein modifications and networks related to development, health/disease and other biological processes. Research in this innovative field and its rapid implementation into biological and biomedical research and applications, is the core activity of this project
So the role of proteins is extremely important, and so is research in that field. By improved understanding of biological processes at the molecular (i.e.protein) level, it will be possible to improve drug therapy, obtain better biomarkers for health and disease, and improve the application of proteins in plants, animals, food and nutrition. Once the proteomics tools will be efficient enough, social implications of results generated by proteomics related biomedical and biotechnology research, will be immense. Proteins do indeed make the difference.
