Proteomics deals with the global study of proteins: their structure, expression and interactions with other molecules. The term "Proteome" was coined in the 1990s to describe the whole content of proteins present in a cell, tissue or body fluid at a given time.
The task of studying the Proteome comes with a unique set of challenges. One is based on the sheer number of proteins that can be identified in principle. The 23,000 genes in the human genome can code for at least ten times as many proteins; in extreme cases a single gene alone can code for over 1,000 proteins. Another challenge comes with the dynamic range of proteins found in biological samples and the numerous post-translational modifications that are further adding to the complexity of proteomic research.
Proteomics technologies are set to play a key role in information-rich discovery approaches in the post-Genomics era. Based on the advances that have been made in the field of mass spectrometry (MS) in particular, MS-based biomarker discovery is set to play an increasingly critical role in diagnostics and drug development.
As awareness of the benefits of the available technologies grows, high-quality services will become an issue for public research institutions, such as Universities, and private companies with an interest in the protein-based sciences. A full list of our services can be found here.
