Proteomics

Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, as they are the main components of the physiological metabolic pathways of cells. The term "proteomics" was first coined in 1997 to make an analogy with genomics, the study of the genes.

Overview

The proteome is the entire set of proteins, produced or modified by an organism or system. This varies with time and distinct requirements, or stresses, that a cell or organism undergoes. Proteomics is an interdisciplinary domain that has benefited greatly from the genetic information of various genome projects, including the Human Genome Project. It also covers the exploration of proteomes from the overall level of protein composition, structure, and activity. It is an important component of functional genomics.

Techniques

While genomics gives a broad picture of the genetic landscape of an organism, proteomics provides a more refined view of the functional elements of the cell. Techniques of proteomics include differential in-gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, protein-protein interaction screening, protein array, and chromatography.

Applications

Proteomics has a wide range of applications in disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and molecular medicine. It also has applications in plant science, helping to enhance crop yield and resistance to disease.

See also

• Bioinformatics
• Genomics
• Metabolomics
• Transcriptomics

References

Proteomics Resources
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