Abstract
Molecular mechanisms underlying health and disease function at least in part based on the flexibility and fine-tuning afforded by protein isoforms and post-translational modifications. The ability to effectively and consistently resolve these protein species or proteoforms, as well as assess quantitative changes is therefore central to proteomic analyses. Here we discuss the pros and cons of currently available and developing analytical techniques from the perspective of the full spectrum of available tools and their current applications, emphasizing the concept of fitness-for-purpose in experimental design based on consideration of sample size and complexity; this necessarily also addresses analytical reproducibility and its variance. Data quality is considered the primary criterion, and we thus emphasize that the standards of Analytical Chemistry must apply throughout any proteomic analysis.
Highlights
In the current post-genomic era of large scale ‘omic analyses, Proteomics occupies a central position due to the vast diversity of functional and structural roles for proteins
In addition to the breadth of functional and regulatory capacity introduced by splice variants and isoforms, the quantity, location, and functional states of proteins are continuously fine-tuned by myriad potential post-translational modifications (PTM)
We have shown that fitness-for-purpose is a function of methodology and of sample type and we have discussed this for what we consider to be the three major objectives in protein characterization
Summary
Proteomics Is Analytical Chemistry: Fitness-for-Purpose in the Application of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Analyses. Molecular Physiology and the Molecular Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Office 30.2.15, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Building 10, Room 9D 52, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Received: 23 October 2015 / Accepted: 26 November 2015 / Published: 3 December 2015
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