The proteomics is still a relatively new field of research that the totality of all proteins (proteome) and try to find out which proteins there are in the cells, what functions they have and how they work together. Our entire body is made up of thousands of different proteins. And enzymes, which also consist of proteins, regulate important metabolic processes.
With the help of proteomics, we can create a kind of huge library in which proteins are classified and arranged. This gives us a better understanding of the connections in our body and can understand which processes are disrupted in diseases or how medications affect the body. In this article, we will explain to you in an understandable way what proteomics is, what it has to do with epigenetics and how we can use this technology.
What is proteomics?
Put quite soberly, the Proteomics is the comprehensive study and analysis of the proteome, i.e. the totality of all proteins expressed in a cell, tissue, organism or specific biological system at a given time. It deals with the identification, quantification, structure, function and interactions of proteins as well as their changes under different conditions.
By using advanced technologies such as mass spectrometry and bioinformatics tools, proteomics aims to to gain a detailed understanding of the role of proteins in biological processes and diseases and thus contributes significantly to the development of new diagnostic methods, therapies and the understanding of disease mechanisms.
The Proteome as the Wardrobe of Your Life
Proteomics – is there a more understandable way?
Admittedly, the complex background of proteomics is not easy to explain. In our article on the epigenetics we have these with the volume controls For proteomics we can use another analogy: a wardrobe.
Imagine your closet is full of different items of clothing, each of which has a specific function. piece of clothing represents a protein in your body, and the The totality of all proteins (or your wardrobe) is called the proteome designated.
Similar to a wardrobe, the proteome can be diverse, with a wide range of proteins responsible for different cellular functions and processes. Some proteins are like your favorite clothesthat you wear often and that play an important role in your daily life. Here you would say essential proteins speak.
Other proteins are like the rarely worn or seasonal clothes that are only needed on certain occasions.
The Wardrobe of Life
Just as you organize your closet according to your needs and choose certain items of clothing that suit your style, your body regulates the expression and activity of different proteins depending on the needs and conditions. This process is called proteomics and involves the examination and analysis of all proteins in a cell, tissue or organism at a given time.
For example, when you exercise, your body can produce proteins that are important for muscle recovery and building new muscle mass. These proteins are activated to meet the specific demands of your workout. Similar to how you might choose your sportswearTo prepare for your workout, your body selects certain proteins to enable the physiological adaptations to exercise.
Proteomics allows us to study the complex interplay of proteins in biological systems and understand how they respond to different environmental factors, diseases or therapeutic interventions. By analyzing the proteome, we can gain insights into how cells and tissues function and discover new opportunities for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. To stay with the analogy, we examine which “items of clothing” are used in which life situations.
Why use proteomics?
Proteomics offers a type of "Live insight" into the cellWith genetics, we have so far only been able to make the blueprints visible. Proteomics now offers a new perspective. We can see whether proteins are changed again after translation, e.g. through phosphorylation or glycosylation. This means we get a more detailed insight into the processes of the cell. This enables researchers to better research protein-protein interactions and thus better understand complex biological signaling pathways.
What are the advantages of proteomics?
Proteomics is the next step towards more personalized medicine. In the future, research efforts may make it possible to better identify new biomarkers for diseases or therapeutic targets. In addition, proteomics may help us increase our understanding of how drugs affect the body.
The research is still in its early stages, but there are already some very exciting studies. In this study 36 people with different conditions were tested before and after exercise. The analyses were extremely extensive, from blood tests to proteomic and genetic analyses. The researchers were able to determine that some proteins were suitable as markers for later performance in endurance tests. They also found that people with a insulin resistance show a different reaction to sport. A little more research is needed before precise treatment approaches can be derived from this, but the results so far are extremely exciting.
How do you measure proteins?
There are different methods to measure proteins. A mass spectrometer is of great importance for proteomicsBut how does such a device work?
A mass spectrometer is like a sophisticated scalethat sorts tiny particles such as proteins or peptides (short protein segments) by their weight. Imagine you have a bag of balls of different sizes and you want to sort them by size. A mass spectrometer basically does the same thing, only with moleculesTo give you a better idea of the process behind it, we have presented the individual steps as simply as possible:
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Step 1: Preparing the sample
First, proteins are extracted from a cell or tissue sample. Since proteins are too large and complex to be analyzed directly, they are "broken down" into smaller pieces called peptides through a process called digestion (similar to eating).
Step 2: Ionization
The peptides are then fed into the mass spectrometer where they are ionized. This means that the peptides become electrically charged, similar to when you rub balloons on your hair and they then "stick" to the wall.
Step 3: Flight through the mass spectrometer
The charged peptides are sent through the mass spectrometer. The device uses electric fields to accelerate the peptides. The lighter a peptide is, the faster it moves through the device. It's like blowing different sizes of balls through a wind tunnel; the smaller ones go faster than the larger ones.
Step 4: Detection
At the end of the "flight," the peptides arrive at a detector. The detector measures how fast each peptide arrived, which indicates its weight (more precisely, the mass-to-charge ratio). This information is presented in a spectrum that looks like a mountain diagram, with peaks corresponding to different peptides.
Step 5: Analyze the data
The collected data – the mass spectrum – is compared with a database containing information about known peptides and proteins. Through this comparison, scientists can find out which proteins were present in the sample and in what quantity.
So a mass spectrometer works like a very precise scale that breaks proteins into smaller pieces, charges those pieces electrically, then lets them fly through a machine and measures how fast they move. This information helps us understand what proteins are present in a cell or tissue and how they function.
Conclusion on Proteomics
Proteomics is still a relatively new field of research. One of the first papers on this topic appeared in 2000 in the renowned Lancet Journal under the title: “Preotomics: new perspectives, new biomedical opportunities“.
A lot has happened in research since then. The methods have become more sophisticated and cheaper, which has made it possible to research proteomics on a larger scale.By using artificial intelligence (AI), science can better analyze the huge amounts of data and thus discover new biomarkers or develop new therapies using proteomics.
