Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8
Proteomics
Tapan R. Shah 1 , Ambikanandan Misra 2
1 Post Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sardar Patel
University, Vallabh Vidyanagar ��� 12�, Gu�arat, �ndia
, Gu�arat, �ndia
2 Pharmacy Department, T�FAC - Centre of Relevance and Excellence in New
Drug Delivery Systems, The Mahara�a Saya�irao University of Baroda,
PO Box 51, Kalabhavan, Vadodara �9� ��1, Gu�arat, �ndia
��� 12�, Gu�arat, �ndia
8.1  Introduction
8.1.1  Definition
Proteomics involve the large-scale study of proteins, their structure and physiological
role or functions. Proteins are quintessential cellular components or biomolecules in
any living organism. The term proteomics first appeared in 1997. It was very similar to
the word genome . The word proteome is actually a combination of protein and genome
and was coined by Mark Wilkins in 1994. To be precise and specific, proteome is the
entire complement or database or set of proteins produced by a living organism. The
proteome is a broad term that also encompasses the alterations or modifications pro-
duced in native protein when organisms are subjected to a plethora of changes.
8.1.2  Rationale Underlying Proteomics Studies
After elucidation and decoding of genomes, the next expected step was the study of
biological proteins or proteomics. However, proteomics is very complex due to the
fact that the genome remains more or less constant in contrast to the proteome, which
may undergo changes, depending upon the biological needs. The genomic makeup is
less likely to be altered over time, whereas proteomics may vary widely.
Even mRNA analysis may not suffice to predict the protein make up of an entire
organism, because the entire mRNA does not undergo translation, and the amount of
protein produced for a given amount of mRNA depends on the gene from which it
has been synthesized by transcription, as well as the present physiological status of
the cell. In spite of being a complicated technique, it is very useful for qualitative and
quantitative confirmation of the entire protein configuration.
The protein synthesis in any organism is very briefly depicted in three steps:
(1) transcription of mRNA; (2) translation of protein based on mRNA; and (3) post-
translational protein modifications, such as addition of phosphate or glucose to
render it biologically active.
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