1. Vermont Genetics Network Outreach Proteomics Module
Proteomics Overview

2. “What is Proteomics ?” or Proteome - “ics” ? or Protein - “omics” ?
CREDIT: JOE SUTLIFF, Science 291:

3. First let’s ask, “What is Genomics?”
or Genome - “ics” ?
or Gene - “omics” ?

4. The Human Genome and the “Birth” of Genomics
You have likely heard, that not long ago (2001) the
human genome was sequenced.
What does this mean?
Genomics is the study of an
organism’s (sometimes a cell’s
or a tissue’s) DNA
(includes all genes) in its totality.

5. “ OMICS ” The term “omics” is of recent origin but
Is now used by biologists to refer to the study of
a type of molecule or compound in its totality
(or at least on a large scale)
Some examples of “omic” disciplines are: genomics, lipidomics, metabolomics and proteomics.

6. So, now, what is Proteomics?
Proteomics is the study of an organism’s
(or a cell’s or a tissue’s or an organelle’s)
Proteins in their totality
(or at least on a large scale).
So, a large-scale study of proteins is proteomics.

7. What can we learn from seeing things in their totality that we can’t learn from seeing them individually?
What things can we learn from seeing things individually that we can’t see from seeing them in their totality?

8. “I can’t see the forest for the trees.”
“I can’t see the trees for the forest.”
Guard Cell
Chloroplast
But I can see the trees!
But I can see the forest!

9. Technological Advances Help Us See Both the Forest and the Trees

10. Remembering the “Central Dogma” of biology and how
Inherited information is (most usually) interpreted by a cell.
DNA
Transcription
( Splicing )
Translation
mRNA
Protein
Smith et al. 2000
Ann. Rev. of Biochem.

11. Remembering what a protein is:
Proteins are Polymers of amino acids, whose unique sequence
Gives them unique structures and thereby unique functions.

12. Remembering what an amino acid is:

13. The Scope of Proteomics
In Humans there are ~20,000-25,000 genes (almost all genes encode proteins).
So humans have
~ 20,000-25,000 basic protein “ types ”.

14. The Scope of Proteomics
However !!!
There can be great variability in proteins due to:
● Alternative Splicing
● Post Translational Modifications:
● phosphorylation
● methylation
● glycosylation
● ubiquitylation
● acetylation
● Proteolysis
● Polymorphisms (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms)

15. Phosphorylation is a Common Protein Modification
Humans Devote 653
(roughly 3% of their genes)
to proteins that directly
add phosphate (Kinases)
or remove phosphate
(Phosphatases).

16. Is Protein Modification Important?
ab/ab
ab/ab =
2 tyrosine to
phenylalanine
mutations, or
loss of only 2
hydroxyl groups!

17. Is Protein Modification Important?
MSTETELQVAVKTSAKKDSRKKGQDRSEATLIKRFKGEGVRYKAKLIGIDEVSAARGDKLCQDSMMKLKGVVAGARSKGEHKQKIFLTISFGGIKIFDEKTGALQHHHAVHEISYIAKDITDHRAFGYVCGKEGNHRFVAIKTAQAAEPVILDLRDLFQLIYELKQREELEKKAQKDKQCEQAVYQTILEEDVEDPVYQYIVFEAGHEPIRDPETEENIYQVPTSQKKEGVYDVPKSQPVSAVTQLELFGDMSTPPDITSPPTPATPGDAFLPSSSQTLPGSADVFGSMSFGTAAVPSGYVAMGAVLPSFWGQQPLVQQQIAMGAQPPVAQVIPGAQPIAWGQPGLFPATQQAWPTVAGQFPPAAFMPTQTVMPLAAAMFQGPLTPLATVPGTNDSARSSPQSDKPRQKMGKESFKDFQMVQPPPVPSRKPDQPSLTCTSEAFSSYFNKVGVAQDTDDCDDFDISQLNLTPVTSTTPSTNSPPTPAPRQSSPSKSSASHVSDPTADDIFEEGFESPSKSEEQEAPDGSQASSTSDPFGEPSGEPSGDNISPQDGS
Feng and Cooper.
MCB 2009

18. Examples of Proteomics Studies

20. Identification of Proteins in Embryonic Cerebral Spinal Fluid
Zappaterra et al, Journal of Proteome Research, 2007

22. Protein-Protein Interactions in Drosophila (“ Interactomes ”)
Proteomic Scientists often seek to understand and monitor how proteins behave collectively inside a cell.
Protein-Protein Interactions in Drosophila (“ Interactomes ”)
2346/~ total 5000 proteins
Science 302:

23. Two Essential Partner Tools in Proteomics
Mass Spectrometry
Gel Electrophoresis