Proteomics: present and future implications in neuro-oncology

PROTEOMICS, IN ITS broadest mandate, is the study of proteins and their functions. As the "workhorses" of the genome, proteins govern normal cellular structure and function. Protein function is not just a reflection of its expression level; it is also the cumulative result of many post-transcriptional (splicing) and post-translational events that together determine cellular localization, interactions, and longevity. The composition and variability of the proteome is vastly more complex than the corresponding genome. It is this proteome variation that helps define an organism and the unique characteristics that separate one individual from another. Aberrations in protein function, which alter normal cellular structure and function, are the ultimate basis of disease, including cancer. Therefore, an understanding of protein networks through a systems biology approach of proteomics is necessary to understand normal and abnormal cellular function, with the goal of performing rational therapeutic interventions. In this review, we focus on two emerging proteomic technologies: mass spectrometry and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer. In addition to reviewing the principles and potential utilization of these two techniques, we highlight their application in neuro-oncology research.