Selected reaction monitoring-based proteomics: workflows, potential, pitfalls and future directions

Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) is a targeted mass spectrometry technique that is emerging in the field of proteomics as a complement to untargeted shotgun methods. SRM is particularly useful when predetermined sets of proteins, such as those constituting cellular networks or sets of candidate biomarkers, need to be measured across multiple samples in a consistent, reproducible and quantitatively precise manner. Here we describe how SRM is applied in proteomics, review recent advances, present selected applications and provide a perspective on the future of this powerful technology.