Integrating the analysis of human biopsies using post-translational modifications proteomics.

Area of Science:

• Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry
• Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
• Human Health and Disease Research

Background:

• Protein diversity and function are significantly expanded by post-translational modifications (PTMs).
• Traditional shotgun proteomics often overlooks PTMs, leading to an incomplete understanding of human health and disease.
• Protein heterogeneity and disease complexity present significant challenges in clinical characterization and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role of proteomic techniques in characterizing the biological functions of PTMs in human biopsies.
• To explore the integration of diverse methods for PTM profiling and understanding their impact on human diseases.
• To address the knowledge gap regarding PTMs and their role in disease mechanisms and biomarker discovery.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing advanced mass spectrometry-based proteomic techniques to enrich and study PTMs.
• Applying liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of PTMs.
• Integrating diverse methods to profile PTMs, genetic regulation of proteoforms, and cells of origin.

Main Results:

• Recent advances in mass spectrometry enable detailed molecular insights into PTMs from cellular to system-wide functions.
• These techniques are crucial for understanding the microbiome's impact on human diseases.
• Characterization of complex human samples clarifies the roles of PTMs and the microbiome in disease.

Conclusions:

• Characterizing PTMs is fundamental to understanding protein heterogeneity and disease complexity.
• Advanced proteomic strategies are essential for uncovering the biological functions of PTMs and identifying novel biomarkers.
• Further research integrating PTM and microbiome data will drive new discoveries in human health and disease.