Validation of Plant Fusion Peptides Using Proteomics Data

Fusion transcripts and their fused protein products are emerging as exciting entities in molecular biology, offering potential applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. These fusion proteins, derived from the translation of fusion transcripts, hold promise as unique biomarkers and targets for intervention. While numerous algorithms exist to identify fusion RNAs, the detection and validation of their protein counterparts through proteomics remains a growing area of research. This challenge is particularly intriguing in plant biology, where fusion events may affect stress responses, development, and adaptation. This chapter provides an accessible and practical workflow for validating plant fusion peptides using publicly available proteomics datasets.