Abstract
Summary
This report describes and evaluates the proteomic technologies that will play
an important role in drug discovery, molecular diagnostics and practice of
medicine in the post-genomic era - the first decade of the 21st century. Most
commonly used technologies are 2D gel electrophoresis for protein separation
and analysis of proteins by mass spectrometry. Microanalytical protein
characterization with multidimentional liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
improves the throughput and reliability of peptide mapping. Matrix-Assisted
Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has become a widely used method
for determination of biomolecules including peptides, proteins. Functional
proteomics technologies include yeast two-hybrid system for studying protein-
protein interactions. Establishing a proteomics platform in the industrial
setting initially requires implementation of a series of robotic systems to
allow a high-throughput approach for analysis and identification of
differences observed on 2D electrophoresis gels. Protein chips are also
proving to be useful. Proteomic technologies are now being integrated into the
drug discovery process as complimentary to genomic approaches.
Toxicoproteomics, i.e. the evaluation of protein expression for understanding
of toxic events, is an important application of proteomics in preclincial drug
safety. Use of bioinformatics is essential for analyzing the massive amount of
data generated from both genomics and proteomics.
Proteomics is providing a better understanding of pathomechanisms of human
diseases. Analysis of different levels of gene expression in healthy and
diseased tissues by proteomic approaches is as important as the detection of
mutations and polymorphisms at the genomic level and may be of more value in
designing a rational therapy. Protein distribution / characterization in body
tissues and fluids, in health as well as in disease, is the basis of the use
of proteomic technologies for molecular diagnostics. Proteomics will play an
important role in medicine of the future which will be personalized and will
combine diagnostics with therapeutics.The text is supplemented with 43 tables,
26 figures and over 450 selected references from the literature.
The number of companies involved in proteomics has increased remarkably during
the past few years. More than 300 companies have been identified to be
involved in proteomics and 210 of these are profiled in the report with 476
collaborations.
The markets for proteomic technologies are difficult to estimate as they are
not distinct but overlap with those of genomics, gene expression, high
throughput screening, drug discovery and molecular diagnostics. Markets for
proteomic technologies are analyzed for the year 2007 and are projected to
years 2012 and 2017. The largest expansion will be in bioinformatics and
protein biochip technologies. Important areas of application are cancer and
neurological disorders
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