Kenyon George L, DeMarini David M, Fuchs Elaine, Galas David J, Kirsch Jack F, Leyh Thomas S, Moos Walter H, Petsko Gregory A, Ringe Dagmar, Rubin Gerald M, Sheahan Laura C
College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1065, USA.
Mol Cell Proteomics. 2002 Oct;1(10):763-80.
Research in proteomics is the next step after genomics in understanding life processes at the molecular level. In the largest sense proteomics encompasses knowledge of the structure, function and expression of all proteins in the biochemical or biological contexts of all organisms. Since that is an impossible goal to achieve, at least in our lifetimes, it is appropriate to set more realistic, achievable goals for the field. Up to now, primarily for reasons of feasibility, scientists have tended to concentrate on accumulating information about the nature of proteins and their absolute and relative levels of expression in cells (the primary tools for this have been 2D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry). Although these data have been useful and will continue to be so, the information inherent in the broader definition of proteomics must also be obtained if the true promise of the growing field is to be realized. Acquiring this knowledge is the challenge for researchers in proteomics and the means to support these endeavors need to be provided. An attempt has been made to present the major issues confronting the field of proteomics and two clear messages come through in this report. The first is that the mandate of proteomics is and should be much broader than is frequently recognized. The second is that proteomics is much more complicated than sequencing genomes. This will require new technologies but it is highly likely that many of these will be developed. Looking back 10 to 20 years from now, the question is: Will we have done the job wisely or wastefully? This report summarizes the presentations made at a symposium at the National Academy of Sciences on February 25, 2002.
蛋白质组学研究是继基因组学之后在分子水平上理解生命过程的下一步。从最广泛的意义上讲，蛋白质组学涵盖了在所有生物体的生化或生物学背景下所有蛋白质的结构、功能和表达的知识。由于这是一个不可能实现的目标，至少在我们有生之年是这样，因此为该领域设定更现实、可实现的目标是合适的。到目前为止，主要出于可行性的原因，科学家们倾向于专注于积累有关蛋白质性质及其在细胞中的绝对和相对表达水平的信息（为此主要的工具是二维凝胶电泳和质谱）。尽管这些数据一直很有用并且将继续如此，但如果要实现这个不断发展的领域的真正前景，还必须获取蛋白质组学更广泛定义中所固有的信息。获取这些知识是蛋白质组学研究人员面临的挑战，并且需要提供支持这些努力的手段。本文试图阐述蛋白质组学领域面临的主要问题，并且在本报告中传达了两条明确的信息。第一条是蛋白质组学的任务过去是、现在也应该比人们通常认识到的要广泛得多。第二条是蛋白质组学比基因组测序要复杂得多。这将需要新技术，但很有可能其中许多技术会被开发出来。从现在往后回顾10到20年，问题是：我们是明智地还是浪费地完成了这项工作？本报告总结了2002年2月25日在美国国家科学院研讨会上的发言。
