Biomedical relevance of two-dimensional protein mapping.
State-of-the-art and future perspectives are discussed for the application of two-dimensional protein maps to basic medical research and routine clinical chemistry problems. Despite the technical advances that allow effective processing of a large number of samples and the refinement of devices and procedures for image analysis, at present two-dimensional maps are mostly confined to research purposes, i.e. to the inventory of normal constituents of body fluids and tissues on the one hand, and to qualitative-quantitative alterations of some protein spots in a number of instances (genetic, degenerative, infectious or xenobiotic diseases) on the other. It is hoped that in some instances a single primarily affected component will be able to be identified and then specifically tested (for instance by immunological means) as a diagnostic marker, but complex pathological patterns would still require the analysis of a large number of peptides at the resolution level only afforded by two dimensions. Further simplification of the protocols, for example with ready-made gels, and data reduction systems might then allow the application of the technique to be extended to general clinical laboratories.
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of Milan, Italy.
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Gianazza
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Righetti
D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010449:Peptide Mapping / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends