Proteomics: a primer for otologists.
OBJECTIVE
On July 9, 2003, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a new program announcement entitled "Proteomics in Auditory and Developmental Disease Processes." This initiative makes it clear that proteomic analysis in otology is a multi-year research priority for the NIH. The goal of this article is to describe the mechanics of modern proteomic techniques and review their applications in otology to date.


METHODS
General articles from the proteomic literature were used to construct a review of modern proteomic techniques. For literature on proteomics in otology, MEDLINE and CRISP databases were searched by various topics in otology and cross-referenced with principle proteomic technologies.


METHODS
The criterion for selection was any study in otology that employs proteomic technology.


CONCLUSIONS
Incredible progress has been made in proteomic technology. However, modern proteomic techniques are currently underutilized in otologic research. The NIH proteomics initiative referenced above, in combination with an understanding of the basic tools of modern proteomic science, should help motivate otologists to discover innovative ways to apply modern proteomic techniques to specific problems in otology.
McGuire
John F
JF
University of California, Irvine, Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Irvine, California 92617, USA. johnmcguire@cox.net
Casado
Begona
B
D035843:Biomedical Research; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019295:Computational Biology; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States
D011506:Proteins