Microproteomics: analysis of protein diversity in small samples.
Proteomics, the large-scale study of protein expression in organisms, offers the potential to evaluate global changes in protein expression and their post-translational modifications that take place in response to normal or pathological stimuli. One challenge has been the requirement for substantial amounts of tissue in order to perform comprehensive proteomic characterization. In heterogeneous tissues, such as brain, this has limited the application of proteomic methodologies. Efforts to adapt standard methods of tissue sampling, protein extraction, arraying, and identification are reviewed, with an emphasis on those appropriate to smaller samples ranging in size from several microliters down to single cells. The effects of miniaturization on these analyses are highlighted using neuroscience-related examples, as are statistical issues unique to the high-dimensional datasets generated by proteomic experiments.
Gutstein
Howard B
HB
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 110, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA. hgutstein@mdanderson.org
Morris
Jeffrey S
JS
Annangudi
Suresh P
SP
Sweedler
Jonathan V
JV
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D042282:Microdissection; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D051381:Rats; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
D011506:Proteins