Proteomics encompasses the study of all proteins within a given biological sample, collectively referred to as the proteome. It involves the examination of protein expression, structure, and functions. Notably, substantial progress has been made in recent times through the utilization of advanced mass spectrometry techniques, distinguished by their high mass resolution, sensitivity, and precision.
Mass spectrometry-based proteomics primarily operates at two fundamental levels, known as bottom-up and top-down approaches. The top-down approach, often necessitating pure protein samples and expensive mass spectrometers, has made the bottom-up approach the more commonly employed method. In the bottom-up approach, proteins are extracted from the target sample (e.g., tissue, plasma, milk), and subsequently, these proteins are enzymatically broken down into peptide fragments by proteolytic enzymes like trypsin or Lys-C. This resulting mixture of peptides is then subjected to analysis through liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometers. Protein identification from these peptide units is accomplished with the assistance of various software tools, such as MaxQuant. Recent advancements in data analysis software have enabled the determination of a protein’s relative abundance within the proteome through a technique known as Label-Free Quantification (LFQ).
Thanks to these capabilities and the robust software employed for data analysis, mass spectrometry-based proteomics has become an indispensable tool in scientific literature due to the rich insights it provides.
Our goal is to identify variations in protein profiles in the context of disease scenarios. Furthermore, we aspire to analyze the protein profiles of diverse samples, including venoms and toxins.
