Current Proteomics - Volume 10, Issue 2, 2013

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is a powerful tool for investigating the spatial distribution of proteins and small molecules within biological specimen. This technique combines the potential of MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry with the ability to scan series of pixels across the surface of tissues, which generates multiplex space-correlated mass spectra. Numerical processing of th Read More

Protein arrays represent a step forward in proteomic technologies, as they enable to address biological and functional questions by large-scale approaches (i.e., up to several thousand proteins may be monitored in a single experiment). Here we review recent achievements of protein arrays and their classification. We also summarize current and future applications of this technology to address the study of the human proteo Read More

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are dynamic regulators of protein function, and play important roles in diseases such as cancer. PTM analysis can be challenging, the stoichiometry of PTMs is often low, and various combinatorial modifications are possible. Currently, two major techniques are used to detect and characterize PTMs, immunoassays and mass spectrometry. Immunoassays rely on antibodies for detection of the Read More

Although proteomics is a very recently developed science, important advances have already occurred in this field. There is growing interest in the scientific community for using this technology as a high-throughput innovative strategy for biomarker discovery in the field of cancer research. However, certain challenges must be overcome before reaching this goal. The basis for discovering reliable biomarkers is rooted in tech Read More

A plenitude of reasons, including tumour heterogeneity, mechanisms of resistance to therapy, a complex pathogenesis, in which cancer stem cells are involved, contribute to the poor outcome of HNSCC patients after therapy. The roles of vital signalling proteins are constantly unravelled, and different types of inhibitors are examined yielding novel potential targeting strategies. However, there will be a long way to go, before dr Read More

Transgelins, which have been studied by proteomic methods for more than ten years as tumor-associated proteins, are the members of calponin family, since calponin homology domains are present in their amino acid sequences and there are other typical structural features. According to the available information there is a specific tissue distribution of these proteins. Three closely related genes which coded transgelins are Read More

Clinical proteomics studies are extensively being conducted in recent years. We have outlined some views about proteomics progresses for clinical research, via the understanding the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, tumor response to therapy and biomarker identification versus novel therapeutic target-discovery; as well as proteomerelated methods used in cancer research. Integrative concepts of development of nov Read More