ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on large-scale identification of expressed or interacting proteins, two vital aspects of proteomics that are proving amenable to high-throughput techniques. Proteomics can be divided into two major subdisciplines: expression proteomics and cell-map proteomics. Bioinformatics is an integral part of proteomics. In a general sense, bioinformatics is required for analysis, interpretation and storage of the large datasets produced in many proteomic experiments. Bioinformatics also provides tools that are unique to proteomics, such as the algorithms used to query protein and DNA sequence databases using mass spectrometry data. The cellular proteome contains tens of thousands of proteins differing in abundance over six orders of magnitude. Essential components of proteomic research therefore include the separation of complex protein mixtures (protein separation technology) and the characterization of individual proteins within such mixtures (protein annotation technology). Protein chips are miniature devices on which proteins, or specific capture agents that interact with proteins, are arrayed.
