Proteins are fundamental to the structure and function of cells. Proteomics studies the diverse set of proteins within cells, their proteome. Our researchers are using proteomics to better understand how proteins function in health and disease. This is providing new avenues for diagnosis and treatment of disease. 

Our proteomics research

Our researchers are using proteomics to understand how proteins function within cells in health and disease. Important aspects include:

• Characterising the proteins involved in health and disease to understand their function.
• Developing proteomic strategies to improve diagnosis of diseases, including malaria and rheumatoid arthritis.

Our proteomics research is integrated with other research fields including:

• Systems biology 
• Structural biology 
• Bioinformatics 
• Personalised medicine 

What is proteomics?

Proteins are intricate molecules that are crucial for processes that make cells function. Proteomics studies the proteins produced by cells, called the proteome.

The proteomes of cells can vary:

• Within the same cell over time, such as in response to a stimulus.
• Between different types of cells, such as a neuron versus a red blood cell.

Differences between how cells function occur because of the variations in their proteomes. These differences can be seen in:

• The different types of proteins present.
• The amounts of each protein.
• Small chemical changes to proteins, such as phosphorylation (addition of a phosphate group).
• How proteins change their interactions with each other (signalling)

These differences can be linked to changes that occur in cells to cause disease, or in response to a disease.

Studying proteomes can provide insights into cell behaviour that may not be reached by looking at a few individual proteins. Proteomics also allows researchers to discover previously unknown changes in individual proteins that may not have been considered in studies of single proteins.

Proteomics also complements genomics research, as changes in a cell’s genetic material do not always reflect changes within the proteome.

Proteomics of disease

Cells contain thousands of different proteins that can be present in different amounts, and many proteins can be subtly modified. Our proteomics researchers rely on high-throughput techniques to rapidly assess and compare the proteomes of different samples.

Key aspects of our proteomics research include:

• Linking changes in one protein or gene with subsequent effects on many other proteins, to better understand how that protein or gene functions.
• Discovering changes in proteins within cells that explain how the cells function, or how they change in a disease. This may give clues to new treatments.
• Defining proteomic changes that can be used to diagnose a disease, or indicate the best treatment for an individual’s disease. This is one aspect of personalised medicine.

Systems biology

Many changes occurring within cells in health or disease are subtle and complex. Understanding slight changes in a cell’s genetic material (genome), coupled with changes in the proteome, can provide new insights into diseases.

Systems biology brings proteomic and genomic information together. This can be a powerful approach to understanding how diseases occur, and how they may be better diagnosed and treated.