proteomics-online

The term "proteome" was introduced by Williams and Wilkins in 1995 as the entirety of all proteins encoded by a genome expressed in a certain organ or cell type at a given state. Thus, the proteome is a highly dynamic entity influenced by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as the genome, interactions, drugs, etc.

Besides the qualitative and quantitative description of the expressed proteins proteomics also deals with the analysis of the mutual interactions of the proteins. Therefore, the "classical" proteomics approach compares two different states of a proteome, e.g. healthy - diseased or drug-treated - untreated. Such differential analyses yield a quantitative comparison of the expressed protein patterns and facilitate conclusions on direct or indirect interactions of the altered parameters. Thereby, "candidate proteins" can be identified which maybe used as starting-points for diagnostic or even theraupeutic approaches.