The term "proteome" was first introduced in 1994 by Marc Wilkins to refer to all proteins expressed by a cell, tissue, or organ at a specific time. Proteomics is the study of the proteome and involves the large-scale analysis of proteins, particularly their structure, biological functions, and interactions with other proteins.

A cell’s phenotype and function cannot be simply determined by analyzing its genome or transcriptome. Factors such as mRNA degradation, translation efficiency, alternative splicing, post-translational modifications (PTMs), and protein turnover cause the proteome (the complete set of proteins in an organism) to differ significantly from its genome or transcriptome. Since proteins carry out most cellular functions, proteomics is essential for a deeper understanding of biological processes.

The human genome contains an estimated 20,000 protein-coding genes, but when accounting for alternative splicing and post-translational modifications, this number exceeds 100,000 distinct proteins.

Proteomics Laboratory

Since its establishment in 2007, the Proteomics Laboratory has actively contributed to over 80 research projects, with more than 50 ongoing studies. The lab’s services and activities include:

• Protein extraction from various cells and tissues using different methods, along with concentration determination and quality/quantity assessment.

• Protein electrophoresis and various staining techniques (e.g., Coomassie, silver staining).

• Western blotting and quantitative analysis using ImageJ and ImageQuant software.

• ELISA for protein detection and quantification.

• Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) with image analysis via ImageMaster software and protein identification by mass spectrometry (MS).

• Sample preparation for different quantitative mass spectrometry techniques and data analysis.

• Design and production of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for specialized research.