Proteome Research

Human hereditary material consists of about 30,000 genes. Which is not much more than that of the unspectacular plant Arabidopsis thaliana. However, up to 300,000 different proteins can be coded, i.e. produced, from these genes in human cells in principle. Only the analysis of the proteome - the entirety of all proteins of a cell, a tissue or an organism at a specific point in time and under very specific conditions - provides insights into the complex functioning of a biological system.

The deciphering of the human genetic code was one of the greatest feats of the life sciences. But success also brought the sobering revelation that the gene code alone does not provide sufficient information on the structure and function of a protein. Modifications of proteins (posttranslational modifications), their interactions as well as the complex regulation process assimilating and dissimilating proteins cannot be deciphered from the genome data alone.

Different proteins can result from one gene, which may have different functions according to cell type and tissue. The cellular network of proteins is therefore highly complex. Smallest modifications of proteins can disrupt the function and thereby the flawless interaction of proteins and can lead to abnormal changes in living organisms.

Understanding the complexity of proteins and their functions will be the great challenge for all life sciences over the coming years. Understanding the interrelations can help to recognize the causes of diseases and to develop new therapies. Research in this field requires the application of innovative methods and high-performance technology in a new dimension.

Proteome Analysis Funding Priority

The BMBF took up the topic in its publication of "New efficient procedures for functional proteome analysis" in June 2000. The call is primarily focused on technology funding as a basis for the creation of an active and internationally competitive proteome community in Germany. Over 75 million euro were made available in the first five-year funding period for the development of different technologies.

All in all, 117 individual projects from science and industry take part in this funding priority, including universities, non-university research institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises all over Germany.

Worldwide interest of the pharmaceuticals and diagnostics industry in proteome research is rising: Many diseases are caused by misguided or defective protein functions - such as diabetes, which is caused by a shortage of the protein insulin. Such proteins are then defined as therapeutic targets. They are used in vitro for the establishment of test systems facilitating the development of totally new, tailor-made drugs with increased efficiency.