Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.3390/proteomes14010003
Sarena Banu, P V Anusha, Pedro Beltran-Alvarez, Mohammed M Idris, Katharina C Wollenberg Valero, Francisco Rivero
Background: Dictyostelium discoideum is widely used in developmental and evolutionary biology due to its ability to transition from a single cell to a multicellular organism in response to starvation. While transcriptome information across its life cycle is widely available, only early-stage data exist at the proteome level. This study characterizes and compares the proteomes of D. discoideum cells at the vegetative, aggregation, mound, culmination and fruiting body stages.
Methods: Samples were collected from cells developing synchronously on nitrocellulose filters. Proteins were extracted and digested with trypsin, and peptides were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Data were processed using Proteome Discoverer™ for protein identification and label-free quantification.
Results: A total of 4502 proteins were identified, of which 1848 (41%) were present across all stages. Pairwise comparisons between adjacent stages revealed clear transitions, the largest ones occurring between the culmination and fruiting body and between the fruiting body and vegetative stage, involving 29% and 52% of proteins, respectively. Hierarchical clustering assigned proteins to one of nine clusters, each displaying a distinct pattern of abundances across the life cycle.
Conclusions: This study presents the first complete developmental proteomic time series for D. discoideum, revealing changes that contribute to multicellularity, cellular differentiation and morphogenesis.
{"title":"The Proteome of <i>Dictyostelium discoideum</i> Across Its Entire Life Cycle Reveals Sharp Transitions Between Developmental Stages.","authors":"Sarena Banu, P V Anusha, Pedro Beltran-Alvarez, Mohammed M Idris, Katharina C Wollenberg Valero, Francisco Rivero","doi":"10.3390/proteomes14010003","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes14010003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Dictyostelium discoideum</i> is widely used in developmental and evolutionary biology due to its ability to transition from a single cell to a multicellular organism in response to starvation. While transcriptome information across its life cycle is widely available, only early-stage data exist at the proteome level. This study characterizes and compares the proteomes of <i>D. discoideum</i> cells at the vegetative, aggregation, mound, culmination and fruiting body stages.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Samples were collected from cells developing synchronously on nitrocellulose filters. Proteins were extracted and digested with trypsin, and peptides were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Data were processed using Proteome Discoverer™ for protein identification and label-free quantification.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 4502 proteins were identified, of which 1848 (41%) were present across all stages. Pairwise comparisons between adjacent stages revealed clear transitions, the largest ones occurring between the culmination and fruiting body and between the fruiting body and vegetative stage, involving 29% and 52% of proteins, respectively. Hierarchical clustering assigned proteins to one of nine clusters, each displaying a distinct pattern of abundances across the life cycle.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study presents the first complete developmental proteomic time series for <i>D. discoideum</i>, revealing changes that contribute to multicellularity, cellular differentiation and morphogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12821622/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146012177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.3390/proteomes14010001
Brett Sather, James Larson, Kian Hutt Vater, Jade Westrum, Timothy R McDermott, Brian Bothner
Background: The arsenic-responsive repressor, ArsR, has long been understood as a canonical regulator of the arsRBC operon, which confers resistance to arsenic stress. However, recent studies suggest a broader regulatory scope for ArsR. Here, we investigated the proteomic landscape of Escherichia coli strains with and without ArsR to elucidate ArsR as an activator in both non-stressing and arsenic-stressing conditions.
Methods: Using mass-spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics and statistical analyses, we characterized the differential abundance of proteins across AW3110 (ΔarsRBC), AW3110 complemented with arsR, and wild-type K-12 strains under control and arsenite-stressed conditions.
Results: Our study shows that ArsR influences proteomic networks beyond the ars operon, integrating metabolic and redox responses crucial for cellular adaptation and survival. This suggests that ArsR has a significant role in gut microbiome metabolomic profiles in response to arsenite. Proteins involved in alanine, lactaldehyde, arginine, thioredoxin, and proline pathways were significantly elevated in strains where ArsR was detected, both with and without arsenite. We identified proteins exhibiting an "ArsR-dependent" activation pattern, highlighting ArsR's potential role in redox balance and energy metabolism.
Conclusions: These findings challenge the classical view of ArsR as a repressor and position it as a pleiotropic regulator, including broad activation.
{"title":"Beyond Repression: ArsR Functions as a Global Activator of Metabolic and Redox Responses in <i>Escherichia coli</i>.","authors":"Brett Sather, James Larson, Kian Hutt Vater, Jade Westrum, Timothy R McDermott, Brian Bothner","doi":"10.3390/proteomes14010001","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes14010001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The arsenic-responsive repressor, ArsR, has long been understood as a canonical regulator of the <i>arsRBC</i> operon, which confers resistance to arsenic stress. However, recent studies suggest a broader regulatory scope for ArsR. Here, we investigated the proteomic landscape of <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains with and without ArsR to elucidate ArsR as an activator in both non-stressing and arsenic-stressing conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using mass-spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics and statistical analyses, we characterized the differential abundance of proteins across AW3110 (Δ<i>arsRBC</i>), AW3110 complemented with <i>arsR</i>, and wild-type K-12 strains under control and arsenite-stressed conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study shows that ArsR influences proteomic networks beyond the <i>ars</i> operon, integrating metabolic and redox responses crucial for cellular adaptation and survival. This suggests that ArsR has a significant role in gut microbiome metabolomic profiles in response to arsenite. Proteins involved in alanine, lactaldehyde, arginine, thioredoxin, and proline pathways were significantly elevated in strains where ArsR was detected, both with and without arsenite. We identified proteins exhibiting an \"ArsR-dependent\" activation pattern, highlighting ArsR's potential role in redox balance and energy metabolism.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings challenge the classical view of ArsR as a repressor and position it as a pleiotropic regulator, including broad activation.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12821715/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146012164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.3390/proteomes14010002
Rachel L Watkin, Avedis A Kazanjian, Jennifer R Damicis, Elizabeth Yohannes
Background: Despite existing proteomics studies of other cell types, a comprehensive proteome of mesothelial cells has not been characterized. This study establishes a crucial baseline proteome for mesothelial cells to better understand their fundamental bioprocesses in healthy and injured states. Methods: Using mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics, we characterized the cellular fraction (CF) and conditioned medium (CM) proteomes of mesothelial cell line MeT-5A. The datasets were analyzed for Gene Ontology (GO) terms and canonical pathway enrichments to identify biological themes. Results: Our analysis identified 5087 protein groups, including 1532 shared proteins, 3122 unique to the CF and 433 exclusive to the CM. GO annotation revealed distinct functional enrichment profiles, reflecting the differing roles of intracellular and secreted proteins. While intracellular proteins were linked to core cellular functions, the extracellular proteome was enriched for signaling and cell-to-cell interaction pathways. The proteins shared by both compartments provided an integrated view of the molecular coordination between the cellular and extracellular environments. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive baseline proteome for mesothelial cells and their secreted medium, offering a vital resource for future investigations into the mesothelium, particularly in the context of disease or injury.
{"title":"Proteomics and Bioinformatics Profiles of Human Mesothelial Cell Line MeT-5A.","authors":"Rachel L Watkin, Avedis A Kazanjian, Jennifer R Damicis, Elizabeth Yohannes","doi":"10.3390/proteomes14010002","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes14010002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Despite existing proteomics studies of other cell types, a comprehensive proteome of mesothelial cells has not been characterized. This study establishes a crucial baseline proteome for mesothelial cells to better understand their fundamental bioprocesses in healthy and injured states. <b>Methods</b>: Using mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics, we characterized the cellular fraction (CF) and conditioned medium (CM) proteomes of mesothelial cell line MeT-5A. The datasets were analyzed for Gene Ontology (GO) terms and canonical pathway enrichments to identify biological themes. <b>Results</b>: Our analysis identified 5087 protein groups, including 1532 shared proteins, 3122 unique to the CF and 433 exclusive to the CM. GO annotation revealed distinct functional enrichment profiles, reflecting the differing roles of intracellular and secreted proteins. While intracellular proteins were linked to core cellular functions, the extracellular proteome was enriched for signaling and cell-to-cell interaction pathways. The proteins shared by both compartments provided an integrated view of the molecular coordination between the cellular and extracellular environments. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study provides the first comprehensive baseline proteome for mesothelial cells and their secreted medium, offering a vital resource for future investigations into the mesothelium, particularly in the context of disease or injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12821629/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146012195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-18DOI: 10.3390/proteomes13040068
Andrew Hesketh, Juned Kadiwala, Vaishnavi Ravikumar, Ana Rita Garizo, Patrícia Beldade, Marjorie Fournier, Rameen Shakur
Background: Insect metamorphosis is one of the most fascinating developmental processes in the natural world. Complete metamorphosis requires the breakdown and reorganisation of larval tissues and the coordinated construction and development of adult structures. The molecular events that achieve this transformation are, however, incompletely understood, and there is a particular shortage of data describing changes in protein abundance that occur during the process.
Methods: Here, using a label-free quantitative bottom-up approach, we perform a novel whole-organism proteomic analysis of consecutive developmental stages of male Bicyclus anynana butterflies as they develop from caterpillars into adults via pupation.
Results: Our analysis generated a dynamic reference dataset representing 2749 detected proteins. Statistical analysis identified 90 proteins changing significantly in abundance during metamorphosis, and functional interpretation highlights cuticle formation, apoptosis and autophagy during the pupal stages, and the up-regulation of respiration and energy metabolism upon completion of the fully formed adult. A preliminary search for potential peptide phosphorylation modifications identified 15 candidates, including three proteins with roles in muscle function.
Conclusions: The study provides a basis for future protein-level analysis of butterfly metamorphosis and suggests the importance of dissecting the post-translational regulation associated with this fascinating developmental transformation.
{"title":"A Proteomic View of Butterfly Metamorphosis.","authors":"Andrew Hesketh, Juned Kadiwala, Vaishnavi Ravikumar, Ana Rita Garizo, Patrícia Beldade, Marjorie Fournier, Rameen Shakur","doi":"10.3390/proteomes13040068","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes13040068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Insect metamorphosis is one of the most fascinating developmental processes in the natural world. Complete metamorphosis requires the breakdown and reorganisation of larval tissues and the coordinated construction and development of adult structures. The molecular events that achieve this transformation are, however, incompletely understood, and there is a particular shortage of data describing changes in protein abundance that occur during the process.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Here, using a label-free quantitative bottom-up approach, we perform a novel whole-organism proteomic analysis of consecutive developmental stages of male <i>Bicyclus anynana</i> butterflies as they develop from caterpillars into adults via pupation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our analysis generated a dynamic reference dataset representing 2749 detected proteins. Statistical analysis identified 90 proteins changing significantly in abundance during metamorphosis, and functional interpretation highlights cuticle formation, apoptosis and autophagy during the pupal stages, and the up-regulation of respiration and energy metabolism upon completion of the fully formed adult. A preliminary search for potential peptide phosphorylation modifications identified 15 candidates, including three proteins with roles in muscle function.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study provides a basis for future protein-level analysis of butterfly metamorphosis and suggests the importance of dissecting the post-translational regulation associated with this fascinating developmental transformation.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12737199/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145820534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.3390/proteomes13040067
Petra Magdolna Bertalan, Erdenetsetseg Nokhoijav, Ádám Pap, George C Neagu, Miklós Káplár, Zsuzsanna Darula, Gergő Kalló, Laszlo Prokai, Éva Csősz
Background: Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, the molecular links between these conditions are not fully understood.
Methods: We performed an integrative serum proteomics study on samples from 134 individuals (healthy controls, patients with obesity and/or T2D) using both data-independent (DIA) and data-dependent (DDA) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches, complemented by phosphopeptide enrichment, kinase activity prediction, network and pathway analyses to get more information on the different proteoforms involved in the pathophysiology of the diseases.
Results: We identified 235 serum proteins, including 13 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) between groups. Both obesity and T2D were characterized by activation of complement and coagulation cascades, as well as alterations in lipid metabolism. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis® (IPA) revealed shared canonical pathways, while phosphorylation-based regulation differentiated the two conditions. Elevated hemopexin (HPX), vitronectin (VTN), kininogen-1 (KNG1) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (SERPINF1), along with decreased adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and apolipoprotein D (APOD), indicated a pro-inflammatory, pro-coagulant serum profile. Network analyses of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory peptides (AMPs) revealed strong overlaps between immune regulation and lipid metabolism. Phosphoproteomics and kinase prediction highlighted altered CK2 and AGC kinase activities in obesity, suggesting signaling-level modulation.
Conclusions: Our comprehensive proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling reveals overlapping yet distinct molecular signatures in obesity and T2D, emphasizing inflammation, complement activation and phosphorylation-driven signaling as central mechanisms that potentially contribute to disease progression and therapeutic targeting.
{"title":"Comprehensive Insights into Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes from Protein Network, Canonical Pathway, Phosphorylation and Antimicrobial Peptide Signatures of Human Serum.","authors":"Petra Magdolna Bertalan, Erdenetsetseg Nokhoijav, Ádám Pap, George C Neagu, Miklós Káplár, Zsuzsanna Darula, Gergő Kalló, Laszlo Prokai, Éva Csősz","doi":"10.3390/proteomes13040067","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes13040067","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, the molecular links between these conditions are not fully understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed an integrative serum proteomics study on samples from 134 individuals (healthy controls, patients with obesity and/or T2D) using both data-independent (DIA) and data-dependent (DDA) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches, complemented by phosphopeptide enrichment, kinase activity prediction, network and pathway analyses to get more information on the different proteoforms involved in the pathophysiology of the diseases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 235 serum proteins, including 13 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) between groups. Both obesity and T2D were characterized by activation of complement and coagulation cascades, as well as alterations in lipid metabolism. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis<sup>®</sup> (IPA) revealed shared canonical pathways, while phosphorylation-based regulation differentiated the two conditions. Elevated hemopexin (HPX), vitronectin (VTN), kininogen-1 (KNG1) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (SERPINF1), along with decreased adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and apolipoprotein D (APOD), indicated a pro-inflammatory, pro-coagulant serum profile. Network analyses of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory peptides (AMPs) revealed strong overlaps between immune regulation and lipid metabolism. Phosphoproteomics and kinase prediction highlighted altered CK2 and AGC kinase activities in obesity, suggesting signaling-level modulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our comprehensive proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling reveals overlapping yet distinct molecular signatures in obesity and T2D, emphasizing inflammation, complement activation and phosphorylation-driven signaling as central mechanisms that potentially contribute to disease progression and therapeutic targeting.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12736859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145820522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.3390/proteomes13040066
Ukamaka U Eze, Rethabile Mokoena, Kenneth I Ogbu, Sinegugu Dubazana, Ernest C Ngoepe, Mparamoto Munangatire, Romanus C Ezeokonkwo, Boniface M Anene, Sindisiwe G Buthelezi, Claude T Sabeta
Background: Rabies is among the oldest known zoonotic viral diseases and is caused by members of the Lyssavirus genus. The prototype species, Lyssavirus rabies, effectively evades the host immune response, allowing the infection to progress unnoticed until the onset of clinical signs. At this stage, the disease is irreversible and invariably fatal, with definitive diagnosis possible only post-mortem. Given the advances in modern proteomics, this study aimed to identify potential protein biomarkers for antemortem diagnosis of rabies in dogs, which are the principal reservoir hosts of the rabies virus.
Methods: Two hundred and thirty-one samples (brain tissues (BT), cerebrospinal fluids (CSF), and serum (SR) samples) were collected from apparently healthy dogs brought for slaughter for human consumption in South-East and North-Central Nigeria. All the BT were subjected to a direct fluorescent antibody test to confirm the presence of lyssavirus antigen, and 8.7% (n = 20) were positive. Protein extraction, quantification, reduction, and alkylation were followed by on-bead (HILIC) cleanup and tryptic digestion. The resulting peptides from each sample were injected into the Evosep One LC system, coupled to the timsTOF HT MS, using the standard dia-PASEF short gradient data acquisition method. Data was processed using SpectronautTM (v19). An unpaired t-test was performed to compare identified protein groups (proteins and their isoforms) between the rabies-infected and uninfected BT, CSF, and SR samples.
Results: The study yielded 54 significantly differentially abundant proteins for the BT group, 299 for the CSF group, and 280 for the SR group. Forty-five overlapping differentially abundant proteins were identified between CSF and SR, one between BT and CSF, and two between BT and SR; none were found that overlapped all three groups. Within the BT group, 33 proteins showed increased abundance, while 21 showed decreased abundance in the rabies-positive samples. In the CSF group, 159 proteins had increased abundance and 140 had decreased abundance in the rabies-positive samples. For the SR group, 215 proteins showed increased abundance, and 65 showed decreased abundance in the rabies-positive samples. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that pathways associated with CSF, spinocerebellar ataxia, and neurodegeneration were among the significant findings.
Conclusion: This study identified canonical proteins in CSF and SR that serve as candidate biomarkers for rabies infection, offering insights into neuronal dysfunction and potential tools for early diagnosis.
背景:狂犬病是已知最古老的人畜共患病毒性疾病之一,由狂犬病病毒属成员引起。原型物种狂犬病溶血病毒有效地逃避宿主的免疫反应,使感染在出现临床症状之前不被注意。在这个阶段,这种疾病是不可逆转的,并且总是致命的,只有在尸检后才能做出明确的诊断。鉴于现代蛋白质组学的进展,本研究旨在确定狗狂犬病的死前诊断的潜在蛋白质生物标志物,狗是狂犬病病毒的主要宿主。方法:从尼日利亚东南部和中北部买来供人食用的屠宰犬中采集了231份样本(脑组织(BT)、脑脊液(CSF)和血清(SR))。对所有BT进行直接荧光抗体检测,确认溶血病毒抗原存在,8.7% (n = 20)呈阳性。蛋白提取、定量、还原和烷基化后,进行on-bead (HILIC)清理和胰蛋白酶消化。从每个样品中得到的肽被注射到Evosep One LC系统中,使用标准的dia-PASEF短梯度数据采集方法,耦合到timsTOF HT质谱。使用SpectronautTM (v19)处理数据。采用非配对t检验比较感染狂犬病和未感染狂犬病的BT、CSF和SR样本中鉴定的蛋白质群(蛋白质及其同型异构体)。结果:BT组有54个显著差异丰富的蛋白,CSF组有299个,SR组有280个。在CSF和SR之间鉴定出45个重叠的差异丰度蛋白,BT和CSF之间鉴定出1个,BT和SR之间鉴定出2个;没有发现所有三组都有重叠。在BT组中,33个蛋白丰度增加,21个蛋白丰度减少。在脑脊液组中,狂犬病阳性样本中有159种蛋白丰度增加,140种蛋白丰度减少。SR组有215种蛋白丰度增加,65种蛋白丰度降低。功能富集分析显示,与CSF、脊髓小脑性共济失调和神经变性相关的通路是其中的重要发现。结论:本研究确定了CSF和SR中的典型蛋白作为狂犬病感染的候选生物标志物,为神经功能障碍和早期诊断提供了潜在的工具。
{"title":"Proteome Profiling of Rabies-Infected and Uninfected Dog Brain Tissues, Cerebrospinal Fluids and Serum Samples.","authors":"Ukamaka U Eze, Rethabile Mokoena, Kenneth I Ogbu, Sinegugu Dubazana, Ernest C Ngoepe, Mparamoto Munangatire, Romanus C Ezeokonkwo, Boniface M Anene, Sindisiwe G Buthelezi, Claude T Sabeta","doi":"10.3390/proteomes13040066","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes13040066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rabies is among the oldest known zoonotic viral diseases and is caused by members of the <i>Lyssavirus</i> genus. The prototype species, <i>Lyssavirus rabies</i>, effectively evades the host immune response, allowing the infection to progress unnoticed until the onset of clinical signs. At this stage, the disease is irreversible and invariably fatal, with definitive diagnosis possible only post-mortem. Given the advances in modern proteomics, this study aimed to identify potential protein biomarkers for antemortem diagnosis of rabies in dogs, which are the principal reservoir hosts of the rabies virus.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two hundred and thirty-one samples (brain tissues (BT), cerebrospinal fluids (CSF), and serum (SR) samples) were collected from apparently healthy dogs brought for slaughter for human consumption in South-East and North-Central Nigeria. All the BT were subjected to a direct fluorescent antibody test to confirm the presence of lyssavirus antigen, and 8.7% (<i>n</i> = 20) were positive. Protein extraction, quantification, reduction, and alkylation were followed by on-bead (HILIC) cleanup and tryptic digestion. The resulting peptides from each sample were injected into the Evosep One LC system, coupled to the timsTOF HT MS, using the standard dia-PASEF short gradient data acquisition method. Data was processed using Spectronaut<sup>TM</sup> (v19). An unpaired <i>t</i>-test was performed to compare identified protein groups (proteins and their isoforms) between the rabies-infected and uninfected BT, CSF, and SR samples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study yielded 54 significantly differentially abundant proteins for the BT group, 299 for the CSF group, and 280 for the SR group. Forty-five overlapping differentially abundant proteins were identified between CSF and SR, one between BT and CSF, and two between BT and SR; none were found that overlapped all three groups. Within the BT group, 33 proteins showed increased abundance, while 21 showed decreased abundance in the rabies-positive samples. In the CSF group, 159 proteins had increased abundance and 140 had decreased abundance in the rabies-positive samples. For the SR group, 215 proteins showed increased abundance, and 65 showed decreased abundance in the rabies-positive samples. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that pathways associated with CSF, spinocerebellar ataxia, and neurodegeneration were among the significant findings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study identified canonical proteins in CSF and SR that serve as candidate biomarkers for rabies infection, offering insights into neuronal dysfunction and potential tools for early diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12736986/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145820570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.3390/proteomes13040065
Lorenza Vantaggiato, Marco Frisenda, Enxhi Shaba, Chiara Splendore, Beatrice Sciarra, Luca Bini, Alessandro Sciarra, Claudia Landi
Background: Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) comprises high-grade (HG) and low-grade (LG) variants, classified by aggressiveness, recurrence risk, and stage-either non-invasive (pTa) or invading the lamina propria (pT1). Cystoscopy remains the diagnostic gold standard, with no less-invasive alternatives, while molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis and treatment response are poorly understood. Methods: To address this gap, we conducted a preliminary top-down proteomic study on fresh biopsies from pTa-LG and pT1-HG NMIBC at initial diagnosis to identify molecular differences and potential prognostic biomarkers. Results: Distinct protein profiles were observed between stages. Highly abundant proteins in pT1-HG were associated with nitric oxide biosynthesis, signal transduction, inhibition of apoptosis, protein folding, and immune response. Proteins of low abundance were related to cellular localization, cytoskeleton organization, cell adhesion, phagocytosis, and tissue development. Notably, multiple proteoforms of PDC6I/ALIX, a protein implicated in the regulation of apoptosis, proliferation, and PD-L1 surface presentation, were significantly downregulated in pT1-HG tumors. Furthermore, the abundance of proteins such as GANAB, GALE, THIC, SEPT8, and MYDGF/C19orf10 correlated with tumor size, suggesting their potential as prognostic biomarkers. Conclusions: These proteins, taken together, indicate that they may serve as valuable prognostic markers, offering a path toward more personalized management of NMIBC beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach.
{"title":"Proteomic Profiling of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Reveals Stage-Specific Molecular Signatures and Prognostic Biomarkers.","authors":"Lorenza Vantaggiato, Marco Frisenda, Enxhi Shaba, Chiara Splendore, Beatrice Sciarra, Luca Bini, Alessandro Sciarra, Claudia Landi","doi":"10.3390/proteomes13040065","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes13040065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) comprises high-grade (HG) and low-grade (LG) variants, classified by aggressiveness, recurrence risk, and stage-either non-invasive (pTa) or invading the lamina propria (pT1). Cystoscopy remains the diagnostic gold standard, with no less-invasive alternatives, while molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis and treatment response are poorly understood. <b>Methods</b>: To address this gap, we conducted a preliminary top-down proteomic study on fresh biopsies from pTa-LG and pT1-HG NMIBC at initial diagnosis to identify molecular differences and potential prognostic biomarkers. <b>Results:</b> Distinct protein profiles were observed between stages. Highly abundant proteins in pT1-HG were associated with nitric oxide biosynthesis, signal transduction, inhibition of apoptosis, protein folding, and immune response. Proteins of low abundance were related to cellular localization, cytoskeleton organization, cell adhesion, phagocytosis, and tissue development. Notably, multiple proteoforms of PDC6I/ALIX, a protein implicated in the regulation of apoptosis, proliferation, and PD-L1 surface presentation, were significantly downregulated in pT1-HG tumors. Furthermore, the abundance of proteins such as GANAB, GALE, THIC, SEPT8, and MYDGF/C19orf10 correlated with tumor size, suggesting their potential as prognostic biomarkers. <b>Conclusions</b>: These proteins, taken together, indicate that they may serve as valuable prognostic markers, offering a path toward more personalized management of NMIBC beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12736457/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145820552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-02DOI: 10.3390/proteomes13040064
Fotios P Galanis, Avgi E Apostolakou, Georgia I Nasi, Zoi I Litou, Vassiliki A Iconomidou
Background: Amyloidogenic proteins, a heterogenous group of proteins characterized by their ability to form amyloid fibrils, lead to pathological conditions when they undergo abnormal folding and self-assembly. Missense single-nucleotide polymorphisms (msSNPs) may occur in their sequence, disrupting the normal structure and function of these proteins, pushing them towards amyloidogenesis. Methods: A comprehensive dataset of amyloidogenic proteins was created and their msSNPs were collected and mapped on their amino acid sequence. The chi squared test, logistic regression and the bootstrap method were used to ascertain the statistical significance of the results. Results: The distribution of pathogenic and benign msSNPs highlighted the predicted amyloidogenic segments as hotspots for pathogenic msSNPs. Analysis of the change in residue properties and pathogenicity status revealed that the substitution of negatively charged residues by any other type of residue tends to be pathogenic. Furthermore, certain substitutions were found to be more likely pathogenic than average. Additionally, a case study of APP, a key protein in Alzheimer's disease, is used as an example. Conclusions: This study will hopefully showcase the importance of amyloidogenic protein msSNPs as well as spark an interest in research of the mechanisms that lead to the formation of amyloid deposits under the scope of pathogenic msSNPs.
{"title":"Insights into Missense SNPs on Amyloidogenic Proteins.","authors":"Fotios P Galanis, Avgi E Apostolakou, Georgia I Nasi, Zoi I Litou, Vassiliki A Iconomidou","doi":"10.3390/proteomes13040064","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes13040064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Amyloidogenic proteins, a heterogenous group of proteins characterized by their ability to form amyloid fibrils, lead to pathological conditions when they undergo abnormal folding and self-assembly. Missense single-nucleotide polymorphisms (msSNPs) may occur in their sequence, disrupting the normal structure and function of these proteins, pushing them towards amyloidogenesis. <b>Methods:</b> A comprehensive dataset of amyloidogenic proteins was created and their msSNPs were collected and mapped on their amino acid sequence. The chi squared test, logistic regression and the bootstrap method were used to ascertain the statistical significance of the results. <b>Results:</b> The distribution of pathogenic and benign msSNPs highlighted the predicted amyloidogenic segments as hotspots for pathogenic msSNPs. Analysis of the change in residue properties and pathogenicity status revealed that the substitution of negatively charged residues by any other type of residue tends to be pathogenic. Furthermore, certain substitutions were found to be more likely pathogenic than average. Additionally, a case study of APP, a key protein in Alzheimer's disease, is used as an example. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study will hopefully showcase the importance of amyloidogenic protein msSNPs as well as spark an interest in research of the mechanisms that lead to the formation of amyloid deposits under the scope of pathogenic msSNPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12736960/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145820576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-25DOI: 10.3390/proteomes13040063
Lina Alhourani, Yasser Tabana, Ashwin Anand, Richard P Fahlman
Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is essentially an incurable cancer, but treatments with proteasome inhibitors are widely used clinically to extend patient survival. While the mechanisms of proteasome inhibition by Bortezomib are well known, the cellular responses to this proteotoxic stress that leads to sensitivity by MM are not fully elucidated. This study reports on the application of an emerging method to investigate proteostasis by proteomics.
Methods: We utilized metabolic labeling with azidohomoalanine (AHA) in a MM cell line in combination with Bortezomib treatment. AHA labeling facilitates the selective isolation and identification of proteins for investigations of protein synthesis or protein degradation.
Results: The data collected reveals significant changes in gene protein synthesis upon Bortezomib treatment, including protein neddylation. The data also reveals a global increase in protein degradation, which suggests the induction of an autophagy-related process. The resulting data collected reveals significant changes upon Bortezomib treatment in protein synthesis of genes, including protein neddylation, and protein degradation data reveals a global increase in protein degradation, suggesting an induction of an autophagy-related process. Subsequent cellular and proteomic analysis investigated the additional treatment of an autophagy inhibitor, hydroxychloroquine, in combination with Bortezomib treatment by label-free proteomics to further characterize the proteome-wide changes in these two proteotoxic stresses.
Conclusions: AHA metabolic labeling proteomics to investigate protein synthesis and degradation enables novel complementary insights into complex cellular responses compared to that of traditional label-free proteomics.
{"title":"Azidohomoalanine (AHA) Metabolic Labeling Reveals Unique Proteomic Insights into Protein Synthesis and Degradation in Response to Bortezomib Treatment.","authors":"Lina Alhourani, Yasser Tabana, Ashwin Anand, Richard P Fahlman","doi":"10.3390/proteomes13040063","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes13040063","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Multiple myeloma (MM) is essentially an incurable cancer, but treatments with proteasome inhibitors are widely used clinically to extend patient survival. While the mechanisms of proteasome inhibition by Bortezomib are well known, the cellular responses to this proteotoxic stress that leads to sensitivity by MM are not fully elucidated. This study reports on the application of an emerging method to investigate proteostasis by proteomics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized metabolic labeling with azidohomoalanine (AHA) in a MM cell line in combination with Bortezomib treatment. AHA labeling facilitates the selective isolation and identification of proteins for investigations of protein synthesis or protein degradation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The data collected reveals significant changes in gene protein synthesis upon Bortezomib treatment, including protein neddylation. The data also reveals a global increase in protein degradation, which suggests the induction of an autophagy-related process. The resulting data collected reveals significant changes upon Bortezomib treatment in protein synthesis of genes, including protein neddylation, and protein degradation data reveals a global increase in protein degradation, suggesting an induction of an autophagy-related process. Subsequent cellular and proteomic analysis investigated the additional treatment of an autophagy inhibitor, hydroxychloroquine, in combination with Bortezomib treatment by label-free proteomics to further characterize the proteome-wide changes in these two proteotoxic stresses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AHA metabolic labeling proteomics to investigate protein synthesis and degradation enables novel complementary insights into complex cellular responses compared to that of traditional label-free proteomics.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12737224/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145820558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-21DOI: 10.3390/proteomes13040062
Christina Karakosta, Martina Samiotaki, Anastasios Bisoukis, Konstantinos I Bougioukas, George Panayotou, Nantieznta Kyriakidou, Konstantinos Moschou, Marilita M Moschos
Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the pathophysiology of cataract by analyzing signaling pathways in three sample types obtained from four different lens groups: age-related (ARC), diabetic (DC), post-vitrectomy cataract (PVC) and clear control lenses.
Methods: Three sample types-the aqueous humor, the anterior capsule and the phaco cassette content-were collected during cataract surgery from 39 participants (ARC = 12, DC = 11, PVC = 7 and control = 9). The samples were prepared based on Sp3 protocol. The recognition and quantification of proteins were performed with liquid chromatography online with tandem mass spectrometry using the DIA-NN software. Perseus software (v1.6.15.0) was used for statistical analysis. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifiers PXD045547, PXD045554, PXD045557, and PXD069667.
Results: In total, 1986 proteins were identified in the aqueous humor, 2804 in the anterior capsule, and 3337 in the phaco cassette samples. Proteins involved in actin and microtubule cytoskeleton organization, including ACTN4, were downregulated in all three cataract groups compared to controls. Proteins involved in glycolipid metabolic process, including GAL3ST1, GAL3ST4, and GLA, were upregulated in ARC compared to controls. Proteins involved in the non-canonical Wnt receptor signaling pathway, including FRZB, SFRP1, SFRP2, SFRP5, WNT5A, and WNT7A, were upregulated in ARC compared to DC, PVC, and controls.
Conclusions: Comprehensive proteomic profiles were generated using DIA proteomics by comparing ARC, DC, and PVC versus controls. This is the first study to use phaco cassette contents to investigate cataract formation in comparison to controls. Our findings significantly enhance the current understanding of human cataract pathophysiology and provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying cataract formation.
背景:本研究的目的是通过分析年龄相关性(ARC)、糖尿病性(DC)、玻璃体切除术后白内障(PVC)和透明对照晶状体的三种类型晶状体的信号通路来探讨白内障的病理生理。方法:选取39例白内障患者(ARC = 12, DC = 11, PVC = 7, control = 9),在白内障手术中采集房水、前囊和前囊盒三种类型的样品。样品采用Sp3工艺制备。蛋白质的识别和定量采用在线液相色谱串联质谱法,使用DIA-NN软件。采用Perseus软件(v1.6.15.0)进行统计分析。数据可通过ProteomeXchange获得,标识符为PXD045547、PXD045554、PXD045557和PXD069667。结果:在房水中共鉴定出1986种蛋白质,在前囊中鉴定出2804种蛋白质,在phaco盒式样品中鉴定出3337种蛋白质。与对照组相比,参与肌动蛋白和微管细胞骨架组织的蛋白质,包括ACTN4,在所有三个白内障组中均下调。与对照组相比,参与糖脂代谢过程的蛋白质,包括GAL3ST1、GAL3ST4和GLA,在ARC中上调。与DC、PVC和对照组相比,参与非规范Wnt受体信号通路的蛋白,包括FRZB、SFRP1、SFRP2、SFRP5、WNT5A和WNT7A,在ARC中表达上调。结论:通过将ARC、DC和PVC与对照组进行比较,采用DIA蛋白质组学方法生成了全面的蛋白质组学图谱。这是第一个使用phaco盒式内容物来研究白内障形成与对照的研究。我们的研究结果大大提高了目前对人类白内障病理生理的理解,并为白内障形成的机制提供了新的见解。
{"title":"Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Aqueous Humor, Anterior Lens Capsules, and Crystalline Lenses in Different Human Cataract Subtypes Versus Healthy Controls.","authors":"Christina Karakosta, Martina Samiotaki, Anastasios Bisoukis, Konstantinos I Bougioukas, George Panayotou, Nantieznta Kyriakidou, Konstantinos Moschou, Marilita M Moschos","doi":"10.3390/proteomes13040062","DOIUrl":"10.3390/proteomes13040062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study is to investigate the pathophysiology of cataract by analyzing signaling pathways in three sample types obtained from four different lens groups: age-related (ARC), diabetic (DC), post-vitrectomy cataract (PVC) and clear control lenses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three sample types-the aqueous humor, the anterior capsule and the phaco cassette content-were collected during cataract surgery from 39 participants (ARC = 12, DC = 11, PVC = 7 and control = 9). The samples were prepared based on Sp3 protocol. The recognition and quantification of proteins were performed with liquid chromatography online with tandem mass spectrometry using the DIA-NN software. Perseus software (v1.6.15.0) was used for statistical analysis. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifiers PXD045547, PXD045554, PXD045557, and PXD069667.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 1986 proteins were identified in the aqueous humor, 2804 in the anterior capsule, and 3337 in the phaco cassette samples. Proteins involved in actin and microtubule cytoskeleton organization, including ACTN4, were downregulated in all three cataract groups compared to controls. Proteins involved in glycolipid metabolic process, including GAL3ST1, GAL3ST4, and GLA, were upregulated in ARC compared to controls. Proteins involved in the non-canonical Wnt receptor signaling pathway, including FRZB, SFRP1, SFRP2, SFRP5, WNT5A, and WNT7A, were upregulated in ARC compared to DC, PVC, and controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Comprehensive proteomic profiles were generated using DIA proteomics by comparing ARC, DC, and PVC versus controls. This is the first study to use phaco cassette contents to investigate cataract formation in comparison to controls. Our findings significantly enhance the current understanding of human cataract pathophysiology and provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying cataract formation.</p>","PeriodicalId":20877,"journal":{"name":"Proteomes","volume":"13 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12641653/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145588567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}