Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was the third leading cause of global death in 2019, causing a huge economic burden to society. Therefore, it is urgent to identify specific phenotypes of COPD patients through early detection, and to promptly treat exacerbations. The field of phosphoproteomics has been a massive advancement, compelled by the developments in mass spectrometry, enrichment strategies, algorithms, and tools. Modern mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics allows understanding of disease pathobiology, biomarker discovery, and predicting new therapeutic modalities.
Areas covered: In this article, we present an overview of phosphoproteomic research and strategies for enrichment and fractionation of phosphopeptides, identification of phosphorylation sites, chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry detection strategies, and the potential application of phosphorylated proteomic analysis in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of COPD disease.
Expert opinion: The role of phosphoproteomics in COPD is critical for understanding disease pathobiology, identifying potential biomarkers, and predicting new therapeutic approaches. However, the complexity of COPD requires the more comprehensive understanding that can be achieved through integrated multi-omics studies. Phosphoproteomics, as a part of these multi-omics approaches, can provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of COPD.
The 13th annual Canadian National Proteomics Network was held in May 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. More than 175 individuals participated in this dynamic and productive meeting either in-person or virtually. A pre-symposium organized by trainees and dedicated to highlighting the best and brightest emerging talent in proteomics across Canada preceded the main symposium, which welcomed plenary and invited speakers from around the world. The presentations covering ground-breaking science were interspersed with critical discussions on improving equity, diversity, and inclusion within the proteomics community across Canada, along with important networking opportunities for early-career researchers.
Background: Many stage II/III colorectal cancer (CRC) patients may relapse after routine treatments. Aberrant phosphorylation can regulate pathophysiological processes of tumors, and finding characteristic protein phosphorylation is an efficient approach for the prediction of CRC relapse.
Research design and methods: We compared the tissue proteome and phosphoproteome of stage II/III CRC patients between the relapsed group (n = 5) and the non-relapsed group (n = 5). Phosphopeptides were enriched with Ti4+-IMAC material. We utilized label-free quantification-based proteomics to screen differentially expressed proteins and phosphopeptides between the two groups. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) were used for bioinformatics analysis.
Results: The immune response of the relapsed group (Z-score -2.229) was relatively poorer than that of the non-relapsed group (Z-score 1.982), while viability of tumor was more activated (Z-score 2.895) in the relapsed group, which might cause increased relapse risk. The phosphorylation degrees of three phosphosites (phosphosite 1362 of TP53BP1, phosphosite 809 of VCL and phosphosite 438 of STK10) might be reliable prognostic biomarkers.
Conclusions: Some promising proteins and phosphopeptides were discovered to predict the relapse risk in postoperative follow-ups.
Introduction: Insights into the mechanisms of protein homeostasis and proteasomal degradation have led to new strategies of redirecting the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to reduce or eliminate proteins or survival factors key to malignant pathobiology, multiple myeloma (MM) in particular. These strategies have enabled researchers to target proteins that were previously considered difficult to modulate by pharmacological means.
Areas covered: This review provides a brief overview of UPS biology, particularly the role of the CRL4CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, and summarizes current strategies for co-opting the UPS, including CELMoD compounds, SNIPERs, PROTACs, and degronimids. A detailed discussion is provided on lead CELMoD compounds iberdomide and mezigdomide, which are currently being evaluated in clinical trials in patients with MM.
Expert opinion: Since a high proportion of patients develop drug resistance, it is vital to have novel therapeutic agents for treating relapsed patients with MM more effectively. It is encouraging that the expanding pathophysiological insight into cellular signaling pathways in MM increasingly translates into the development of novel therapeutic agents such as targeted protein degraders. This holds promise for improving outcomes in MM and beyond.
Introduction: Schistosomes are long-lived blood dwelling helminth parasites using intricate mechanisms to invade, mature, and reproduce inside their vertebrate hosts, whilst simultaneously deploying immune evasion strategies. Their multi-tissue organization and solid body plan presents particular problems for the definition of sub-proteomes.
Areas covered: Here, we focus on the two host-parasite interfaces of the adult worm accessible to the immune system, namely the tegument and the alimentary tract, but also on the secretions of the infective cercaria, the migrating schistosomulum and the mature egg. In parallel, we introduce the concepts of "leakyome' and 'disintegrome' to emphasize the importance of interpreting data in the context of schistosome biology so that misleading conclusions about the distinct proteome compositions are avoided. Lastly, we highlight the possible clinical implications of the reviewed proteomic findings for pathogenesis, vaccine design and diagnostics.
Expert opinion: Proteomics has provided considerable insights into the biology of schistosomes, most importantly for rational selection of novel vaccine candidates that might confer protective immunity, but also into the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. However, given the increasing sensitivity of mass spectrometric instrumentation, we stress the need for care in data interpretation since schistosomes do not deviate from the fundamental rules of eukaryotic cell biology.
Introduction: The challenges posed by emergent strains of SARS-CoV-2 need to be tackled by contemporary scientific approaches, with proteomics playing a significant role.
Areas covered: In this review, we provide a brief synthesis of the impact of proteomics technologies in elucidating disease pathogenesis and classifiers for the prognosis of COVID-19 and propose proteomics methodologies that could play a crucial role in understanding emerging variants and their altered disease pathology. From aiding the design of novel drug candidates to facilitating the identification of T cell vaccine targets, we have discussed the impact of proteomics methods in COVID-19 research. Techniques varied as mass spectrometry, single-cell proteomics, multiplexed ELISA arrays, high-density proteome arrays, surface plasmon resonance, immunopeptidomics, and in silico docking studies that have helped augment the fight against existing diseases were useful in preparing us to tackle SARS-CoV-2 variants. We also propose an action plan for a pipeline to combat emerging pandemics using proteomics technology by adopting uniform standard operating procedures and unified data analysis paradigms.
Expert opinion: The knowledge about the use of diverse proteomics approaches for COVID-19 investigation will provide a framework for future basic research, better infectious disease prevention strategies, improved diagnostics, and targeted therapeutics.
Introduction: Mass spectrometry-based proteomics reveals dynamic molecular signatures underlying phenotypes reflecting normal and perturbed conditions in living systems. Although valuable on its own, the proteome has only one level of moleclar information, with the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and metabolome, all providing complementary information. Multi-omic analysis integrating information from one or more of these other domains with proteomic information provides a more complete picture of molecular contributors to dynamic biological systems.
Areas covered: Here, we discuss the improvements to mass spectrometry-based technologies, focused on peptide-based, bottom-up approaches that have enabled deep, quantitative characterization of complex proteomes. These advances are facilitating the integration of proteomics data with other 'omic information, providing a more complete picture of living systems. We also describe the current state of bioinformatics software and approaches for integrating proteomics and other 'omics data, critical for enabling new discoveries driven by multi-omics.
Expert commentary: Multi-omics, centered on the integration of proteomics information with other 'omic information, has tremendous promise for biological and biomedical studies. Continued advances in approaches for generating deep, reliable proteomic data and bioinformatics tools aimed at integrating data across 'omic domains will ensure the discoveries offered by these multi-omic studies continue to increase.