On the way to functional genomics.

Proteomics, the global comprehensive analysis of cellular proteins, will contribute to our understanding of gene function in the post-genomic era. The strategies of proteome analysis include the protein expression proteomics dealing with the comparison of cellular or tissue protein levels in the control and affected state (e.g. in the disease) and cell mapping proteomics aimed to define protein-protein interactions that constitute intracellular signalling network. The currently used methods of proteome analysis represent two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for protein separation, the image analysis means for protein maps comparison and the mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF, MALDI-ESI) and bioinformatics means (sequence databases) for protein identification. For the protein interaction studies the yeast two-hybrid system is mostly employed. New concepts of disease diagnosis and treatment as well as new drugs design can be envisioned from the proteomic analysis.