The ability to sequence human genomes has changed our understanding of disease, but characterization of proteins proves to be an even richer source of knowledge, opening new avenues for innovative therapies. The human genome encodes our genes, which serve as blueprints for production of proteins. Proteins perform essential functions in the body and become deregulated in disease. Gene mutations cause protein defects giving rise to major pathologies, such as heart and muscle diseases, and cancer. Drugs typically function by binding disease-associated proteins in order to correct their disease-causing activities. The entire complement of proteins present in a cell or tissue is known as its proteome. Proteomes are inherently more complex and dynamic than genomes, because each gene can potentially give rise to more than one protein. Adding to this complexity, the abundance of each protein is regulated and proteins typically become chemically processed and modified (e.g. phosphorylated), and often engage in complex interactions with other proteins or small molecules (e.g. metabolites, lipids, metal ions and co-factors). Remarkable technological advances have made genomic DNA and RNA sequence information readily accessible. However, structures, functions, drug interactions, and regulation of proteins are not predictable based on genome sequences. At SPARC BioCentre, our goal is to seize the enormous opportunity that exists to develop and apply “proteomics” technologies in order to characterize deregulated, disease-causing proteins, and thereby revolutionize our understanding and treatment of devastating diseases affecting Canadians such as cancer, heart failure, and neuropathies.
