Interactome Mapping: Using Protein Microarray Technology to Reconstruct Diverse Protein Networks

Uzoma, Ijeoma; Zhu, Heng

Since the completion of major whole genome sequencing efforts, the scientific community has been faced with the challenge of identifying and characterizing the expressed gene products of given organisms [1] . The post-genomics era gave birth to the field of proteomics that aimed to systematically chart the biochemical properties and functions of all expressed proteins [2] . With a global view in mind, we now strive to integrate complex ''omics''-data from all molecular ranks. The scope of proteomics is not limited to identifying protein-protein interactions, but also includes identification of protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) and of interactions with DNA and RNA sequences, lipids and glycans. Weaving these layers together will allow us to construct the carefully tuned network that exists within live cells. Improvements in high throughput proteomic technologies coupled with advances in genomics and bioinformatics have laid a framework to enable this level of research.