The Journal of Neuroscience, November 1, 2001, 21(21):8315-8318
Proteomics in Neuroscience: From Protein to Network
Seth G. N.
Grant1 and
Walter P.
Blackstock2
1 Department of Neuroscience, University of Edinburgh,
Edinburgh EH8-9JZ, United Kingdom, and 2 Cellzome GmbH,
69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Proteomic tools offer a new platform for studies of
complex biological functions involving large numbers and networks of
proteins. Intracellular networks of proteins perform key functions in
neurons and glia. The unicellular eukaryote Saccharomyces
cerevisiae has been the prototype for eukaryotic proteomic
studies, and when combined with genomics, microarrays, genetics, and
pharmacology, new insights into the integrated function of the cell
emerge. The anatomical complexity of the nervous system both in cell
types and in the vast number of synapses introduces novel technical and
biological issues regarding the subcellular organization of protein
networks. Here we will discuss the technology of proteomics and its
applications to the nervous system.
Copyright © 2001 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/01/21218315-04$05.00/0