Object and methodological development of proteomics

The long-term goal of proteomics is to identify, quantify and characterize the whole set of proteins from biological medium, in such a way that we can understand, at the molecular level, how living cells and organisms functio n, organize and respond to environmental changes. Unlike genomics, which in volves the study of simple and replicable polymers, proteomics involves the study of very complex and non-replicable heteropolymers having a wide rang e of concentration, size, physical properties, secondary and tertiary struc tures, solubility and functions. Hence proteomics requires the synergistic support of different techniques, classically two-dimensional gel electropho resis and mass spectrometry. In this review we describe the technological f oundations of proteomics and the methodological evolutions which are beginn ing to take shape for this new analytical science.