Application of proteomics to the study of cardiovascular biology

Proteomics involves the integration of a number of technologies with the ai m of analyzing the complete complement of proteins expressed by a biologica l system bi response to various stimuli and/or under different physiologica l or pathophysiological conditions. Remit technical improvements to the met hods employed for protein separation and protein identification have result ed bz a dramatic increase in the number of proteomics-based research projec ts. More importantly, it has become readily, apparent that examining change s in the proteome offers insight into understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms that cannot be obtained through genomic analysis. There are nume rous examples of cardiovascular functions whose molecular pathways are medi ated through post-translational processes such as phosphorylation The use o f proteomics offers the ability to simultaneously monitor the changes in pr otein expression and/or cell signaling pathways in response to such conditi ons as cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Together with complementary, genomic data, proteomics-based research can greatly increase our understand ing of cardiovascular biology. (Trends Cardiovasc Med 200 1; 11: 66-75). (C ) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc.