2-D proteome analysis protocols

Sequencing projects are finished, and proteomics, the study of the proteins a genome actually expresses, has grown into a central part of functional genomics. High-resolution two-dimensional gels can show nearly every protein in a cell or tissue at a given moment, including proteins that have undergone post-translational modification. When cells change through differentiation or respond to outside stimuli, those shifts in protein abundance and structure appear on the gel and can later be identified.

This volume, edited by Andrew J. Link, walks through the full workflow of 2-D protein electrophoresis, from preparing the protein sample to identifying the proteins of interest. Its contributors are prominent biochemists and analytical chemists who helped develop high-resolution 2-D gels, immobilized pH gradients, computer-based image analysis, and mass spectrometry methods for protein identification. Protocols cover extracting proteins from common model organisms, including bacteria, yeast, nematodes, Drosophila, plants, mice, and humans.

The book is written as a practical laboratory guide for researchers who are new to 2-D gels and for experienced users who want to adopt newer techniques. It is aimed at anyone working with protein biochemistry, particularly in molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, and cell biology.