Welcome to Workshop Participants

Dear Workshop participants,

We welcome our colleagues from other Centers and from the UAB community to the 2006 Introduction to Proteomics Workshop. For the visitors, we're glad you've come to Birmingham. We're proud of our city, our University (http://www.uab.edu) and of the UAB research environment that facilitates research. We hope your visit is a safe and good one.

The need to carefully study proteins has re-emerged since the publication in 2000 of the human genome sequence. The total number of human genes is estimated to lie between 20,000 and 24,000, far fewer than originally estimated. This places far greater emphasis on the control of the expression of the products of these genes, the proteins. Because of differential splicing and post-translational modifications, the total number of different proteins in humans is estimated to be >200,000. This presents a major analytical challenge to investigators compounded by the huge dynamic range (at least ten orders of magnitude) in protein abundances (from albumin to DNA transcription factors).

The workshop focused on introducing to the participants both basic and newly emerging techniques in proteomics and mass spectrometry. The faculty in the workshop discussed the approaches needed to prepare materials for proteomics analysis and the challenges of working with the huge dynamic range of the proteins. Following discovery of interesting proteins, the next step is quantitative analysis - methods for this were discussed. The presenters considered how proteins are modified by chronic disease and the mechanisms by which botanicals modulate these modifications. Finally, the speakers discussed the exciting developments in in situ imaging mass spectrometry that facilitates the examination of proteins in a tissue, and the discoveries many frontline labs are making of this technique.

The goal of the workshop was to introduce investigators to how to approach implementing proteomics and mass spectrometry strategies in their research. The UAB faculty team looks forward to helping participants in this endeavor. UAB participants are invited to attend a graduate-level course in proteomics-mass spectrometry that will be held from Jan 5-Mar 20, 2007.

Stephen Barnes, PhD
Helen Kim, PhD
James A. Mobley, PhD

UAB Proteomics-Mass Spectrometry Shared Facility