Quantitative proteomics in plants: Choices in abundance

Abstract

The ability to compare dynamic changes in the proteome is an exciting new addition to the research programs of many plant biologists. With alternative transcription/translation and the potential addition of over 200 different posttranslational modifications to proteins, the complexity of the proteome is likely to exceed the complexity of the transcriptome by one to two orders of magnitude, making the proteome as vast and complex as it is dynamic. A variety of options for performing quantitative proteomic comparisons in plants is available and currently in use by a number of laboratories. As we hope we have emphasized, presently no single method is more highly preferred over another. However, neither will any single method provide a complete overview of all the changes in a proteome. This admission is something that should simply be accepted rather than serve as a deterrent from initiating proteomic studies. Any quantitative proteomic method can yield new insights into the biological system, regardless of whether some information has been missed. With some of these quantitative methods beginning to reach technical maturity, we look forward to comparative proteomic studies moving out of the realm of technical experts and spreading throughout the community of biological researchers. © 2007 American Society of Plant Biologists.