Indian proteomics efforts and human proteome project

• Deciphering human proteome has been a challenging goal of proteomics researchers.
• The recent release of the Draft Maps of Human Proteome and the Tissue-based Human Proteome mark a major step forward.
• The draft maps include first time proteomic evidence for the expression of many “missing” protein genes.
• C-HPP aims to characterize all proteins and their variants for chromosome centric biology and disease.
• Indian researchers have a key role in all these human proteome efforts.

The Draft Maps of Human Proteome published in two independent articles provide a catalogue of proteins encoded in the human genome including missing proteins, based on large scale mass spectrometric analysis. Six months later, a Tissue-based Human Proteome Map was published which includes a study of expression and distribution of human proteins across tissues and cells using specific antibodies. Independently, in an ongoing global effort — the Chromosome centric, and Biology and Disease centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP and B/D-HPP) initiated by the Human Proteome Organization aims to study in-depth human proteins and their variants in terms of biology and disease in a chromosome centric manner. Under this initiative, a consortium formed among five Asian research teams including India aims to study Chromosome 12 encoded proteins and their disease context. Together, the group has recently published the first series of 3 papers giving the overall vision and the initial contributions. While one of the draft maps of the human proteome is largely contributed by an Indian team, Indian researchers have significant role in the other two initiatives as well. These efforts will be pursued further as more teams join and more disease and biology components get incorporated.Biological significanceThis article focuses on the complexity and challenges of deciphering human proteome and contribution of Indian researchers in the human proteome projects, including the on-going C-HPP.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteomics in India.

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