Proteome facts for kids

Proteome is a special word that combines "protein" and "genome". It refers to all the proteins made by an organism, like a human, an animal, or a plant. Imagine a cell as a busy factory; the proteome is like all the different machines, tools, and workers inside that factory, each doing a specific job.

The word "proteome" was first suggested in 1994 by Marc Wilkins. He is a Professor of Biotechnology at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

What is a Proteome?

Proteins are tiny but super important molecules in every living thing. They do almost all the work inside cells. Proteins help build body parts, fight off sickness, and even send messages around your body. For example, some proteins help your muscles move, while others help you digest food.

The proteome is like a complete list of all these working proteins. It shows what proteins are present, how many there are, and what they are doing at a specific time.

Proteome vs. Genome

You might have heard of the genome. The genome is like the complete instruction manual or blueprint for an organism. It's made of DNA and contains all the genes. Genes are the instructions for making proteins.

However, the proteome is different. While the genome is the plan, the proteome is the result. It's the actual collection of proteins that are built and working right now. Think of it this way:

• The genome is the recipe book.
• The proteome is all the dishes actually cooked and served.

The proteome can change a lot, even if the genome stays the same. This is because cells can make different proteins depending on what they need to do or what's happening around them. For example, your muscle cells will have a different proteome than your brain cells.

Why Study the Proteome?

Scientists study the proteome to understand how living things work. By looking at all the proteins, they can learn:

• How cells grow and develop.
• What happens when someone gets sick.
• How different medicines affect the body.

Studying the proteome is very important for finding new ways to treat diseases. For example, doctors can look for specific proteins that appear when someone has a certain type of cancer. This can help them find the disease early or choose the best treatment.

How Scientists Study Proteomes

Studying the proteome is a big challenge because there are so many different proteins. Scientists use special tools and techniques to identify and measure them. One common method is called mass spectrometry. This technique helps scientists figure out the exact mass of different proteins. By knowing their mass, scientists can often identify which proteins are present.

Another method involves using special gels, like the one shown in the images below. These gels help separate proteins based on their size and electrical charge. This allows scientists to see and compare different proteins.

Images for kids

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  General schema showing the relationships of the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome (lipidome).

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  The proteome can be used to determine the presence of different types of cancers.

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  This image shows a two-dimensional gel with color-coded proteins. This is a way to visualize proteins based on their mass and isoelectric point.

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  An Orbitrap mass spectrometer commonly used in proteomics

See also

In Spanish: Proteoma para niños