Proteomes Journal Special Issue "Neuroproteomics"
This Special Issue of Proteomes highlights advances in neuroproteomics that deepen our understanding of the molecular organization, signaling mechanisms, and pathological alterations of the nervous system. Several contributions focus on the synapse, where proteomic profiling reveals region-specific diversity in postsynaptic composition, identifies previously uncharacterized synaptic-cleft proteins through proximity labeling, and examines phosphorylation of key complexes such as AMPAR–TARP in synaptic plasticity. Complementary studies use targeted and cell-type-specific proteomics to quantify proteins enriched in the postsynaptic density and to better define neuronal subpopulation proteomes with greater precision.
A major emphasis is placed on neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Deep proteomic analysis of aggregated proteins in Alzheimer’s disease uncovers mechanistic links between pathology and disease progression, while biofluid biomarker discovery efforts advance clinical strategies for neurodegenerative dementias. Additional chapters explore how adolescent glucocorticoid exposure reprograms amygdala phosphoproteomes to influence alcohol-related behaviors, how genetic deletion of FGF14 produces sex-specific proteomic changes relevant to ion-channel regulation, and how psychostimulant sensitization reshapes the spinophilin interactome in the striatum.
Several articles investigate neuromodulatory pathways and drug-related mechanisms, including morphine-triggered PKC signaling through TrkA, proteomic alterations in the ventral tegmental area induced by granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, and the broader role of neuroproteomics in understanding the molecular basis of addiction. Additional studies extend proteomic approaches to non-mammalian systems, comparing the Chlamydomonas secretome to classical neuropeptide-processing machinery, and analyze phosphoregulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors both in vitro and in vivo.
Together, these chapters showcase the power of contemporary mass spectrometry and quantitative proteomics to resolve cellular complexity, decode signaling networks, and provide mechanistic insights into brain function and disease.
As described in more detail in the accompanying Editorial, the articles in the Neuroproteomics Special Issue, which soon will be published as a book, provide an overview of the unique challenges that must be addressed to carry out meaningful MS/proteomics analyses on neural tissues and the tools and technologies that are available to meet these challenges. The several articles that cover drug addiction, as well as Alzheimer’s Disease, and schizophrenia illustrate how MS/proteomics technologies can be used to help improve our ability to diagnose and understand the molecular basis for neurological diseases. We believe that several of the articles in this Special Issue also will be of interest to investigators beyond the field of neurological disorders. In particular, the review by Carlyle et al (2018), “Proteomic Approaches for the Discovery of Biofluid Biomarkers of Neurodegenerative Dementias”, may be of interest to investigators searching for blood and CSF biomarkers for virtually any disease. Similarly, the review by Natividad et al (2018), “From Synapse to Function, A Perspective on the Role of Neuroproteomics in Elucidating Mechanisms of Drug Addiction”, provides a general overview of the utility of MS/proteomics approaches for addressing critical questions in addiction neuroscience that should be equally applicable to investigators involved in virtually any area of biomedical research. Likewise, the article by Wilson et al (2019), “Development of Targeted Mass Spectrometry-Based Approaches for Quantitation of Proteins Enriched in the Postsynaptic Density”, may be useful for any investigator who wishes to design and validate DIA and/or PRM assays for virtually any proteins. Finally, the peroxidase-mediated proximity labeling technology described in the article by Cijsouw et al (2018), “Mapping the Proteome of the Synaptic Cleft through Proximity Labeling Reveals New Cleft Proteins”, may be of interest to investigators interested in mapping many other spatially restricted proteomes.
Dr. Kenneth R. Williams
Guest Editors
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Proteomes Journal Web Page for Special Issue "Neuroproteomcs"