Proteomikk

Proteomikk is the Norwegian term for proteomics, the large-scale study of the proteome—the complete set of proteins produced by an organism, tissue, or cell under specific conditions. It seeks to identify and quantify proteins, characterize their structures and functions, map protein interactions, and understand how protein expression and modification change in health and disease. Because proteins carry out most biological processes, proteomikk provides direct insight into cellular mechanisms and phenotypes.

The field relies on mass spectrometry-based technologies, typically combined with liquid chromatography, to analyze complex protein samples. Core approaches include bottom-up proteomics, where proteins are digested into peptides before analysis, and top-down proteomics, which studies intact proteins. Quantification can be label-free or employ labeling strategies such as SILAC, iTRAQ, or TMT to compare samples. Separation methods, such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis or advanced liquid chromatography, help reduce sample complexity. Data analysis uses bioinformatics tools and public repositories (eg, PRIDE, PeptideAtlas, UniProt) to identify proteins and interpret post-translational modifications and proteoforms.

Proteomikk encompasses discovery proteomics, which surveys broad protein landscapes, and targeted proteomics, which focuses on specific proteins for precise measurement. Applications include biomarker discovery, disease mechanism elucidation, drug development, and clinical proteomics, as well as systems biology and personalized medicine.

Challenges include the dynamic range of protein abundance, sample complexity, reproducibility, and the need for standardized workflows and robust data interpretation. Emerging areas such as single-cell proteomics and spatial proteomics expand the scope of proteomikk by revealing protein landscapes at higher resolution.