Selection and synthesis to analysis: Stable isotope-labeled peptides for proteomic applications

Proteomics is among the core ‘omics technologies commonly implemented in the scientific field to study the molecular processes that drive cellular function and disease pathogenesis. While this enabling technology can be employed independently, it is being increasingly combined today with other ‘omics technologies, such as metabolomics, to capture a more comprehensive view of systems biology. Regardless of the ‘omics technology deployed, mass spectrometry (MS) is the ideal tool for analyte detection (peptides being the focus here) due to its wide-spanning array of analytical benefits. At the sample analysis stage, a mass spectrometer can be operated in a variety of modes (e.g., multiple reaction monitoring, MRM; parallel reaction monitoring, PRM) and is commonly fronted by a separation technique (e.g., liquid chromatography or LC) for enhanced specificity and sensitivity of measurement.