Recent advances in proteomics: towards the human proteome

After the successful completion of the Human Genome project in 2003, the next major challenge was to understand when and where the encoded proteins were expressed, and to generate a map of the complex, interconnected pathways, networks and molecular systems (the human proteome) that, taken together, control the workings of all cells, tissues, organs and organisms. Proteomics will be fundamental for such studies. This review summarizes the key discoveries that laid down the foundations for proteomics as we now know it, and describes key recent technological advances that will undoubtedly contribute to achieving the initial goal of the Human Proteome Organization of identifying and characterizing at least one protein product and representative post-translational modifications, single amino acid polymorphisms and splice variant isoforms from the 20,300 human protein-coding genes within the next 10 years. Successful unraveling of the human proteome will undoubtedly improve our understanding of human biology at the cellular level and lay the foundations for improved diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic and preventive medical outcomes as we enter the era of personalized medicine.