Unlocking Cellular Secrets with Proteomics

Millions of years ago, single-celled organisms evolved into complex multicellular life forms. Central to this transition is the cell surface, or plasma membrane, which plays a crucial role in cellular communication. This membrane, surrounded by various molecules and proteins, facilitates interactions between cells, allowing them to exchange information.

Understanding these cellular exchanges is essential for biologists, as it helps unravel how organisms function and how diseases develop. Researchers at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus, Stanford University, and the Broad Institute are now creating tools to translate this cellular dialogue, aiming to reveal new aspects of how cells communicate.

Jiefu Li, a Janelia Group Leader and a senior author on several new studies, highlights the importance of deciphering this cellular "language." The goal is to decode how cells communicate and use this knowledge to address biological questions. The research underscores the value of proteomics, the study of all proteins in living organisms, in uncovering the fundamental language of cells and solving major biological puzzles.

Li began developing techniques to study cell surface proteins during his graduate studies and continued this work at Janelia. Many scientists, unfamiliar with chemical biology or proteomics, struggled with data analysis. To address this, Li and his team created PEELing, a user-friendly platform that simplifies spatial proteomics data analysis for researchers globally. This tool aims to make the initial steps in proteomics accessible to those focusing on biological discoveries rather than technical challenges.

Li's team also applies these methods to explore cellular signaling processes. For instance, their recent study published in Cell investigated the role of teneurin, a protein involved in neuron development. They used proximity labeling and proteomics to identify molecules interacting with teneurin and understand the signaling pathways involved.

In another study, published in The Journal of Immunology, Li and his colleagues examined human dendritic cells, which play a key role in the immune system. They analyzed how the cell surface proteins of these cells change upon activation to better understand immune response regulation.

Overall, Li emphasizes that the primary goal of their research is to decode the cell surface and leverage proteomics for comprehensive insights into cellular functions and mechanisms.