BIOMEDICAL RELEVANCE OF 2-DIMENSIONAL PROTEIN MAPPING

State-of-the-art and future perspectives are discussed for the application of two-dimensional protein maps to basic medical research and routine clinical chemistry problems. Despite the technical advances that allow effective processing of a large number of samples and the refinement of devices and procedures for image analysis, at present two-dimensional maps are mostly confined to research purposes, i.e. to the inventory of normal constituents of body fluids and tissues on the one hand, and to qualitative-quantitative alterations of some protein spots in a number of instances (genetic, degenerative, infectious or xenobiotic diseases) on the other. It is hoped that in some instances a single primarily affected component will be able to be identified and then specifically tested (for instance by immunological means) as a diagnostic marker, but complex pathological patterns would still require the analysis of a large number of peptides at the resolution level only afforded by two dimensions. Further simplification of the protocols, for example with ready-made gels, and data reduction systems might then allow the application of the technique to be extended to general clinical laboratories.