Proteomics has become an important field in molecular sciences, as it provides valuable information on the identity, expression levels, and modification of proteins. For example, cancer proteomics unraveled key information in mechanistic studies on tumor growth and metastasis, which has contributed to the identification of clinically applicable biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets. Several cancer proteome databases have been established and are being shared worldwide. Importantly, the integration of proteomics studies with other omics is providing extensive data related to molecular mechanisms and target modulators. These data may be analyzed and processed through bioinformatic pipelines to obtain useful information. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of cancer proteomics and recent advances in proteomic techniques. In particular, we aim to offer insights into current proteomics studies of brain cancer, in which proteomic applications are in a relatively early stage. This review covers applications of proteomics from the discovery of biomarkers to the characterization of molecular mechanisms through advances in technology. Moreover, it addresses global trends in proteomics approaches for translational research. As a core method in translational research, the continued development of this field is expected to provide valuable information at a scale beyond that previously seen.

Glycosylation is a topic of intense current interest in the development of biopharmaceuticals because it is related to drug safety and efficacy. This work describes results of an interlaboratory study on the glycosylation of the Primary Sample (PS) of NISTmAb, a monoclonal antibody reference material. Seventy-six laboratories from industry, university, research, government, and hospital sectors in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia submitted a total of 103 reports on glycan distributions. The principal objective of this study was to report and compare results for the full range of analytical methods presently used in the glycosylation analysis of mAbs. Therefore, participation was unrestricted, with laboratories choosing their own measurement techniques. Protein glycosylation was determined in various ways, including at the level of intact mAb, protein fragments, glycopeptides, or released glycans, using a wide variety of methods for derivatization, separation, identification, and quantification. Consequently, the diversity of results was enormous, with the number of glycan compositions identified by each laboratory ranging from 4 to 48. In total, one hundred sixteen glycan compositions were reported, of which 57 compositions could be assigned consensus abundance values. These consensus medians provide community-derived values for NISTmAb PS. Agreement with the consensus medians did not depend on the specific method or laboratory type. The study provides a view of the current state-of-the-art for biologic glycosylation measurement and suggests a clear need for harmonization of glycosylation analysis methods.

ObjectiveTo identify whether somatic mutations in SLC35A2 alter N-glycan structures in human brain tissues and cause nonlesional focal epilepsy (NLFE) or mild malformation of cortical development (mMCD).MethodsDeep whole exome and targeted sequencing analyses were conducted for matched brain and blood tissues from patients with intractable NLFE and patients with mMCD who are negative for mutations in mTOR pathway genes. Furthermore, tissue glyco-capture and nanoLC/mass spectrometry analysis were performed to examine N-glycosylation in affected brain tissue.ResultsSix of the 31 (19.3%) study patients exhibited brain-only mutations in SLC35A2 (mostly nonsense and splicing site mutations) encoding a uridine diphosphate (UDP)-galactose transporter. Glycome analysis revealed the presence of an aberrant N-glycan series, including high degrees of N-acetylglucosamine, in brain tissues with SLC35A2 mutations.ConclusionOur study suggests that brain somatic mutations in SLC35A2 cause intractable focal epilepsy with NLFE or mMCD via aberrant N-glycosylation in the affected brain.