Eye: Proteomics

Abstract

Vision is our most precious sense, and numerous ocular diseases, such as age‐related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, are responsible for visual impairment and blindness in hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. In the past several years, a number of advances have been made to better understand ocular biology and diseases. Research in ocular proteomics of ocular tissues and cells, such as the trabecular meshwork, retina, optic nerve head, retinal pigment epithelium, cornea, lens, sclera, tears, aqueous humour and vitreous humour, has allowed the identification of eye proteins and protein modifications that are involved in ocular development, ageing and disease. Proteomics allows biologically relevant targeting of disease diagnosis, prognosis and drug‐response evaluations. This provides an important foundation for better understanding of ocular biology and disease pathogenesis. Key Concepts The eye is a unique sensory organ. A wide variety of proteomics techniques are being used to identify proteins and protein modifications that are involved in ocular development, ageing and a wide variety of ocular diseases. Eye proteomics can be very challenging due to the very limited quantity of ocular tissues and fluids available for analysis. Posttranslational protein modifications are commonly associated with a variety of ocular diseases, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. Serum proteomics is being used to examine systemic effects of specific ocular diseases. Proteomics studies have been performed with ocular fluids such as tears, aqueous humour and vitreous humour. Proteomics‐based technologies allow for the development of biological and clinical ocular therapeutics. Biomarker identification allows for determining reasonable stages of disease progression.