Institute of Bioinformatics (IOB), National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) and Johns Hopkins University have successfully created first draft map of the human proteome. The major research effort also had scientists from PGIMER, Chandigarh, AFMC, Pune and University of Toronto, Canada chip in their research expertise.
The outcome of the research was that a few novel proteins identified from diseased brain tissues which could potentially be used as biomarkers to identify and characterise diseases or pursued as therapeutic targets in the future.
As part of the collaboration, a mass spectrometry facility housing a Fourier transform Orbitrap Velos mass spectrometry (MS) was set-up at IOB, Bengaluru. The MS technology enabled mapping the expression pattern of over 17,000 proteins across 30 different human organs and cell types. Further, it also helped identification of around 200 novel human proteins for the first time.
The Indo-US collaborative study is also featured on the cover of reputed international journal ‘Nature’ in its May 29,2014 issue.
The team from IOB had Dr. Harsha Gowda who is a Wellcome Trust DBT (Department of Biotechnology’s) Fellow and Dr. Keshava Prasad a former recipient of the DBT’s Young Investigator Award . John Hopkins University had the presence of Prof. Akhilesh Pandey who is also the founder-director of IOB.
NIMHANS, was represented by Prof. P. Satish Chandra, Director, Prof. V. Ravi, Registrar and Prof. S. K. Shankar, Emirates professor of Neuropathology.
Some of the findings included identification of proteins encoded by several genes in the human genome, that have been written-off as ‘pseudogenes’- ancient relics of genes that are non-functional. Missing the existence of these proteins all these years would mean that their potential role in human health and disease has also remained unexplored.
“This is significant and reflects the complexities of human biology that are yet to be understood. The study also reveals tissue-specific expression pattern of several proteins that could be useful while investigating biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various pathological conditions that affect particular tissues in the human body. Data analysis developed as part of this study could also form the basis for future proteomics studies that can go beyond the traditional methods currently used worldwide,” stated Dr. Gowda and Dr. Prasad.
“This is an excellent model for breakthroughs that scientists in India can achieve if they have the latest technology and expertise. We need to encourage such initiatives that establish India at the forefront of science and set an example to the rest of the world. Although India did not participate in the human genome project, completion of a human proteome map by this team, places India as a forerunner globally in helping to characterise the human proteome, said Srivatsa Krishna, Secretary, Karnataka department of IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology.