Single-molecule protein sequencing through fingerprinting: Computational assessment

Single-molecule protein sequencing through fingerprinting: Computational assessment

Yao, Y.
Docter, M.
De Ridder, D.
Joo, C.

Applied Sciences

Intelligent Systems

2015-08-11

Proteins are vital in all biological systems as they constitute the main structural and functional components of cells. Recent advances in mass spectrometry have brought the promise of complete proteomics by helping draft the human proteome. Yet, this commonly used protein sequencing technique has fundamental limitations in sensitivity. Here we propose a method for single-molecule (SM) protein sequencing. A major challenge lies in the fact that proteins are composed of 20 different amino acids, which demands 20 molecular reporters.Wecomputationally demonstrate that it suffices to measure only two types of amino acids to identify proteins and suggest an experimental scheme usingSMfluorescence. When achieved, this highly sensitive approach will result in a paradigm shift in proteomics, with major impact in the biological and medical sciences.

single-molecule biophysics
computational biophysics
proteomics

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a5a8ea9b-3fe7-4366-9a5f-0b3c2e9f3f0f

https://doi.org/10.1088/1478-3975/12/5/055003

IOP Publishing

1478-3975

Physical biology, 12, 2015

Institutional Repository

journal article

(c)2015 The Authors
Published under the Terms of Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence