Mass spectrometry in the discovery of peptides involved in intercellular communication: From targeted to untargeted peptidomics approaches

Endogenous peptide hormones/cytokines represent an essential class of biomolecules, which regulate cell–cell communications in diverse physiological processes of organisms. Mass spectrometry (MS) has been developed to be a powerful technology for identifying and quantifying peptides in a highly efficient manner. However, it is difficult to directly identify these peptide hormones/cytokines due to their diverse characteristics, dynamic regulations, low abundance, and existence in a complicated biological matrix. In this work, we summarized and discussed the roles of targeted and untargeted MS in discovering peptide hormones/cytokines using bioassay‐guided purification, bioinformatics screening, or the peptidomics‐based approach. Although the MS-based untargeted comparative peptidomics approach is expected to discover novel peptide hormones/cytokines unbiasedly, only a limited number of successful cases have been reported. The first successful example of discovering a novel peptide hormone (CAPE family) in plants using an untargeted comparative peptidomics approach was published by our team. We discussed the critical challenges and corresponding measures for the peptidomics approach from the steps of sample preparation, peptide extraction, and separation to the MS data acquisition and analysis. By identifying current and emerging technologies and methods that can be integrated into the discovery platform, we proposed an approach and direction for more comprehensive discovery and studying of the roles of the peptide hormones/cytokines operating in diverse organisms.

 

同研究人員:Kai-Ting Fan, Chia-Wei Hsu
Yet-Ran Chen

Yet-Ran Chen

Associate Research Fellow

(02) 2787-2050
yetran@gate.sinica.edu.tw
A531, Agricultural Technology Building
Lab.
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Tel: (02) 2787-2048

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
2015- Tenured Associate Research Fellow, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica.
2015- Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, National Chiayi University.
2015- Associate Professor, Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University.
2015- Associate Professor, Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University.
2015- Associate Professor, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University.
2009- Executive PI of Metabolomics Core Facility, Scientific Instrument Service Center, Academia Sinica
2010-2015 Assistant Professor, Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University.
2009-2015 Assistant Professor, Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University.
2007-2015 Assistant Professor, Dep. of Bioscience and Biotech., National Taiwan Ocean University.
2007-2015 Assistant Research Fellow, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica.
2002-2006 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica.
2003 Visiting Scholar, Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA

AWARDS
2016 Junior Research Investigators Award, Academia Sinica.
2016 Career Development Award, Academia Sinica.
2015 Professor CY Lin Memorial Award for Innovative Research Program
2015 The Shang-Fa Yang Young Scientist Award, The Shang-Fa Yang Memorial Foundation.
2013 TSMS Young Scholar Award, Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry.
2008 Biotechnology Creativity Award, Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs.

HONORS
2015- Council Member, Asia Oceania Agricultural Proteomics Organization.
2015- Executive Council Member, Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry
2012-2015 Chair of Finance Committee/Academic Committee, Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry
2015- Elected Council Member, Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry
2014- Elected Council Member, Taiwan Society for Proteomics
2012-2015 Chair of Finance Committee/Training Course Committee, Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry
2012-2015 Elected Council Member, Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry
2011-2014 Elected Council Member, Taiwan Society for Proteomics
2009-2012 Elected Council Member/Training Course Committee, Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry
2006-2009 Elected Council Member, Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry