C-HPP was the first European event on Proteomics open to the general public. HPP is the most important global scientific challenge after the Human Genome Sequencing. 'This project is mapping all the proteins in each single chromosome in a multinational collaboration. We are trying to understand how proteins drive human life,' said Mark S. Baker, President of the Human Proteome Organisation. 'There are roughly 20,000 proteins that are coded in the human gene. Some are involved in beautiful things like smelling and tasting great food.'
Protein plays a key role in our body: while DNA remains unaltered in every stage of our life, protein distributes differently, changing shape, function and role in the host body. Genes don't change during a human lifespan, proteins do.
Proteome mapping plays a key role in food science. Key sections of proteomic studies concentrate on human milk proteins and microbioma (food bacterial flora), both these studies are strictly related to food security and quality.
Proteomic studies on microbioma help explain how food traits don't derive only from its constituting elements but also from the micro-organisms living in the environment where food is produced. Parmesan cheese, seasoned in different locations, will have unique characteristics according to the micro-organisms transferring from the environment to the cheese. This is why food has a unique taste.
Proteomics is also advancing medical studies that revolutionise molecular diagnostics, especially in clinical microbiology.
Andrea Urbani, President of ItPA and EuPA, the European Proteome Association, said: 'We assume that these studies will reduce hospital stays by approximately 2.6 days and will thus result in big economic saving. In the US, it is estimated that cost will be reduced by US$19,000 per patient.'
The strong effort towards diagnostics is described by Young-Ki Paik, President of c-HPP: 'We are profiling liver cancer patient mitochondria and we succeeded in identifying proteins in plasma which could be a good candidate as liver cancer marker for early diagnosis.'
Mathias Uhlen, Director of SciLifeLab in Stockholm, highlighted: 'Medicine today is directed to protein. Knowing protein means knowing the medicine of tomorrow.'
