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PubMed2026

Targeted proteomics of extreme vascular phenotypes in type 1 diabetes: the ESCAPER study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), but a subset of individuals remains free from macrovascular or renal complications despite decades of hyperglycaemia and a significant risk factor burden. We used a targeted proteomic approach (Olink Cardiovascular panel III, targeting 92 proteins) to characterize the proteomic profile of cardiovascular resilience in T1D by comparing 92 patients with long-standing T1D (age 59.8 [53.2, 69.1], duration 40.0 [35.0, 45.2] years) free from macrovascular complications or nephropathy against a reference group of 57 T1D patients with accelerated vascular pathology (age 42.0 [32.0, 56.0], duration 22.0 [18.0, 27.0] years), proliferative retinopathy and/or nephropathy in relation to diabetes duration, termed Rapid Progressors (RP). Twenty proteins differed significantly between RP and Escapers (False Discovery Rate [FDR] < 0.05) after adjustment for age, sex, HbA1c, and eGFR: Caspase-3 was significantly higher in RP (Adjusted difference: + 2.12 Normalized Protein eXpression [NPX], p < 0.001). Proteins associated with platelet activation and leukocyte adhesion with increased levels in RP included Junctional Adhesion Molecule A (+ 1.40 NPX), Glycoprotein VI (GP6: + 1.29 NPX), and P-Selectin (+ 0.82 NPX) (all p < 0.001). PECAM-1 (+ 0.55 NPX) and TNFRSF14 (+ 0.43 NPX), were also elevated. RP also showed higher levels of metabolic and tissue-remodelling proteins; Transferrin Receptor (+ 0.53 NPX) and Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (+ 0.52 NPX), as well as higher Bleomycin Hydrolase, Trefoil Factor 3, GDF-15, U-PAR, and Cystatin B. Conversely, von Willebrand Factor (vWF) levels (- 1.35 NPX, p < 0.001) and Paraoxonase 3 (PON3) was lower in RP (- 0.34 NPX, p = 0.003). In conclusion, escaping complications in long-term T1D appears to be associated with active molecular mechanisms. Progression is marked by apoptosis (Caspase-3), fibrosis (CHI3L1) and platelet activation (GP6), whereas resilience is associated with a distinct signature involving higher vWF and PON3. These findings highlight a profound biological divergence between extreme T1D phenotypes and provide a foundation for further research into vascular resilience.

Humans↗

PubMed2024

High-Throughput and High-Sensitivity Biomarker Monitoring in Body Fluid by Fast LC SureQuant IS-Targeted Quantitation.

Targeted proteomics methods have been greatly improved and refined over the last decade and are becoming increasingly the method of choice in protein and peptide quantitative assays. Despite the tremendous progress, targeted proteomics assays still suffer from inadequate sensitivity for lower abundant proteins and throughput, especially in complex biological samples. These attributes are essential for establishing targeted proteomics methods at the forefront of clinical use. Here, we report an assay utilizing the SureQuant internal standard-triggered targeted method on a latest generation mass spectrometer coupled with an EvoSep One liquid chromatography platform, which displays high sensitivity and a high throughput of 100 samples per day. We demonstrate the robustness of this method by quantifying proteins spanning six orders of magnitude in human wound fluid exudates, a biological fluid that exhibits sample complexity and composition similar to plasma. Among the targets quantified were low-abundance proteins such at tumor necrosis factor A and interleukin 1-β, highlighting the value of this method in the quantification of trace amounts of invaluable biomarkers that were until recently hardly accessible by targeted proteomics methods. Taken together, this method extends the toolkit of targeted proteomics assays and will help to drive forward mass spectrometry-based proteomics biomarker quantification.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Both L-Lactyl and D-Lactyl Enantiomers Modify Histones in Mouse Testis.

Dynamic histone posttranslational modifications are crucial to precisely orchestrate gene expression programs. The recently discovered histone lysine lactylation has already been explored in various pathological contexts, but less in normal tissues. This modification exists as two enantiomers, L- and D-lactylation; the former may more likely modify histones due to abundant L-lactate produced by glycolysis. Here, we report the identification by proteomics of L- and D-lactylation on lysines of histones H3 and H4 in mouse testis. We developed a targeted proteomic analysis of histone peptides using synthetic sequences modified by L- or D-lactyl, to acquire reliable identification and quantification data. Some histone peptides bearing either enantiomer are separated by reversed-phase chromatography. Interestingly, despite the fact that L-lactate is much more abundant than D-lactate in mouse testis, we estimated abundance ratios of L-over D-lactylation to lie between 0.4 and 1.6 on seven residues of histones H3 and H4. Next, targeted proteomic analyses were performed on histones extracted from meiotic and postmeiotic male germ cells (spermatocytes and round spermatids, respectively), which are known to use L-lactate as a main source of energy. Nonetheless, residues 18 and 23 of histone H3 (H3K18 and H3K23) were reliably quantified and shown to harbor balanced amounts of both enantiomers. The stoichiometry of lactylation is low over the whole sequence of H3 and H4, representing about 0.01 to 0.44%: this contrasts with acetylation which exists at up to 25 to 35% relative abundances on some N-terminal lysines. Yet, lactylation appears to be more abundant than acetylation on the C-terminal half of H3 and H4, where the latter modification is scarce. Collectively, our results suggest a mechanism producing a mixture of the two enantiomers of lactate, or of a more direct substrate for lactylation, that leads to the modification of histones by L- and D-lactylation.

Animals↗

PubMed2024

Comprehensive Proteomic Analysis Reveals Distinct Features and a Diagnostic Biomarker Panel for Early Pregnancy Loss in Histological Subtypes.

Early pregnancy loss (EPL) is a common event in human reproduction and is classified into histological subtypes such as hydropic abortion (HA) and hydatidiform moles, including complete hydatidiform moles (CHMs) and partial hydatidiform moles (PHMs). However, accurate diagnosis and improved patient management remain challenging due to high rates of misdiagnosis and diverse prognostic risks. Therefore, diagnostic biomarkers for EPL are urgently needed. Our study aimed to identify biomarkers for EPL through comprehensive proteomic analysis. Ten CHMs, six PHMs, ten HAs, and 10 normal control products of conception were used to obtain a proteomic portrait. Parallel reaction monitoring-targeted proteomic and regression analyses were used to verify and select the diagnostic signatures. Finally, 14 proteins were selected and a panel of diagnostic classifiers (DLK1, SPTB/COL21A1, and SAR1A) was built to represent the CHM, PHM, and normal control groups (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.900, 0.804/0.885, and 0.991, respectively). This high diagnostic power was further validated in another independent cohort (n = 148) by immunohistochemistry (n = 120) and Western blot analyses (n = 28). The protein SPTB was selected for further biological behavior experiments in vitro. Our data suggest that SPTB maintains trophoblast cell proliferation, angiogenesis, cell motility, and the cytoskeleton network. This study provides a comprehensive proteomic portrait and identifies potential diagnostic biomarkers. These findings enhance our understanding of EPL pathogenesis and offer novel targets for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Immune Regulatory Signatures Associated with Different Recovery Durations of Delayed Graft Function after Kidney Transplantation.

Delayed graft function (DGF) is a common early complication of kidney transplantation characterized by immune activation. The duration of DGF may significantly affect long-term graft survival, yet the immune mechanisms underlying the different DGF durations remain unclear. Using a functional definition of delayed graft function (fDGF), defined as a failure of serum creatinine to decrease by at least 10% per day for three consecutive days within the first postoperative week, patients were stratified into short-term DGF (SDGF) and long-term DGF (LDGF) groups according to recovery periods. In this exploratory study, targeted proteomic analysis indicated that proteins enriched in SDGF were primarily involved in innate immune responses and acute inflammatory processes, including neutrophil chemotaxis and migration, whereas LDGF exhibited features related to adaptive immune responses and chronic inflammation, such as T-cell differentiation and activation. IL-7 and CCL20 were identified as candidate molecules potentially associated with different DGF durations. Targeted metabolomics revealed disturbances in amino acid metabolism, particularly alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, as well as in energy metabolism, including the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which may be involved in LDGF. These findings provide preliminary insights into immune metabolic features associated with different DGF recovery durations.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Proteomics-based approaches to neutrophil biology.

INTRODUCTION: Neutrophils are central effectors of innate immunity and key contributors to inflammation, host defense, and tissue injury across a wide range of physiological and pathological contexts. Due to their short lifespan, rapid activation, and extensive post-translational regulation, comprehensive molecular characterization of neutrophil function requires approaches that go beyond transcriptomics or marker-based analyses. AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes how proteomic technologies have advanced the understanding of neutrophil biology by enabling unbiased, system-wide profiling of protein abundance, subcellular organization, post-translational modifications, and functional heterogeneity. We discuss global and subcellular proteomics, PTM-centric analyses, and emerging low-input and single-cell proteomic strategies, highlighting recent studies of infection, cancer, metabolic disorders, aging, autoimmune disease, and inflammation. The literature covered includes current large-scale quantitative proteomics, targeted PTMs, and integrative multi-omics studies in both human samples and relevant experimental models. EXPERT OPINION: Proteomics has established neutrophils as highly plastic and context-dependent cells whose functions are governed by coordinated remodeling of signaling, metabolism, and effector pathways. Future progress will depend on expanding neutrophil-specific PTM maps, improving low-input workflows, and integrating single-cell and spatial proteomics. Together, these advances are expected to redefine neutrophil functional states and accelerate translation toward clinically meaningful biomarkers and therapeutic strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Hepatocyte proteome destabilization and novel targets for PFASs unveiled through combined thermal proteome profiling and deep transfer learning.

Identifying protein targets for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is essential to understand their toxicity and health risks. However, knowledge about their interacting proteins is limited since reliable identification methods are lacking. We developed an integrated approach combining thermal proteome profiling (TPP) and deep transfer learning (DTL) modeling to efficiently identify cellular targets of PFAS. TPP measured PFAS binding proteins and the affinities by nanospray liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, while DTL models were constructed to predict PFAS-protein affinities using neural network algorithms. TPP results revealed that PFASs uniquely destabilized the proteome of HepG2 cells, unlike the stabilizing effects by other xenobiotics. Key protein targets for three representative PFASs (PFOA, GenX and Novec 649) were identified, which exhibited weak binding affinities (median EC50 ≈ 30 μM). The number of protein targets increased with molecular weights among the three PFASs. The DTL model achieved a higher Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.89, and reduced mean squared errors by 54 % over previous models for drug-protein interactions. Notably, TPP and DTL jointly pinpointed ribosomal proteins as novel targets of GenX, potentially linking it to cell apoptosis through disrupted protein synthesis. Biolayer interferometry validated GenX binding to RPL4 protein, driven by electrostatic interactions and halogen bonds. This integrated approach effectively uncovers novel PFASs targets, advancing insights into their adverse health effects.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Multiomic Integration Reveals Novel miRNA-mRNA-Protein Expression Profile in the Aged Female Retina.

PURPOSE: Aging is a leading risk factor for retinal degeneration. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate posttranscriptional gene suppressors and influence inflammation and oxidative stress, two processes disrupted during retinal aging. This study aimed to identify age-related miRNA-mRNA-protein associations between young and older retinas and uncover dysregulated pathways that may contribute to retinal degeneration. METHODS: Retinal function was assessed using electroretinography (ERG), and microgliosis was quantified by microglial immunohistochemistry (IHC). A multiomics approach was used to examine molecular changes in older (30-month-old) female C57BL/6J mouse retinas and compared with young female (3-month-old) controls. Illumina sequencing profiled short miRNAs (20 bp) and bulk mRNAs (150 bp), while total proteomics via mass spectrometry assessed protein expression. Bioinformatic analyses included targetome analysis (miRNet), pathway enrichment (Gene Ontology), and clustering to identify age-associated molecular targets and pathways. RESULTS: Retinas from older mice displayed neuronal dysfunction and increased microgliosis. Sequencing revealed significant dysregulation of miRNAs linked to immune and inflammatory pathways, supported by enrichment of their predicted mRNA targets. In the older mice, mRNA expression showed broad inflammatory activation, though only 14% of dysregulated mRNAs overlapped with predicted miRNA targets. Proteomic profiling revealed a disconnect between RNA and protein expression, yet all omics layers showed enrichment in inflammatory pathways. Integrated analysis identified associations involving several gene regulatory networks in the older retina. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that at an advanced age, miRNA expression and their predicted downstream regulatory networks are dysregulated, highlighting potential molecular mechanisms underlying age-related retinal degeneration.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Cross-Platform Proteomics and Machine Learning Algorithms Nominate Plasma Biomarkers of Stroke Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Blood-based biomarkers for stroke subtyping could improve triage in emergency settings. We used cross-platform proteomics to identify plasma biomarkers differentiating major stroke diagnostic groups. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study using 2 biorepositories. Plasma was collected in the emergency department from adults with suspected stroke before therapeutic intervention. Differentially enriched proteins were identified across acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, and stroke mimics using SomaScan discovery proteomics (Grady). Differentially enriched proteins were nominated using pairwise and multigroup comparisons and adjusted for clinical covariates. Protein panels were created using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression. Internal validation used repeated nested cross-validation (rCV) and targeted mass spectrometry (MS), while external validation used data-independent acquisition  mass spectrometry in an independent cohort (Yale). RESULTS: We included 100 subjects (40 with acute ischemic stroke, 20 with intracerebral hemorrhage, 20 with transient ischemic attack, 20 with stroke mimics) in discovery and 80 subjects (20 per group) in external validation cohorts. SomaScan quantified 7307 proteins, of which 61 differentiated stroke subtypes. We identified 7 protein classifiers for acute ischemic stroke (rCV-area under the curve, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.78-0.86]), 6 for intracerebral hemorrhage (rCV-area under the curve, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.64-0.76]), 8 for transient ischemic attack (rCV-area under the curve, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.73-0.84]), and 7 for stroke mimics (rCV-area under the curve, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.77-0.86]). Targeted proteomics internally validated 11 proteins, and data-independent acquisition-mass spectrometry externally validated 32 proteins, including VTN (vitronectin), PLG (plasminogen), and S100A9 as top stroke mimics, transient ischemic attack, and intracerebral hemorrhage classifiers. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights plasma proteomics as a valuable tool for discovering protein biomarkers of stroke diagnosis. These findings support further validation in larger, multicenter cohorts to facilitate biomarker-guided stroke diagnosis in acute care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Functional and Proteomic Profiles of CD3(+) Plasma-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Differentiate Cancer Patients From Healthy Donors.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) released by T cells play a key role in immune regulation. Immune capture with anti-CD3 antibodies was used to isolate and study T cell-derived CD3(+)sEV from the plasma of patients with melanoma (MPs) or healthy donors (HDs). Functional responses induced in recipient target cells by CD3(+)sEV of MPs differed from responses induced by CD3(+)sEV of HDs. Approximating functions mediated by melanoma cell-derived sEV (MTEX), CD3(+)sEV of MPs reduced metabolic activity and proliferation of T cells while promoting activity in Mel526 cell targets. Proteomics profiling confirmed functional differences between CD3(+)sEV of MPs and HDs. Of 294 sEV-specific proteins identified in CD3(+)sEV, 226 were detected in the parent T cell proteome, confirming that the CD3(+)sEV proteome mimics that of the parent T lymphocytes. Among them were 66 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that differentiated vesicles from MPs and HDs. These DEPs were associated with processes linked to cancer-related functions. DEPs upregulated in CD3(+)sEV of MPs were associated with RHO-GTPase, cytokine, and MAPK signaling pathways. Thus, T cells of MPs were reprogrammed by MTEX to produce CD3(+)sEV that functionally resembled MTEX, partly recapitulated features of the tumor proteome, and differed from CD3(+)sEV of HDs. In cancer, the TEX-rewired T cells produce CD3(+)sEV that potentially could serve as a liquid biopsy of patients' T cells.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Exploratory proteomic and metabolomic profiling of pleural effusions identifies histone H4 and alanine as promising complementary markers for pleural tuberculosis.

The diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis (Pl-TB) remains challenging. Histopathological analysis and pathogen detection in pleural biopsies are informative but limited. We investigated differentially expressed proteins and metabolites in pleural effusions from patients with Pl-TB, malignancies, and other pathologies. A proteomic analysis of pooled pleural effusions identified 45 proteins exclusively detected or upregulated in Pl-TB samples, many linked to infectious processes. Conversely, 18 proteins were uniquely found or upregulated in malignant pleural effusions, mainly associated with detoxification and hemostasis. To validate these findings, we employed targeted proteomics in individual samples. Eight proteins were validated: S100-A9, histone H4, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2, fibrinogen beta chain, ficolin-3, immunoglobulin heavy constant alpha 1, sulfhydryl oxidase 1, and histidine-rich glycoprotein. Additionally, NMR-based metabolomics identified 13 metabolites with differential abundance between Pl-TB and non-TB samples. Notably, N-acetyl-glycoprotein and the branched-chain amino acids, alanine and lysine differed between groups. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses revealed distinct molecular profiles between Pl-TB and non-TB patients, despite intra-group variability. To address this, we applied classification models. Histone H4 and alanine consistently emerged as discriminative features. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the molecular landscape of Pl-TB. The combined quantification of proteins and metabolites may improve differential diagnosis, although should be further validated in larger, independent cohorts before clinical application.

Humans↗

PubMed2022

Lipid hydroperoxides and oxylipins are mediators of denervation induced muscle atrophy.

Loss of innervation is a key driver of age associated muscle atrophy and weakness (sarcopenia). Our laboratory has previously shown that denervation induced atrophy is associated with the generation of mitochondrial hydroperoxides and lipid mediators produced downstream of cPLA2 and 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX). To define the pathological impact of lipid hydroperoxides generated in denervation-induced atrophy in vivo, we treated mice with liproxstatin-1, a lipid hydroperoxide scavenger. We treated adult male mice with 5 mg/kg liproxstain-1 or vehicle one day prior to sciatic nerve transection and daily for 7 days post-denervation before tissue analysis. Liproxstatin-1 treatment protected gastrocnemius mass and fiber cross sectional area (∼40% less atrophy post-denervation in treated versus untreated mice). Mitochondrial hydroperoxide generation was reduced 80% in vitro and by over 65% in vivo by liproxstatin-1 treatment in denervated permeabilized muscle fibers and decreased the content of 4-HNE by ∼25% post-denervation. Lipidomic analysis revealed detectable levels of 25 oxylipins in denervated gastrocnemius muscle and significantly increased levels for eight oxylipins that are generated by metabolism of fatty acids through 12/15-LOX. Liproxstatin-1 treatment reduced the level of three of the eight denervation-induced oxylipins, specifically 15-HEPE, 13-HOTrE and 17-HDOHE. Denervation elevated protein degradation rates in muscle and treatment with liproxstatin-1 reduced rates of protein breakdown in denervated muscle. In contrast, protein synthesis rates were unchanged by denervation. Targeted proteomics revealed a number of proteins with altered expression after denervation but no effect of liproxstain-1. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 203 differentially expressed genes in denervated muscle from vehicle or liproxstatin-1 treated mice, including ER stress, nitric oxide signaling, Gαi signaling, glucocorticoid receptor signaling, and other pathways. Overall, these data suggest lipid hydroperoxides and oxylipins are key drivers of increased protein breakdown and muscle loss associated with denervation induced atrophy and a potential target for sarcopenia intervention.

Male↗

PubMed2026

DNA Methylation and Proteomic Profiling of Postmortem Brain Tissue Reveals Epigenetic Dysregulation and Neuroinflammatory in Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS).

BACKGROUND: Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by FMR1 premutation CGG repeat expansions (55-200 repeats). The epigenetic landscape of the FXTAS brain remains uncharacterized. We performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of postmortem prefrontal cortex tissue to identify differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and candidate genes, and sought protein-level support for a neuroinflammatory signal. METHODS: DNA methylation was profiled in postmortem prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 9) from 27 male FXTAS cases and 29 male controls using the Illumina MethylationEPIC array (EPICv1 and EPICv2 platforms), merging 721,802 common probes. Surrogate variable analysis (SVA) controlled for confounders. DMPs were defined by |Δβ| > 0.10 and FDR < 0.05; exploratory Reactome 2024 pathway analysis was performed on the DMP-associated gene list. Targeted proteomic profiling was performed in the same brain region using the Olink (proximity extension assay) Inflammation panel in 9 FXTAS cases and 12 controls, with SVA-adjusted differential abundance analysis, and concordance assessment against a prior mass spectrometry dataset. RESULTS: We identified 108 significant cg-type DMPs mapping to 80 genes (50 hypermethylated, 58 hypomethylated in FXTAS). The strongest signal was CYP2E1 (7 concordant hypomethylated DMPs, mean Δβ = -0.143), an oxidative stress gene also implicated in Parkinson's disease. FTCD, a one-carbon cycle enzyme, carried 5 hypermethylated DMPs (mean Δβ = +0.210). A cluster of DMP-associated genes with established roles in innate immune and NF-κB signaling, TRAF3 (the single most significant DMP among the inflammation genes, hypermethylated), BATF, RCOR1, and MSI2; they pointed toward neuroinflammatory dysregulation. Additional genes included LINGO1 (myelination inhibitor), SYT3 (synaptic vesicle), and SLC39A4 (zinc transporter). Exploratory Reactome enrichment using the DMP-associated gene set nominated themes including neuroinflammation resolution, axonal growth inhibition, zinc homeostasis, and CYP2E1 metabolism at nominal significance (p<0.05); however, the gene-to-pathway mapping rate was low and no pathway survived correction for multiple testing. Olink proteomic analysis independently identified 60 significantly altered inflammation proteins (59 downregulated), including CXCL8, CXCL10, IL6, IL15, IL18, TLR3, IRAK1/4, and complement C1QA, which were directionally concordant with prior mass spectrometry data. CONCLUSIONS: This integrated study reveals a genome-wide epigenetic signature in the FXTAS prefrontal cortex implicating oxidative stress, myelination failure, zinc dysregulation, one-carbon cycle disruption, and most notably a coordinated set of epigenetically altered genes governing innate immune and NF-κB signaling. Convergence of TRAF3 hypermethylation with independent downregulation of TLR3 and NF-κB-pathway proteins at the protein level supports a coherent, cross-platform model of dysregulated neuroinflammatory signaling in FXTAS, identified here through individual gene- and protein-level convergence rather than formal pathway enrichment. FTCD hypermethylation proposes a self-reinforcing epigenetic loop via SAM depletion. These multi-omic findings establish FXTAS as a disorder of pervasive epigenetic reprogramming and nominate candidate genes for future mechanistic and therapeutic investigation.

CYP2E1↗

PubMed2026

Divergent evolutionary strategies in spider venoms: A comparative proteomic profiling of four sympatric species from Yunnan.

Spider venoms comprise complex cocktails of bioactive molecules evolved for predation and defense, representing a valuable resource for biological research and pharmaceutical discovery. In this study, we performed a systematic analysis of venom gland extracts from four common spider species indigenous to Yunnan, China: Agelena limbata, Hippasa lycosina, Lycosa grahami, and Sinopoda pengi. Using an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic targeted profiling approach, we successfully annotated 141 distinct toxins. Comparative analysis revealed significant interspecific heterogeneity, suggesting distinct evolutionary trajectories and "weapon system economics." Both A. limbata and L. grahami exhibited a "peptide-dominant" profile anchored by neurotoxic peptides and isomerases, optimized for rapid chemical paralysis. In contrast, S. pengi displayed a distinct "protein-dominant" signature enriched with high-molecular-weight enzymes and CAP superfamily proteins, likely functioning to facilitate tissue degradation and toxin diffusion. Occupying an intermediate position, H. lycosina demonstrated a hybrid composition. These findings suggest that although these species share the same geographical range, their venom systems have undergone divergent evolutionary adaptations driven by specific ecological niches and hunting strategies. This study represents the first systematic proteomic characterization of these venom components, providing a valuable reservoir of molecular candidates while highlighting the bioinformatic nuances of analyzing whole-gland homogenates.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

DNA O-MAP uncovers the molecular neighborhoods associated with specific genomic loci.

The accuracy of crucial nuclear processes such as transcription, replication, and repair, depends on the local composition of chromatin and the regulatory proteins that reside there. Understanding these DNA-protein interactions at the level of specific genomic loci has remained challenging due to technical limitations. Here, we introduce a method termed "DNA O-MAP", which uses programmable peroxidase-conjugated oligonucleotide probes to biotinylate nearby proteins. We show that DNA O-MAP can be coupled with sample multiplexed quantitative proteomics, targeted chemical perturbations, and next-generation sequencing to quantify DNA-protein and DNA-DNA interactions at specific genomic loci. Furthermore, we establish that DNA O-MAP \ is applicable to both repetitive and unique genomic loci of varying sizes (kilobases to megabases), and that DNA O-MAP can measure proximal molecular effectors in a homolog-specific manner.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Protein Language Model Decoys for Target Decoy Competition in Proteomics: Quality Assessment and Benchmarks.

Large-scale proteomics relies heavily on target-decoy competition for false discovery rate estimation in peptide identification, and the performance of this strategy depends strongly on the design of the decoy database. Classical generators such as reversal and shuffling remain widely used. Here, we introduce the first protein language model-based (PLM) decoy generation for peptide identification and benchmark it against classical strategies. We evaluate these approaches using three complementary quality-control layers: sequence-based separability, search-engine-agnostic spectral-space diagnostics, and end-to-end mass spectrometry benchmarks, including pipelines with rescoring. Across these analyses, PLM-based decoys are harder for sequence-only neural networks to distinguish than most classical generators, suggesting fewer obvious sequence-level artifacts. However, this signal is only weakly informative for search performance. Spectral diagnostics further show that short peptides occupy a particularly crowded target-decoy space and are therefore especially prone to local collisions across all generators. In full search pipelines, reverse decoys remain a strong baseline, and current PLM-based generators do not yet provide a clear overall advantage. We therefore view PLM-based decoys not as universal replacements for reverse decoys but as tunable tools for benchmarking, diagnostics, stress testing, and future adaptive decoy optimization, with increasing value as search models become more expressive.

Proteomics↗

PubMed2025

Identifying novel protein biomarkers with cross-psychiatric disorders effects and potential intervention targets: Evidence from proteomic-Mendelian randomization.

Plasma proteins are the potential therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders due to their important roles in signal transduction. We aimed to explore the plasma protein biomarkers with cross-psychiatric disorders effects. Proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses were performed to investigate the potential causal relationship between plasma protein biomarkers and 12 psychiatric disorders and further identify the potential proteins with cross-effects. To assess the directionality and exclude potential reverse causation, Steiger directionality tests and reverse MR analyses were additionally conducted. Then, validation analysis was performed by employing summary data from cross-psychiatric disorder GWAS to validate the cross-psychiatric effects of proteins. Protein-protein interactions were conducted to evaluate the interaction between candidate proteins and druggability assessment was used to prioritize potential drug targets for psychiatric disorders. We identified novel plasma proteins that possessed cross-psychiatric disorder effects, especially BTN2A1 and BTN3A2 associated with major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and bipolar disorder (BIP); ITIH1, ITIH3, ITIH4 and FES associated with SCZ and BIP, and the cross-effects of these proteins on SCZ and BIP were confirmed by validation analyses. Steiger tests and reverse MR supported causal directionality. Besides, the protein-protein interactions (PPI) analysis indicated cross-effects proteins had significant interaction, especially ITIH1-ITIH3. The druggability assessment prioritized eight proteins, two of which (ITIH3 and NCAM1) has been targeted by antipsychotic drugs. Our findings provided insights into shared biological mechanisms underlying these conditions.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Mapping the covalent cysteine interactome of Ebselen reveals high-sensitivity target engagement and redox proteome remodeling.

Ebselen is a covalent organoselenium compound with broad pharmacological activity, yet its cellular cysteine targets and downstream proteomic consequences remain incompletely defined. Here, we integrated competitive gel-based activity-based protein profiling, reactivity-dependent tandem orthogonal proteolysis-activity-based protein profiling, and TMT-based quantitative proteomics to map Ebselen-induced cysteine engagement and proteome remodeling in living cancer cells. Ebselen exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity and markedly perturbed intracellular thiol-redox balance, as reflected by glutathione depletion and altered reactive oxygen species-associated fluorescence readouts. Competitive gel-based profiling confirmed concentration-dependent engagement of protein cysteine residues in live cells. Quantitative rdTOP-ABPP further identified hundreds of dose-responsive cysteine sites in HeLa and HepG2 cells and revealed a preference for cysteine microenvironments enriched with basic residues. Cross-cell-line comparison highlighted CDK5 Cys53, SMU1 Cys298, and RPSA2 Cys163 as conserved covalent nodes, among which CDK5 Cys53 showed high sensitivity to Ebselen treatment, a finding validated by competitive labeling and MS-based site assignment. Global TMT proteomics revealed extensive remodeling of redox-related and cell-survival-associated pathways, including compensatory upregulation of selenoproteins such as TXNRD1 and GPX family members. Together, these results define a chemical proteomic atlas of Ebselen-cysteine interactions and provide a framework for understanding and optimizing covalent organoselenium therapeutics.

Humans↗