Statistical Analysis in Proteomics

Compared to genomics or transcriptomics, proteomics is often regarded as an “emerging technology,” i.e., as not having reached the same level of maturity. While the successful implementation of proteomics workfl ows and technology still requires signifi cant levels of expertise and specialization, great strides have been made to make the technology more powerful, streamlined and accessible. In 2014, two landmark studies published the fi rst draft versions of the human proteome. We aim to provide an introduction specifi cally into the background of mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics. Within the fi eld, mass spectrometry has emerged as a core technology. Coupled to increasingly powerful separations and data processing and bioinformatics solution, it allows the quantitative analysis of whole proteomes within a matter of days, a timescale that has made global comparative proteome studies feasible at last. We present and discuss the basic concepts behind proteomics mass spectrometry and the accompanying topic of protein and peptide separations, with a focus on the properties of datasets emerging from such studies.