Spot the Difference: Proteomic Epigenetic Reference Maps for Discovery of Differential Histone Modifications among Disparate Cellular States

摘要

Epigenetic marks are emerging as key regulators of cellular processes from development to cancer. Epigenetic information can be stored and transmitted as covalent post-translational modifications on histone proteins, a fact that makes them amenable to interrogation by mass spectrometry. Recent advances in both instrumentation and separations science have made analysis of large histone peptides more tractable. However, a key goal remains to be able to leverage mass spectrometry data to recognize differences that are indicative or causative of cellular phenotypes. Here we present a suite of acquisition and interpretation strategies resulting in "proteomic epigenetic reference maps". The map paradigm establishes reference image-based patterns of histone modifications for rapid comparison of epigenetic information among cell types ranging from ES to cancer.