Proteomics research at home at PNNL

Proteomics, the study of proteins in living organisms, is one of the next major frontiers for the scientific community--and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will play a significant role in unlocking the mysteries of proteins. Through its newly established Prototype Sample Processing and Proteomics Facility, PNNL will help pave the way to eliminating diseases such as muscular dystrophy and for creating targeted drugs. Understanding proteins and how they work will greatly improve medicine, health care and environmental cleanup. While simple in concept, this research requires advanced technologies and tools. PNNL's new facility supports the U.S. Department of Energy's Genomes to Life research, combining the Laboratory's capabilities in computational chemistry, biomolecular science and advanced instrumentation to address this complex field of research. Researchers are analyzing the proteome of several environmentally relevant micro-organisms, including radiation-resistant Deincoccus radiodurans, uranium-reducing Shewanella oneidensis and the photosynthetic Rhodobacter sphaerodies. Such analyses will help researchers identify the changes in protein expression patterns related to environmental conditions so these microbes can be used for bioremediation, carbon sequestration and energy production.