Tricorder Tech: Single-Cell Proteomics Using Mass Spectrometry
Editor’s note: If we aspire to mount expeditions to new worlds and then embrace the task of characterizing and quantifying whatever life forms we find, the ability to map and understand whatever metabolic and genomic systems are in operation is important. Not only do we need to know how alien biota function, but also how they evolved – what differences and similarities they may have with the origin and evolution of life on Earth. Increasing in situ capabilities like this can allow much more preliminary analysis to be done on site – or back on Earth.
As we begin to expand our search for life to other worlds we are going to need to be economical interms of the equipment we send and how we reality new knowledge back to Earth. Sample return missions are difficult even when worlds are close to one another. Doing in situ examination and documentation is going to be very important as we explore other worlds. Not only does it reduce the logistics of sending things back home but it allows data to be sent back at the speed of light. It also allows the astronaut/droid teams to engage in empirical exploration – learning from what they found so as to refine and perfect their continued searching.
A random survey of SCP figures of merit over the last two years. Proteins quantified per minute (y-axis) is plotted against Proteins quantified per cell (x-axis). The corrected run time in minutes of data collection per cell is shown as the color mapping, and acquisition type is given as the marker shape. — q-bio.GN
Single-cell proteomics (SCP) is transforming our understanding of biological complexity by shifting from bulk proteomics, where signals are averaged over thousands of cells, to the proteome analysis of individual cells.
This granular perspective reveals distinct cell states, population heterogeneity, and the underpinnings of disease pathogenesis that bulk approaches may obscure. However, SCP demands exceptional sensitivity, precise cell handling, and robust data processing to overcome the inherent challenges of analyzing picogram-level protein samples without amplification.
Recent innovations in sample preparation, separations, data acquisition strategies, and specialized mass spectrometry instrumentation have substantially improved proteome coverage and throughput. Approaches that integrate complementary -omics, streamline multi-step sample processing, and automate workflows through microfluidics and specialized platforms promise to further push SCP boundaries.
Advances in computational methods, especially for data normalization and imputation, address the pervasive issue of missing values, enabling more reliable downstream biological interpretations. Despite these strides, higher throughput, reproducibility, and consensus best practices remain pressing needs in the field.
This mini review summarizes the latest progress in SCP technology and software solutions, highlighting how closer integration of analytical, computational, and experimental strategies will facilitate deeper and broader coverage of single-cell proteomes.
Amanda Momenzadeh, Jesse G. Meyer
Subjects: Quantitative Methods (q-bio.QM); Genomics (q-bio.GN)
Cite as: arXiv:2502.11982 [q-bio.QM] (or arXiv:2502.11982v1 [q-bio.QM] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2502.11982
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Submission history
From: Jesse Meyer
[v1] Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:22:55 UTC (502 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.11982
Astrobiology, Tricorder, Star Trek,
