Recent advances in the field of single-cell proteomics

• Published in: Translational oncology Vol. 27; p. 101556
• Main Authors: Petrosius, Valdemaras, Schoof, Erwin M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2023; Neoplasia Press; Elsevier
• ISSN: 1936-5233; 1936-5233
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101556

•Optimization of sample preparation and implementation of ion mobility approaches played a pivotal role in the rise of single-cell proteomics.•The field is rapidly advancing with improvements in both quantified proteome depth and sample throughput.•With the emergence of scp-MS the complete characterization of the central dogma of biology (i.e. DNA to RNA to Protein) at single cell level is on the horizon.•The field of scp-MS has reached a point of real biological application. The field of single-cell omics is rapidly progressing. Although DNA and RNA sequencing-based methods have dominated the field to date, global proteome profiling has also entered the main stage. Single-cell proteomics was facilitated by advancements in different aspects of mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics, such as instrument design, sample preparation, chromatography and ion mobility. Single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry (scp-MS) has moved beyond being a mere technical development, and is now able to deliver actual biological application and has been successfully applied to characterize different cell states. Here, we review some key developments of scp-MS, provide a background to the field, discuss the various available methods and foresee possible future directions. [Display omitted]