Organiser

Michal Dadlez: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland

Introduction

Since sequencing projects yielded full composition of model organisms’ genomes, the focus of current research shifted towards the understanding how the protein gene products work. For many protein-based approaches mass spectrometry (MS) is the identification method of choice. It can not only identify proteins, but also may reveal post translational modifications, comparatively quantify whole proteomes, give an insight into protein complexes or examine intact proteins.
Each successful MS experiment is composed of 3 stages: sample preparation, sample measurement and data analysis. Due to the high cost of instrumentation and uniqueness of skills necessary to maintain spectrometers, often MS laboratories function as facilities, to which the measurement step is outsourced. Thus, in most cases, researches face a challenge
of making protein preps acceptable for the spectrometry and perhaps even more difficult task of analysing the MS data on their own, without help of people directly involved in the generating of those results. Sometimes, shortage of the adequate knowledge and lack of proper communication on the line between a researcher and a MS facility may seriously slow
down experiments or even lead to the misinterpretation of the data. Our own experience shows that the data analysis step is on one hand the most time consuming moment in each MS-based experiment and on the other hand absolutely crucial for drawing correct conclusions and planning future experiments. Taking into consideration the fact that currently spectrometers are becoming even more sensitive and capable of analysing more complex mixtures of proteins gives a grim view of a very error-prone environment, in which a researcher studying his/her protein(s) of choice may feel lost.

Thus the proteomic course - Sample preparation and data validation in proteomics - will concentrate on data analysis (including statistical methods in data analysis) with elements of sample preparation methods – critical elements
of a successful experiment taking advantage of mass spectrometry. The course is open to all interested researchers, however it targets specifically scientists involved in proteomic studies, who do not work directly at MS facilities. They should have prior experience with protein purification, but do not have to be familiar with samples processing requirements for MS measurements (protein purification techniques are beyond the scope the proposed curriculum).

Draft Programme

The programme can be viewed here.

Course

A detailed description of the course is available here.

Venue

For further details, please see the course website.

Registration

Registration is now closed.