Application of TMT Labeling in Quantitative Proteomics Detection

TMT (Tandem Mass Tag) Label Quantitative Proteomics is a sophisticated mass spectrometry technique used to quantitatively analyze protein expression differences in different samples. The crux of this technique is the use of TMT tags to label protein samples. In this process, protein samples from different conditions or treatments are combined separately with different TMT tags. These tags have different masses but similar structures, allowing for the differentiation of the same proteins in different samples during mass spectrometry analysis.

 

Service Advantages

Compared to label-free quantitation: TMT differentiates and quantitates proteins using different labels added to samples, allowing for the simultaneous analysis and comparison of multiple samples in a single run. The data acquisition mode of TMT is a single run. Compared to traditional label-free quantitation that uses a unique peptide-based data-dependent acquisition (DDA) mode, TMT offers fewer missing values and more complete data records. Label-free quantitation often encounters poor reproducibility when detecting multiple batches of samples, whereas TMT can identify more proteins through tiered separation compared to label-free techniques. However, due to the limitations of the DDA scan mode, the representation of low-abundance proteins may be inadequate. Moreover, the presence of dynamic range compression can lead to quantitation values lower than the actual values, making it challenging to accurately quantitate differentially expressed proteins. Up to 16 samples can be quantified simultaneously

 

Applications

Therefore, label-based quantitation, like TMT, is better suited for comparing shared proteins between small samples (up to 16) with similar backgrounds (e.g., same species and sample type) and subjected to different treatments or time points. However, it is not suitable for identifying the presence of proteins in samples. TMT label quantification proteomics technology has a wide range of applications in biomedical research, drug development, and disease diagnosis:

 

1. Biomarker Discovery

By comparing samples under healthy and diseased states, TMT label quantitative proteomics can be used to identify potential biomarkers. These markers can be used for early disease diagnosis, disease monitoring, or predicting treatment response.

 

2. Disease Mechanism Research

TMT technology can reveal changes in protein expression and regulation under specific disease states or pathological conditions, aiding in understanding molecular mechanisms and disease progression.

 

3. Drug Target Screening and Validation

By analyzing protein expression differences before and after drug treatment, TMT technology can help identify and validate new drug targets, accelerating the drug development process.

 

4. Therapeutic Response and Drug Toxicity Research

TMT label quantitative proteomics can be used to monitor the effects of specific treatments, evaluating treatment effects by comparing protein changes before and after treatment, while assessing potential drug toxicity.

 

5. Systems Biology and Multi-Omics Research

Combined with other omics techniques (such as transcriptomics, metabolomics), TMT technology can provide system-level biological information, revealing molecular networks under complex biological processes and disease states.