Journal of Proteomics & Bioinformatics
Open Access

Human in vivo protein synthesis and degradation, i.e. turnover, more important than quantity?

2^nd International Conference on Proteomics & Bioinformatics

July 2-4, 2012 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, USA

Gerrit van Hall

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Proteomics Bioinform

Abstract :

Tissue dysfunction occurs in most diseases, among others diabetes, obesity and sepsis but also with ageing. To understand the cause of altered metabolism, it is important to determine protein biogenesis. It is clear that information on protein synthesis is only useful when degradation is known as well, i.e. protein turnover. Moreover, we lack understanding of the functionality of these two very energy consuming processes that can range from hour(s) to months before the whole protein pool is renewed. Large differences in human tissue protein synthesis between health and disease are observed but information on degradation and its regulation is usually lacking. Human in vivo protein fractional synthesis rate is determined via tracer dilution methodology. The rate of incorporation into a protein or group of proteins is determined of a continuously infused stable isotopically labelled essential amino acids. Whereas the accuracy of the protein synthesis rates depend on the used tracer, infusion rate, mass-spectrometer and incorporation time, the most important analytical limitations are caused by the quantity of pure protein that can be obtained and the turnover rate of the protein. Protein degradation can be determined by the loss of tracer from the pre-labelled protein over time or in case for total tissue protein degradation sampling from an artery and a vein that purely drains the tissue of interested in combination with a tissue sample. Progress in this important area of patient diagnostics and treatment may be facilitated by a combined effort and expertise from hard core proteomics and physiology/functional metabolomics.

Biography :

Gerrit van Hall is Professor in Clinical Metabolism at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and director of the Clinical Metabolomics Core Facility from the University Hospital, Denmark. He is an expert in human in vivo metabolic fluxes and protein turnover in health and disease with the emphasis on the metabolic syndrome.