Single-molecule protein sequencing on the horizon

Gene sequencing has revolutionized the life sciences and molecular biology altogether. However, proteins – the actual working horses in our cells – are regulated in many ways, far beyond their gene-encoded amino acid sequence. Therefore, many researchers strive to develop new direct protein sequencing and identification technologies for single cell profiling of the proteome.

Sonja Schmid contributed to a recent perspective that describes these cutting-edge approaches to single-molecule protein sequencing. Nature Methods, 18, 604–617 (2021).

Keywords: nanopores, fluorescence, mass spectrometry, conjugation chemistry, DNA nanotechnology.