Quantitative proteomics: a tool to assess cell differentiation

During cell differentiation, gene expression is regulated at multiple levels which is only partially captured by transcription profiling. In recent years it became increasingly clear that post-translational modifications of core histones and post-transcriptional regulation by RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs play an important role during differentiation. Recent advances in mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics now allow for genome-wide analyses at the protein level. This technology provides a powerful toolbox that can be used to study different levels of gene regulation and reveal their importance during development of multi-cellular organisms. We highlight recent studies and indicate how quantitative proteomics can be employed to investigate cell differentiation in the future.