Bioinformatics Software for Proteomics Research

The overall objective of this project is to develop an innovative bioinformatics software to aid in the analysis and interpretation of proteomics data. The software is capable of quantifying and interpreting complex and time-dependent global changes in various biological pattern profiles. It will identify the links between protein expression changes with upstream and downstream events in the context of biological pathways. Phase I effort will be focused on defining and developing the software concept that will be used to identify or link to databases that identify altered protein expression. The feasibility for further development will be demonstrated by a prototype system on PC. Protein expression and post-translational modification data such as protein arrays, LC/MS and gel electrophoresis (1-D or 2-D) data will be used to identify protein expression changes. The proteomics data will be integrated with gene expression data and metabolomics/metabonomics data to identify the molecular events up- and down-stream of these protein changes in the pathways involved in the cellular response to the external insults.