Analysis of organelles within the nervous system: impact on brain and organelle functions

Abstract

Currently, neuroproteomic approaches aimed at the profiling of total brain areas generally mirror the expression of the most abundant proteins, but fail to uncover less abundant proteins. By contrast, the focus on typical brain subproteomes, (e.g., synaptic vesicles, synaptic terminal membranes or the postsynaptic density), may give a more specific insight into brain function. Subproteomes are accessible via several strategies, including subcellular fractionation or affinity-based pull-down approaches. Combined with mass spectrometric quantification approaches, subcellular proteomics is expected to reveal differences in the protein constitution of related cellular organelles. Focusing on novel functions and mechanistic models, we review recent data on the analysis of brain-derived organelles and subproteomes, including presynaptic termini, synaptic vesicles, neuronal plasma membranes, postsynaptic density and neuromelanin granules, which were identified as novel lysosome-related organelles within the human brain.

Keywords::

• brain
• function
• mass spectrometry
• neuromelanin
• organelle
• proteomics
• quantitative
• subcellular
• subproteome

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.