Cell-based assays can be a useful tool for predicting the biocompatibility of different materials used for medical implants. In a recent study Merker et al. assessed the proteome of osteoblasts involved in transplant integration to further understand how these integral processes can be optimised to increase the chances of successful integration.

Human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is recognized as the cell surface structure that allows for binding and host cell entry of SARS-CoV-2. In a recent study by Zhang et al., the authors used Affinity-selection mass spectrometry to identify library compounds that are bound to ACE2.

There is a growing interest for the potential of short open reading frames (sORFs), and the biological relevance of the translation products. Recently, Peeters et al., describe a workflow for investigating neuropeptides using timsTOF Pro with PASEF, database searches with a custom proteogenomic database, and machine learning tools to identify sORF-encoded peptides.

Methionine oxidation is a reversible Post-translational modifications (PTM) that can occur as part of cellular redox-regulation, which may influence protein structure, stability, and function. In a recent paper by Baumans et al., researchers look at different reversed-phase (RP) variables, to determine if any of these factors influenced the amount of processing-related methionine oxidation.

Fermented dairy products have traditionally been used in many cultures for their health promoting effects. In a recent study by Nielsen and others, researchers compare chemically acidified, live and heat-inactivated fermented dairy yoghurt and analyzed the peptides in these products by LC-MS/MS.

A successful proteomic experiment involves the optimisation of many steps, from design to data analysis. Supasri and colleagues used PEAKS software to confirm which preparation workflow produced the best results for their proteomic investigation of a challenging specimen.

Translation events that were previously thought to result in non-biologically relevant proteins are now being reconsidered. Increasing evidence shows that some non-canonical proteins may play an important role in immunity and disease. This paper examines the unique features of the non-canonical translatome and how they may influence tumor immunosurveillance.

Isolating and identifying native peptides in serum samples can be very difficult by LC-MS/MS data in plasma studies. Taguchi and colleagues address these challenges and show that this approach to plasma peptidomics can ID unknown low abundance peptides with biological activity.

One of the hurdles in the development of immunopeptidomic tools is the heterogeneity of the tumour-associated signals resulting in challenges with traditional database search strategies for MS data. Here Qi et al. from NIH are working to remove this hurdle by combining de novo peptide antigen sequencing and custom database strategies.

In a recent study by Pires et al., LC-MS/MS was used to study the protein components of the binding material in a paint sample that remained on a 1000-Year-Old Gold Mask, presumably by members of the Sicán culture of Peru.