The Emerging Landscape and Application of Protein Sequencing

Abstract

Proteins play an indispensable role in all cells and tissues in all living creatures especially the human body. To determine the protein primary structure, also known as protein sequencing, is an important subject in life science and medicine. Scientists have tried chemical reactions such as Edman degradation, as well as instrument analysis like mass spectrometry. These mainstream methods can effectively determine the sequence of protein and are widely used. On the other hand, the new method like nanopore sequencing shows the single molecule level sequencing sensitivity and has great emerging landscape. The development of protein sequencing technology will help people better understand the laws of life activities and achieve early diagnosis and precise treatment of diseases. This paper will briefly summarize the traditional protein sequencing methods, focus on the introduction of the new generation of sequencing technology represented by nanopore sequencing. Meanwhile, after comparing those advantages and disadvantages, its future research direction could be found. More cheap, high-throughput and highly sensitive protein sequencing methods and instruments will be discovered and popularized in the near future.