The Human Eye Proteome Project: Updates on an Emerging Proteome

Abstract

The human eye is a complex organ consisting of multiple compartments with unique and specialized properties that reflect their varied functions. Although there have been advancements in ocular imaging and therapeutics over the past decade, the pathogenesis of many common eye diseases remains poorly understood. Proteomics is an invaluable tool to gain insight into pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of eye diseases. By 2013, when the Human Eye Proteome Project (also known as the EyeOme) was founded, there were 4842 nonredundant proteins identified in the human eye. Twenty-three recent papers on the human eye proteome were identified in PubMed searches. These papers were used to compile an updated resource of 9782 nonredundant proteins in the human eye. This updated catalogue sheds light on the molecular makeup of previously undescribed proteomes within the human eye, including optic nerve, sclera, iris, and ciliary body, while adding additional proteins to previously characterized proteomes such as aqueous humor, lens, vitreous, retina, and retinal pigment epithelium/choroid. Although considerable advances have been made to characterize the complete proteome of the human eye, additional high-quality data are needed to confirm and quantify previously discovered eye proteins in both health and disease.

Keywords: biomedicine; eye; mass spectrometry; proteome.