ASMS Conference: Approaching the ‘perfect’ database – single-molecule, full-length transcript sequencing to create sample-specific, full-length protein databases

Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies based on single-molecule detection now enable determination of full-length transcript sequences and, thus, all protein sequences in a sample. Utilizing data from this exciting technology, we have constructed customized, full-length protein databases that offer unprecedented advantages in proteomics database searching. Protein inference from bottom-up proteomics data can now be conducted using the set of correct protein sequences actually expressed in the sample, meaning that peptide identifications can be understood in the context of their corresponding full-length protein sequences. And most importantly, novel peptides or proteins originating from variations in the genome or transcriptome can be readily discovered.