Proteomics in reproductive research: The potential importance of proteomics to research in reproduction

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Abstract
Recent developments in certain areas of reproductive technology, e.g. intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), animal cloning and human embryonic stem (ES) cell derivation, have been remarkable and advances are continuing at a considerable rate. However, our understanding of the molecular basis of most aspects of reproduction, particularly in the human, is still extremely poor. This is in marked contrast with the enormous developments in analysis of both genes and their products (proteins) that are currently taking place in the biosciences. For example, microscopic arrays (microarrays) of DNA or oligonucleotides, containing up to several hundred thousand different sequences arranged as individual spots on a `chip', are beginning to be applied to genomic studies and investigations into gene expression (Graves, 1999). Over and above this, sequencing programmes of entire genomes are proceeding at a dramatic pace with the Human Genome Project fulfilling its promise as the single most important project in biomedical science. It is currently ahead of schedule and latest estimates predict a draft version by Spring 2000 with a polished highly accurate version by 2003 (Collins et al., 1998; Marshall, 1999).