Abstract

The quantitative measurement of the proteome has been shown to yield new insights into physiology and cell biology that cannot be determined from the genome and transcriptome because the quantitative relationship between transcriptome and proteome is complex. MS-based proteomics techniques, such as SWATH-MS, have recently advanced to the point at which they may be reliably applied by biologists who are not specialists in mass spectrometry. Here we provide standard protocols for preparation of tissue samples for input into the SWATH-MS analytical pipeline. These protocols are designed for high-throughput processing of tissues with ≥5 mg of sample available for analysis. Studies with extremely limited amounts of tissue should consider PCT-SWATH. An experienced single user should be able to process 48 samples per day for injection into the mass spectrometer, or up to 144 samples a week. The machine time necessary for running these samples with SWATH is approximately 1.5 hr per sample. Data acquisition protocols are also provided. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.