Proteomics Approach to Complex Signaling Systems

Abstract

"Abduction" as formulated by C. S. Peirce, rather than deduction or induction, serves as an apt logical model for the practice of proteomics. Abduction has strength in application toward complex systems because by its nature it requires no presupposition. Our effort in the past twenty years to elucidate the protein phosphorylation cascade that is triggered by light stimulus in the photoreceptor cells of Drosophila is characterized by "proteomics approach without appropriate techniques available." Future proteomics should enable us not only to identify target proteins, but also to quantify their amounts, revealing the dynamic aspects of protein expression and function.