There are many measurement problems and challenges to overcome before proteomics becomes a more pervasive technology in the laboratory. These problems lie in all areas of the technology from improving gel-staining sensitivity to automation of mass spectrometry.
Gel electrophoresis is a standard tool for the separation of proteins from a complex biological sample, whilst mass spectrometry is the analytical method of choice for the characterisation of the gel-separated proteins. As the need for greater sensitivity arises, effective sample preparation processes are essential for the successful interfacing of these techniques.