Understanding 'sweet medicines'

Proteomics technology company Proteome Systems is to work with Swiss food giant Nestle in a bid to investigate 'sweet medicines'. Under a glycoproteomics research programme, the two companies will analyse the sugars attached to proteins in milk.

Nicolle Packer, executive vice president of Glycobiology at Proteome Systems​, said: "We are very excited about taking part in this project as it emphasises the renewed interest of scientists in understanding the importance of what is added to the protein in defining what that protein does in biological systems.​

The analysis of the complexity of the many sugars that are attached to proteins (glycoproteomics) is the next frontier in proteomics research and to date, this analysis has been difficult to carry out in proteomics-focused laboratories.​

We are looking forward to applying our expertise and platform of glycoproteomic analysis, GlycomIQ, to the analysis of these sugars on biologically relevant proteins in milk."​

Head of the bioscience department at Nestle​ Dr Jean-Richard Neeser added: "As a world leader in nutrition products, Nestle has the duty to be at the front line of the scientific knowledge regarding the understanding of all nutritional and biological functions of food and dietary components."​

The importance of sugars in biology is gaining pace and sugar modifications to proteins are increasingly being implicated in the control of the function of many proteins and may be important in modulating the activity of milk proteins.

Dr Keith Williams, CEO of Australian company Proteome Systems, commented:"Proteome Systems' glycobiology group has a focus on developing enabling technologies for determining the structures of sugars at the level of proteomic analysis and applying these technologies to the exciting emerging area of 'sweet medicines'."​