Introduction

- Genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics of human heart failure

In this review we outline our plans for achieving a comprehensive analysis of the molecular defects present in end-stage failing human hearts. Our approach has been to select the best available techniques and practitioners in the fields of genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics and combine them into a coherent multifaceted investigation in which the defects (or potential defects) of any one technique are minimised by information from other, complementary techniques.

Information from the genomics of human heart will be derived from gene arrays based on either short oligonucleotide sequences or long cDNA nucleotides. Proteomics information has traditionally arisen from two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, a technique that has recently benefited from narrow range first dimension pI separations and mass spectrometry to identify the separated proteins. A more recent and in many ways more problematic proteomic approach is the separation, identification and rough quantification of proteins based on the protein equivalent to gene arrays. Commercial protein arrays have only now become available and none are yet specialised for examining myocardial proteins.

Finally, we recognize the need to integrate, codify and standardize the large amounts of information that are likely to come from this study. We describe our approaches in the expectation that International colleagues will be tempted to join with us and contribute to the project. Together we should make speedier progress towards understand the molecular nature of changes associated human heart failure.