Metaproteomics Beyond Databases: Addressing the Challenges and Potentials of De Novo Sequencing

peer-reviewed · Proteomics · 2025

peer-reviewed · Proteomics · 2025. Tim Van Den Bossche et al. Metaproteomics enables the large-scale characterization of microbial community proteins, offering crucial…
Date 2025-01-31
Type peer-reviewed
Venue Proteomics
Publisher Wiley
Contribution review
DOI 10.1002/pmic.202400321
Citations (OpenAlex) 14
Venue 2-year citedness 2.58

Abstract

Metaproteomics enables the large-scale characterization of microbial community proteins, offering crucial insights into their taxonomic composition, functional activities, and interactions within their environments. By directly analyzing proteins, metaproteomics offers insights into community phenotypes and the roles individual members play in diverse ecosystems. Although database-dependent search engines are commonly used for peptide identification, they rely on pre-existing protein databases, which can be limiting for complex, poorly characterized microbiomes. De novo sequencing presents a promising alternative, which derives peptide sequences directly from mass spectra without requiring a database. Over time, this approach has evolved from manual annotation to advanced graph-based, tag-based, and deep learning-based methods, significantly improving the accuracy of peptide identification. This Viewpoint explores the evolution, advantages, limitations, and future opportunities of de novo sequencing in metaproteomics. We highlight recent technological advancements that have improved its potential for detecting unsequenced species and for providing deeper functional insights into microbial communities.

Authors

  1. Tim Van Den Bossche · Ghent University, VIB
  2. Denis Beslic · Robert Koch Institute
  3. Sam van Puyenbroeck · Ghent University, VIB
  4. Tomi Suomi · University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University
  5. Tanja Holstein · Ghent University, Robert Koch Institute, VIB
  6. Lennart Martens · Ghent University, Infrastructure Nationale de Protéomique (ProFI-FR2048), University of Strasbourg, VIB
  7. Laura L. Elo · University of Turku, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University
  8. Thilo Muth · Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Robert Koch Institute

Methods and tools

  • Metaproteomics de novo review: Mini-review on applying de novo peptide sequencing in metaproteomics: challenges (large search spaces, missing references) and tooling outlook.

Cites (36)

Cited by (2)

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