Cellular stage specific functional analysis of REX1: In human embryonic stem cells

As transcription and translation are dynamic and can vary among the cell types and conditions, proteomics may reveal the tissue-specific functions of a protein, more relevant to its genuine functions on cellular mechanisms. The new proteome analysis by Son et al. [Proteomics 2015, 15, 2220-2229] identified the functions of the pluripotency marker protein, REX1 in hESCs, and unraveling its regulatory network orchestrating pluripotency. Compared to the previous transcriptome analysis that showed mechanisms irrelevant to pluripotency, Son et al. employed a proteome analysis determined convincing and meaningful mechanisms of REX. In addition to demonstrating the biological importance of REX1, this research by Son et al. is also a compelling example of the conceptual significance of connecting proteomics with stem cell biology.