New tool matches microbial and metabolic metaproteomic data

Metaproteomics is the study of all proteins expressed in entire communities, such as soil and gut microbiomes, and often requires bioinformatics approaches to analyze large quantities of data. However, until recently, none of these tools mapped protein or peptide data onto information about their biological functions.

To address this gap, in a recent study in Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, Tibo Vande Moortele of Ghent University and an international team of researchers created PathwayPilot. This bioinformatics resource combines proteomic data, including protein identification and abundances, with metabolic pathway data. Users can upload peptide or protein data, choose their desired pathways for analysis and export the results in various formats for further analysis. This makes it easier for researchers to identify the biochemical functions of proteins between organisms in a microbial community or between communities. The team tested PathwayPilot’s accuracy by analyzing data from a study on lipid metabolism and found that nearly all results matched to a known pathway.

Researchers can use this tool to compare the metaproteomic effects of environmental factors such as temperature or determine the role of a microorganism in its community, with promising applications in medical microbiology and ecology. PathwayPilot currently can only be used to compare two groups, so the team plans to continue updating the resource.