In 2025, scientists discovered that even the first two cells formed after a mammalian egg is fertilized have different roles. Using a technique called single-cell proteomics (SCP), researchers found that these cells, named ‘alpha’ and ‘beta’, have distinct protein contents that determine their future. Beta cells are more likely to develop into healthy embryos, while alpha cells usually form tissues that support the embryo. This discovery helps scientists understand complex biological processes, like how tumors form and why patients respond differently to diseases. Although SCP was once thought impossible, it is now a valuable tool for studying diseases, despite requiring expensive equipment and expertise. This research highlights the importance of proteins in understanding cell functions, as they cannot be predicted by RNA alone.
QUESTION: How might the ability to study proteins in individual cells change the way we approach treating diseases in the future?
Probing the proteome at cellular scale
