Cited by 4,195Advanced Proteomics Techniques and ApplicationsRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsRNA Research and Splicing

Insights into the regulation of protein abundance from proteomic and transcriptomic analyses

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Vogel, Christine, Marcotte, Edward M.·2012·Nature Reviews Genetics

Abstract

Recent advances in next-generation DNA sequencing and proteomics provide an unprecedented ability to survey mRNA and protein abundances. Such proteome-wide surveys are illuminating the extent to which different aspects of gene expression help to regulate cellular protein abundances. Current data demonstrate a substantial role for regulatory processes occurring after mRNA is made — that is, post-transcriptional, translational and protein degradation regulation — in controlling steady-state protein abundances. Intriguing observations are also emerging in relation to cells following perturbation, single-cell studies and the apparent evolutionary conservation of protein and mRNA abundances. Here, we summarize current understanding of the major factors regulating protein expression.

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  • Other estimates for the contribution of mRNA levels in determining protein expression in mammals are lower than ours, suggesting that mRNA levels contribute 10%-40%.

    “Other estimates for the contribution of mRNA levels in determining protein expression in mammals are lower than ours, suggesting that mRNA levels contribute 10%–40% (Maier, Guell & Serrano, 2009; Vogel & Marcotte, 2012).”

    From System wide analyses have underestimated protein abundances and the importance of transcription in mammals (2014) · cites this paper as Vogel & Marcotte, 2012

    In “Concentrations, production and turnover rates of mRNA and proteins at steady state” (page unavailable), the review says mRNA abundance explains approximately 40% of variation in protein concentration and includes mammalian cells among the organisms discussed. It does not provide the 10% estimate attributed to the cited sources collectively. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • The regulation of senescence extends beyond transcription, and prior work has reported cases in which transcriptomic changes do not align with proteomic readouts.

    “the regulation of senescence extends beyond transcription, and prior work has reported cases in which transcriptomic changes do not align with proteomic readouts [11,46,47,48].”

    From Fluorescence-Guided Spatial Mapping of p21-Expressing Senescent Cells in Aged Liver at Single-Cell Resolution (2026) · cites this paper as [47]

    The section “mRNA and protein levels in response to perturbation” reports cases in yeast and bacteria where changes in mRNA and protein abundance do not align. The Conclusions also describe regulation beyond transcription. Neither passage addresses senescence specifically, so the senescence-specific framing is not supported by this source. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • pQTL associations may capture regulatory mechanisms specific to proteins, explaining low correlations between mRNAs and their protein products.

    “pQTL associations may capture regulatory mechanisms specific to proteins, explaining low correlations between mRNAs and their protein products (7).”

    From Low overlap of plasma and CSF protein quantitative trait loci affects protein discovery for neurological disease (2026) · cites this paper as [7]

    The section on steady-state mRNA and protein levels reports that mRNA abundance explains only part of the variation in protein abundance and discusses regulation downstream of transcription. However, the passages do not address pQTL associations or say that those associations capture the regulatory mechanisms; that specific attribution is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Messenger RNA and protein quantities often correlate poorly, emphasizing post-transcriptional control of protein synthesis and degradation.

    “Several studies have reported that quantities of messenger RNA and proteins often correlate poorly, emphasizing the importance of post-transcriptional processes that control protein synthesis and degradation11.”

    From Cell type- and brain region-resolved mouse brain proteome (2015) · cites this paper as [11]

  • mRNA abundance is not always a faithful proxy of protein expression across various organisms.

    “Although transcriptomic profiling has provided insights into Tex cell biology, mRNA abundance is not always a faithful proxy of protein expression across various organisms18–22.”

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Authors
Vogel, C., & Marcotte, E. M.
Affiliations
  • New York University (US)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Corresponding author
  • Vogel, Christine
  • Marcotte, Edward M.
Venue
Nature Reviews Genetics
Published
2012-03-13
Volume
13
Issue
4
Pages
227-232
ISSN
  • 1471-0056 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0064
OpenAlex
W1973268693
Cited by
4,195
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 409 · 2025: 312 · 2024: 278 · 2023: 258 · 2022: 338 · 2021: 343 · 2020: 382 · 2019: 303 · 2018: 302 · 2017: 301 · 2016: 293 · 2015: 271 · 2014: 254 · 2013: 119 · 2012: 26
FWCI
20.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Welch Foundation
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (DP1GM106408, R01GM076536)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Spectroscopy › Advanced Proteomics Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Research and Splicing
Keywords
protein abundance, mRNA levels, post-transcriptional regulation, translational regulation, protein degradation, gene expression regulation, mRNA-protein correlation, single-cell transcriptomics
MeSH terms
Proteins, RNA, Messenger, Proteome, Gene Expression Profiling, Proteomics

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