Abstract

Cells alter the proteome to respond to environmental and developmental cues. Global analysis of proteomic responses is of limited value in heterogeneous environments, where there is no ‘average’ cell. Advances in sequencing, protein labeling, mass spectrometry, and data analysis have fueled recent progress in the investigation of specific subpopulations of cells in complex systems. Here we highlight recently developed chemical tools that enable cell-selective proteomic analysis of complex biological systems, from bacterial pathogens to whole animals.