< No: 30 >
2019


Human secretome annotation

An analysis of the human secretome was presented, including annotation of the genes encoding proteins that are predicted to be actively secreted to human blood as well as to other parts of the human body, such as the digestive system and other local compartments. The estimated concentration of the proteins detected in human blood, as determined by mass spectrometry–based proteomics or antibody-based immune assays, was also presented.

Key publication

Other selected publications

  • Fagerberg L et al., Prediction of the human membrane proteome. Proteomics. (2010)
    PubMed: 20175080 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200900258

  • Schwenk JM et al., The Human Plasma Proteome Draft of 2017: Building on the Human Plasma PeptideAtlas from Mass Spectrometry and Complementary Assays. J Proteome Res. (2017)
    PubMed: 28938075 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00467



Figure legend: All genes with predicted secreted isoforms were annotated and classified according to their predicted final location in the body, with the major aim to identify proteins secreted into the blood. The largest category contains proteins that after annotation are no longer predicted to be actively secreted, and includes proteins residing in secretory pathway locations or being associated with membranes.


Key facts

  • About 13% of human genes have at least one predicted secreted isoform
  • Approximately 700 proteins were predicted to be actively secreted into the blood (corresponding to less than 4% of protein coding genes)
  • Another 800 proteins were predicted to be secreted locally, including in male and female reproductive tissues
  • There are almost 90 proteins (mainly enzymes) predicted to be secreted into the digestive system
  • Many proteins predicted to be secreted into the blood at present lack protein assays for their detection