Overview

• The Science paper applies single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry to primary human CD34+ bone marrow cells, marking the first use of this approach in a biologically relevant human system.
• Researchers profiled more than 2,500 hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and integrated scp-MS with scRNA-seq to build a dynamic view of gene expression across differentiation.
• mRNA and protein levels aligned in more differentiated blood cells but diverged in stem and immature cells, pointing to shifts in mRNA turnover, translation, or protein stability during maturation.
• Proteins that declined at the protein level despite stable mRNA proved essential for maintaining stem cell populations, as gene knock-outs reduced stem cell numbers.
• The technology was co-developed by DTU, Rigshospitalet, and the University of Copenhagen, with authors noting future gains in sensitivity are needed for fuller proteome coverage and broader biomedical applications.