A research center on human proteome was set up in Beijing Monday, marking China's stride toward proteomic study following its participation in mapping out genome sequencing.

China attaches great importance to the study of proteome and would pursue the development of life sciences, said Li Xueyong, Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology.

Man has around 30,000 genes, but these make tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of different proteins, only a very tiny percentage of which have been fully described, according to experts. To realize the proteomic vision, it is necessary to not only identify these biomolecules and their structure but also understand how they interact.

The emergence of the new life science, proteomics, has attracted attention around the world and proteomic projects have rapidly expanded the field of drug discovery.

As one project in international Human Proteome Project (HPP), the Human Liver Proteome Project (HLPP) will be led by Chinese scientists.

Besides, the third proteomic conference will be held in Beijing from Oct. 25 to 28, 2004, the largest conference of this kind sponsored by Asia-Pacific region.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2003)