How to use open-pFind in deep proteomics data analysis?— A protocol for rigorous identification and quantitation of peptides and proteins from mass spectrometry data

High-throughput proteomics based on mass spectrometry (MS) analysis has permeated biomedical science and propelled numerous research projects. pFind 3 is a database search engine for high-speed and in-depth proteomics data analysis. pFind 3 features a swift open search workflow that is adept at uncovering less obvious information such as unexpected modifications or mutations that would have gone unnoticed using a conventional data analysis pipeline. In this protocol, we provide step-by-step instructions to help users mastering various types of data analysis using pFind 3 in conjunction with pParse for data pre-processing and if needed, pQuant for quantitation. This streamlined pParse-pFind-pQuant workflow offers exceptional sensitivity, precision, and speed. It can be easily implemented in any laboratory in need of identifying peptides, proteins, or post-translational modifications, or of quantitation based on ¹⁵N-labeling, SILAC-labeling, or TMT/iTRAQ labeling.