<p>I would guess that the real unit for measuring protein expression would be pM (pico-moles) or a count of protein molecules.</p>

<p>I'm not sure we have any methods to calculate such quantities though. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-26T09:41:00.430Z
2018-04-26T09:41:00.430Z
Ian Sudbery
<p>The unit of measurement in protein expression is more or less "abundance". In mass spec this is derived from the area under the curve in the spectrum. In things like an ELISA this is derived from a color intensity.</p>

<p>Protein existence is a vague summarization of multiple data sources to try to quantify the likelihood of a protein existing. You can't use that for expression, though expression would influence the likelihood of existence.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-26T06:53:50.623Z
2018-04-26T06:53:50.623Z
Devon Ryan
<p>I'm starting for protein expression analysis. </p>

<p>In gene expression, we have TPM, RPKM etc. However, all I can see for protein expression is: "High", "Medium", "Low" and "Not detected".</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><a href="https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000140326-CDAN1/tissue" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000140326-CDAN1/tissue</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/TOng7.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/TOng7.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Q: Is there a unit for measuring protein expression like gene expression? I've seen people talking about PE (protein existence). Can we use it for protein expression?</p>

<proteins>
Protein expression units?
# Protein expression units?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-26)

I'm starting for protein expression analysis.

In gene expression, we have TPM, RPKM etc. However, all I can see for protein expression is: "High", "Medium", "Low" and "Not detected".

> <https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000140326-CDAN1/tissue>

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/TOng7.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/TOng7.png)

Q: Is there a unit for measuring protein expression like gene expression? I've seen people talking about PE (protein existence). Can we use it for protein expression?

**Tags:** proteins

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-04-26. Score: 1

I would guess that the real unit for measuring protein expression would be pM (pico-moles) or a count of protein molecules.

I'm not sure we have any methods to calculate such quantities though.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-04-26. Score: 0

The unit of measurement in protein expression is more or less "abundance". In mass spec this is derived from the area under the curve in the spectrum. In things like an ELISA this is derived from a color intensity.

Protein existence is a vague summarization of multiple data sources to try to quantify the likelihood of a protein existing. You can't use that for expression, though expression would influence the likelihood of existence.


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