Six decades searching for meaning in the proteome.

This review describes one thread in a fabric of developments leading to the present state of proteomics, stretching over 60years and ending with a prediction for 2024. While composed largely of personal reminiscences, the story offers some instructive successes and failures, and appears to be nearing the long-sought goal of deep insights into real biology. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 20 Years of Proteomics in memory of Viatliano Pallini. Guest Editors: Luca Bini , Juan J. Calvete, Natacha Turck, Denis Hochstrasser and Jean-Charles Sanchez.