Characterization and applications of extracellular vesicle proteome with post-translational modifications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a diverse population of complex membrane-encapsulated vesicles released by a variety of cell types and exist in most of body fluids. Continuously growing number of reports revealed that EVs participate in multiple biological processes, such as intercellular communication, immune regulation, and dissemination of cancer cells. Accordingly, recent attention has been given to the characterization of extracellular vesicles and their components. This review focuses on state-of-the-art proteomic technologies to analyze proteomes of EVs, especially their post-translational modifications (PTMs). With their strong biological relevance and the relatively noninvasive accessibility from body fluids, the promising potential and early applications of EV proteome and its PTMs as attracting biomarker sources are also evaluated. •State-of-the-art proteomic technologies to analyze proteomes of extracellular vesicle (EV) by mass spectrometry.•Methods of EV isolation and characterization for EV proteome analysis.•Overview of PTMs studies in EV proteins, including phosphorylation, glycosylation, and et al.