In the first large-scale proteomics study of its kind, researchers have mapped thousands of neuronal proteins to discover how they connect into complex signaling networks that guide neuron function. Their research — using quantitative mass spectrometry, computational software and bioinformatics to match the proteins to their cellular functions — may lead to a better understanding of brain development, neurodegenerative diseases, and spinal cord regeneration. The relationship between thousands of proteins at work in the brain could impact diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury.