Functional Enrichment and GO Annotation

Published

Jun 2026

GO functional annotation is a central part of proteomics interpretation.

GO Domains

Gene Ontology includes:

Biological Process
Molecular Function
Cellular Component

Enrichment Workflow

significant protein list
        ↓
identifier mapping
        ↓
background definition
        ↓
GO enrichment
        ↓
pathway enrichment
        ↓
biological interpretation

Important Principle

Functional enrichment should be interpreted in relation to the original biological question, not as a standalone list of terms.

# Functional Enrichment and GO Annotation

GO functional annotation is a central part of proteomics interpretation.

## GO Domains

Gene Ontology includes:

```text
Biological Process
Molecular Function
Cellular Component
```

## Enrichment Workflow

```text
significant protein list
        ↓
identifier mapping
        ↓
background definition
        ↓
GO enrichment
        ↓
pathway enrichment
        ↓
biological interpretation
```

## Important Principle

Functional enrichment should be interpreted in relation to the original biological question, not as a standalone list of terms.