Proteomic profiling of the contractile apparatus from skeletal muscle

Abstract

In skeletal muscle fibers, the excitation–contraction–relaxation cycle is a highly evolved process that is mediated by the contractile proteins – myosin and actin – and the regulatory elements – troponin and tropomyosin. Contractile fibers exhibit enormous complexity and heterogeneity on the molecular level, which is reflected by the diversity of protein isoforms that constitute the actomyosin apparatus. The main components of the contractile apparatus exist in high abundance and are relatively soluble, making them ideal candidates for a systematic analysis by liquid chromatography or gel electrophoresis-based proteomics. This review discusses the proteomic profiling of contractile components in adapting, degenerating and aging skeletal muscle tissues. The proteomic identification of altered contractile proteins may be useful for the establishment of biomarker signatures that can be applied in the examination of the physiological adaptability, cellular plasticity and pathological susceptibility of the neuromuscular system.