Quantitative proteomic analysis of heifer serum at the peri-implantation period using two complementary methods.

Abstract

Systemic events resulting from mother-embryo relation at the peri-implantation period may result in specific changes to the protein composition of serum and thus provide a source of biomarkers for early detection of pregnancy. We set out to use two different quantitative proteomic approaches to test this hypothesis by comparing heifer serum at the peri-implantation period to that from cycling heifers. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and isobaric tags were used for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) of proteins. These methods yielded complementary data indicating biomarker candidate proteins. Different proteomic methods provide different and complementary information that needs to be analysed in order to consider proteins as potential biomarkers. In order to characterise the proteome under specific conditions, the use of complementary techniques is advisable.