Gel Spots Research Articles

Calycosin inhibited MIF-mediated inflammatory chemotaxis of macrophages to ameliorate ischemia reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury.

Inflammatory macrophage infiltration plays a critical role in acute kidney disease induced by ischemia-reperfusion (IRI-AKI). Calycosin is a natural flavone with multiple bioactivities. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of calycosin in IRI-AKI and its underlying mechanism. The renoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of calycosin were analyzed in C57BL/6 mice with IRI-AKI and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. RNA-seq was used for mechanism investigation. The molecular target of calycosin was screened by in silico methods and validated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Macrophage chemotaxis was analyzed using Transwell and agarose gel spot assays. Calycosin treatment significantly reduced serum creatinine and urea nitrogen and attenuated tubular destruction in IRI-AKI mice. Additionally, calycosin markedly suppressed NF-κB signaling activation and the expression of inflammatory mediators IL-1β and TNF-α in IRI-AKI kidneys and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Interestingly, RNA-seq revealed calycosin remarkably downregulated chemotaxis-related pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. Among the differentially expressed genes, Ccl2/MCP-1, a critical chemokine mediating macrophage inflammatory chemotaxis, was downregulated in both LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and IRI-AKI kidneys. Consistently, calycosin treatment attenuated macrophage infiltration in the IRI-AKI kidneys. Importantly, in silico target prediction, molecular docking, and SPR assay demonstrated that calycosin directly binds to macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Functionally, calycosin abrogated MIF-stimulated NF-κB signaling activation and Ccl2 expression and MIF-mediated chemotaxis in RAW 264.7 cells. In summary, calycosin attenuates IRI-AKI by inhibiting MIF-mediated macrophage inflammatory chemotaxis, suggesting it could be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of IRI-AKI.

Two-Dimensional Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Coupled with Nanoliquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry-Based Identification of Differentially Expressed Proteins and Tumorigenic Pathways in the MCF7 Breast Cancer Cell Line Transfected for Jumping Translocation Breakpoint Protein Overexpression.

The identification of new genes/proteins involved in breast cancer (BC) occurrence is widely used to discover novel biomarkers and understand the molecular mechanisms of BC initiation and progression. The jumping translocation breakpoint (JTB) gene may act both as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in various types of tumors, including BC. Thus, the JTB protein could have the potential to be used as a biomarker in BC, but its neoplastic mechanisms still remain unknown or controversial. We previously analyzed the interacting partners of JTBhigh protein extracted from transfected MCF7 BC cell line using SDS-PAGE complemented with in-solution digestion, respectively. The previous results suggested the JTB contributed to the development of a more aggressive phenotype and behavior for the MCF7 BC cell line through synergistic upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), mitotic spindle, and fatty acid metabolism-related pathways. In this work, we aim to complement the previously reported JTB proteomics-based experiments by investigating differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and tumorigenic pathways associated with JTB overexpression using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). Statistically different gel spots were picked for protein digestion, followed by nanoliquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-MS/MS) analysis. We identified six DEPs related to the JTBhigh condition vs. control that emphasize a pro-tumorigenic (PT) role. Twenty-one proteins, which are known to be usually overexpressed in cancer cells, emphasize an anti-tumorigenic (AT) role when low expression occurs. According to our previous results, proteins that have a PT role are mainly involved in the activation of the EMT process. Interestingly, JTB overexpression has been correlated here with a plethora of significant upregulated and downregulated proteins that sustain JTB tumor suppressive functions. Our present and previous results sustain the necessity of the complementary use of different proteomics-based methods (SDS-PAGE, 2D-PAGE, and in-solution digestion) followed by tandem mass spectrometry to avoid their limitations, with each method leading to the delineation of specific clusters of DEPs that may be merged for a better understanding of molecular pathways and neoplastic mechanisms related to the JTB's role in BC initiation and progression.

The effect of polycarbodiimide chain extender on thermal stability and mechanical properties of biobased poly(lactic acid)/natural rubber blown films

This is the first study investigating how polycarbodiimide (PCDI) delays thermal degradation of poly(lactic acid)/natural rubber blends (PLA/NR) during the preparation of PLA/NR masterbatches (MB) and PLA/MB compounds for the film blowing process. The PCDI concentration used in this work was from 0 to 1 wt%. The torque plastograms, FTIR, and 1H-NMR spectra indicated the successful chain extending reaction between the PCDI carbodiimide group and the PLA carboxyl group, and there was no reaction with NR domains. The reaction increased the PLA/MB compounds’ viscosity and improved processability and mechanical properties of PLA/MB blown films. The optimal PCDI content for the highest melt strength, film blowing stability, and mechanical properties was at 0.25 wt% PCDI. Undesirable gel spots were observed in the PLA/MB blown film at PCDI concentrations higher than 0.5 wt%.

Antioxidative, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities and release of ultra-filtered antioxidative and antimicrobial peptides during fermentation of sheep milk: In-vitro, in-silico and molecular interaction studies

The antioxidative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties of fermented sheep milk with L. fermentum (KGL4), as well as the generation of antioxidative and antimicrobial peptides, are evaluated in the study. Antioxidative and antibacterial activities in sheep milk fermented with KGL4 increased with incubation hours, along with varied antioxidative properties (ABTS assay: 35.12%, hydroxyl free radical scavenging assay: 29.12%, superoxide free radical scavenging activity: 36.38%). Antimicrobial activity of fermented sheep milk against E. faecalis (19 mm), S. typhimurium (15.67 mm), B. cereus (14 mm), and E. coli (13 mm) was also observed. Furthermore, after 48 h, the KGL4 showed maximum proteolysis (10.40 mg/ml) at 2.5% rate of addition sheep milk. The antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of fermented sheep milk fractions (3 kDa and 10 kDa permeates and retentates) were also investigated. The highest ABTS activity (26.90%) was found in 10 kDa permeate, whereas the 3 kDa retentate had higher hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity (69.20%) and 3 kDa permeate showed maximum superoxide free radical scavenging activity (32.85%). The 10 kDa retentate had shown maximum antimicrobial activity against S. typhimurium (13.67 mm) and E. faecalis (17.00 mm). Proteins spotted on 2D gel electrophoresis of KGL4 were varied from 10 to 70 kDa. RP-LC/MS was used to identify 5 novel peptide sequences from 2-D gel spots. Searches in the BIOPEP database confirmed the antioxidative and antimicrobial effects of the novel fermented sheep milk peptides. Fermented sheep milk with KGL4 (SMKGL4) significantly reduced excessive TNF-α, IL-6, & IL-1β production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells.

Simple Experimental Models for Elucidating the Mechanism Underlying Vertical Artifacts in Lung Ultrasound: Tools for Revisiting B-Lines.

Using simple experimental models, we evaluated the generation, configuration and echo intensity of vertical artifacts by varying the point or plane of contact and height of objects that correspond to sources of vertical artifacts in the subpleural space. We used an ultrasound gel spot to imitate the source and a block of bacon as a chest wall phantom. As the size of the point of contact between the gel spot on the polypropylene sheet and the phantom decreased by peeling the sheet, a vertical artifact measuring ≤1 cm was generated and/or extended deeper, finally reaching 10 cm in depth. Next, objects of different shapes made using gel balls were used to observe the generation of artifacts and measure and compare the echo intensity. For a given shape, the intensity was markedly higher in one model with the point of contact than in the other model with the plane of contact. With the same point or plane of contact, the echo intensity was higher in the taller model. The size of the point or plane of contact and height of the source were observed to be key factors in the generation, length and echo intensity of the artifacts.

Plasma proteomic screening and validation of novel biomarkers in Takayasu's arteritis.

To screen and validate differential proteins as novel biomarkers in active Takayasu's arteritis (TAK). Plasma samples from 40 active, 40 inactive patients, and 40 healthy controls were collected. Protein profiles of plasma were mapped by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Differential protein spots were detected and identified by image analysis and mass spectrometry. Plasma concentrations of proteins were measured to validate candidate biomarkers. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of circulating plasma concentrations of candidate biomarkers were calculated to assess diagnostic value. With a total of 1507 matched gel spots, there were 170 differential expression spots between active and inactive TAK, including 139 up-regulated and 31 downregulated. Only 11 proteins could be identified by mass spectrometry. Serum amyloid A(SAA), fibrinogen, complement C4a, complement C3c, complement C4b binding protein(C4bp), recombination acting gene protein 1(RAG1), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, alpha-1-microglobulin, complement C7, complement factor H related protein-1 were up-regulated in active patients, while serum amyloid P was down-regulated. Active patients had higher circulating levels of RAG1(P<0.001), C4bp (p=0.012) and SAA (p<0.001), compared to inactive patients, while inactive patients had higher levels than controls (RAG1, p=0.011; C4bp, p=0.012; SAA, p=0.005). The composite AUC with SAA, RAG1, and C4bp was 0.94 (95%CI 0.86-0.98) for discriminating activity, larger than 0.71(95% CI 0.60-0.80) for ESR (p=0.0004) or 0.75(95%CI 0.64-0.84) for CRP (p=0.0014), respectively. Some acute-phase and immunology-related proteins may serve as novel biomarkers of TAK. Further study of these proteins may be helpful to elucidate the pathologic mechanism.

Human growth hormone proteoform pattern changes in pituitary adenomas: Potential biomarkers for 3P medical approaches.

Human growth hormone (hGH) is synthesized, stored, and secreted by somatotroph cells in the pituitary gland, and promotes human growth and metabolism. Compared to a normal pituitary, a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma can secrete excessive GH to cause pathological changes in body tissues. GH proteoform changes would be associated with GH-related disease pathogenesis. This study aimed to elucidate changes in GH proteoforms between GH-secreting pituitary adenomas and control pituitaries for the predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention, and personalization of medical services. The isoelectric point (pI) and relative molecular mass (Mr) are two basic features of a proteoform that can be used to effectively array and detect proteoforms with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE) and 2DGE-based western blot. GH proteoforms were characterized with liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Phosphoproteomics, ubiquitinomics, acetylomics, and bioinformatics were used to analyze post-translational modifications (PTMs) of GH proteoforms in GH-secreting pituitary adenoma tissues and control pituitaries. Sixty-six 2D gel spots were found to contain hGH, including 46 spots (46 GH proteoforms) in GH-secreting pituitary adenomas and 35 spots (35 GH proteoforms) in control pituitaries. Further, 35 GH proteoforms in control pituitary tissues were matched with 35 of 46 GH proteoforms in GH-secreting pituitary adenoma tissues; and 11 GH proteoforms were presented in only GH-secreting pituitary adenoma tissues but not in control pituitary tissues. The matched 35 GH proteoforms showed quantitative changes in GH-secreting pituitary adenomas compared to the controls. The quantitative levels of those 46 GH proteoforms in GH-secreting pituitary adenomas were significantly different from those 35 GH proteoforms in control pituitaries. Meanwhile, different types of PTMs were identified among those GH proteoforms. Phosphoproteomics identified phosphorylation at residues Ser77, Ser132, Ser134, Thr174, and Ser176 in hGH. Ubiquitinomics identified ubiquitination at residue Lys96 in hGH. Acetylomics identified acetylation at reside Lys171 in hGH. Deamination was identified at residue Asn178 in hGH. These findings provide the first hGH proteoform pattern changes in GH-secreting pituitary adenoma tissues compared to control pituitary tissues, and the status of partial PTMs in hGH proteoforms. Those data provide in-depth insights into biological roles of hGH in GH-related diseases, and identify hGH proteoform pattern biomarkers for treatment of a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma in the context of 3P medicine -predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention, and personalization of medical services. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-021-00232-7.

Identification of Immunodominant Outer Membrane Proteins of Fusobacterium necrophorum from Severe Ovine Footrot By MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

The aim of this study was to identify the immunodominant outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Fusobacterium necrophorum from sheep affected with severe foot-rot. The OMP profile of ovine strains of F. necrophorum has not been well studied. We analyzed the OMP profile of the most frequent lktA variant JKS-F3 of F. necrophorum associated with severe ovine foot-rot with lesion score 4 in order to identify its major immunodominant OMPs. Electrophoretic separations of extracted OMPs showed a number of spots in two-dimensional electrophoretic gels. Two immunoreactive proteins of size around 43 kDa were identified through western blotting using hyperimmune sera raised in rabbits. These two immunogenic OMPs were analyzed by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF/MS) which revealed that these two OMPs of lktA variant JKS-F3 of F. necrophorum showed 46 and 42 percent protein sequence coverage and scores of 125 and 114, respectively, with the reported 43 kDa outer membrane protein of F. necrophorum strain H05, a putative porin having properties similar to pore-forming proteins of anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria. These identified immunogenic OMPs will contribute to our understanding of the pathogenic role played by this organism in ovine foot-rot and could be exploited to devise an effective control strategy through development of an OMP-based recombinant vaccine to mitigate foot-rot in sheep and goats.

Comparative Leaf Proteomics of Brassica napus Genotypes with Distinctive Levels of Early Cold Acclimation

Rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus L.) is considered amongst the “big four” oilseed crops with varying degrees of cold tolerance. Differential protein expression of cold acclimated young leaves of two canola genotypes, Sari Gul (spring type cold-sensitive) and Zarfam (winter type cold-tolerant), were determined via two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Seedling leaves were cold acclimated by temperature regime and collected before and after cold treatment at 4 and − 4 °C after 24 h, proteins were isolated and separated on 2-DE. Gel analysis of 651 protein spots revealed that 19 protein spots were significantly different between the two conditions in response to early cold acclimation. Following nanoflow liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, 19 protein sequences were identified in gel spots, which were reported for the first time in response to early cold acclimation in B. napus and nearly half of them were associated with various aspects of chloroplast physiology; suggesting that the cold stress response of B. napus is achieved, at least partly, by regulation of chloroplast function. Our work has provided novel insights into the plant response to cold stress and should pave the way for future studies towards functional analysis of candidate genes in cold response.

Deciphering the immunogenic potential of wheat flour: a reference map of the salt-soluble proteome from the U.S. wheat Butte 86

BackgroundWithin the complex wheat flour proteome, the gluten proteins have attracted most of the attention because of their importance in determining the functional properties of wheat flour doughs and their roles in human health conditions such as celiac disease and food allergies. However, certain non-gluten proteins also trigger immunological responses but may be present in flour in low amounts or obscured by the more abundant gluten proteins in two-dimensional gels of total protein preparations.MethodsNon-gluten proteins were preferentially extracted from the flour with a dilute salt solution and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins in 173 gel spots were identified by tandem mass spectrometry after cleavage with trypsin or chymotrypsin. Transgenic wheat lines in which specific groups of gluten proteins were suppressed by RNA interference were used to estimate the amount of carry-over of gluten proteins in the salt-soluble protein fraction.ResultsFifty-seven different types of non-gluten proteins were identified, including 14 types that are known or suspected immunogenic proteins. The predominant proteins in 18 gel spots were gluten proteins. Some of these also contained non-gluten proteins. Analysis of the salt-soluble proteins from a transgenic line in which omega-1,2 gliadins were eliminated by RNA interference indicated that certain omega-1,2 gliadins were present in large amounts in the salt-soluble fraction and obscured relatively small amounts of beta-amylase and protein disulfide isomerase. In comparison, analysis of a transgenic line in which alpha gliadins were absent revealed that glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate dehydrogenase was a moderately abundant protein that co-migrated with several alpha gliadins.ConclusionsIn this study, we constructed a proteomic map of the non-gluten protein fraction of wheat flour from the US wheat Butte 86 that complements a proteomic map of the total flour proteins developed previously for the same cultivar. Knowing the identities of low abundance proteins in the flour as well as proteins that are hidden by some of the major gluten proteins on two-dimensional gels is critical for studies aimed at assessing the immunogenic potential of wheat flour and determining which wheat proteins that should be targeted in future gene editing experiments to reduce the immunogenic potential of wheat flour.

Proteomics of Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Early Breast Cancer for Identification of Thymidylate Synthase as a Potential Biomarker to Flag Metastasis: A Preliminary Study.

IntroductionBreast cancer is the second most common cancer in women across the world. Some of the patients who present in the early stage of disease are affected by metastasis to the axillary group of lymph nodes. The first among this group that is affected is called as sentinel lymph node, and its diagnosis is crucial for the staging of cancer thereby dictating the type of surgical therapy. Therefore, the sentinel lymph node status provides the most relevant information to the surgeon and patient prognosis. The expanded utilization of breast conservation surgery has declined the morbidity associated with mastectomy and axillary lymph node surgery. Recent interest is, therefore, centered on techniques that allow accurate assessment of the sentinel lymph node metastasis. A current procedure such as sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) that is used to assess axillary lymph node metastasis is neither specific nor sensitive, and besides, it is time-consuming.ObjectiveTo compare the protein profiles between metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes to identify a biomarker that can flag lymph node metastasis.Materials and MethodsWomen with early breast cancer were screened using mammography imaging and recruited to the study. Surgical resection was done to remove the breast tissue, and sentinel lymph node was identified using fluorescein and methylene blue tracer. Lymph node was sliced, and one set was sent for histopathology, which was considered the gold standard to assess the metastatic status of the lymph node. One set of slices was taken for proteomic experiments. Proteins were labelled with fluorescent cyanine tags and were subjected to difference gel electrophoresis experiment. Differentially expressed spots that had at least a twofold relative ratio and consistent pattern across three sets of biological replicate experiments were marked. Gel spots were trypsin digested and identified on mass spectrometry machine. Validation study was done by Western blot experiment on the same set of samples.ResultsThymidylate synthase has a twofold higher expression in the metastatic sentinel lymph nodes as compared to non-metastatic lymph nodes in early breast cancer patients.ConclusionDifferential in gel expression proteomics is an ideal platform for the identification of potential protein biomarker candidates that can differentiate metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes in early breast cancer. The identification of thymidylate synthase offers a scope to develop an on-table diagnostic kit to assess the status of sentinel lymph nodes during mastectomy procedure to guide surgical management of axillary lymph nodes in early breast cancer.

N-glycan structures of target cancer biomarker characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Glycoproteins are important biomarkers for cancers, while most glycoproteomics biomarkers suffering from low sensitivity and specificity due to their uncharacterized glycan structures. AZGP1 is a potential biomarker for salivary diagnostics of lung cancer, which is used as a model glycoprotein in this study for method development. We initially analyzed salivary N-glycoproteome by using lectin affinity chromatography and more than 300 N-glycoproteins were identified, including AZGP1. 7 gel spots of AZGP1 were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and further confirmed by two-dimensional western blot as well as mass spectrometry. The isomeric glycan structures of AZGP1 in these spots were systematically characterized both at composition level and at structure level. Our results revealed 10 glycan compositions for salivary AZGP1, including core fucosylated glycans on Asn128 and sialylated glycans on Asn109 and Asn112. We further compared the glycan structures of salivary AZGP1 from lung cancer group and control group. Accordingly, 14 and 7 potential glycan structures were successfully revealed, respectively. In total, 15 glycan compositions and 22 potential glycan structures were identified and characterized for AZGP1, including some different structures with the same compositions. In particular, 5 potential glycan structures were identified as lung cancer unique signatures. Our developed strategy holds promise for thorough identification of glycan structures on a target glycoprotein biomarker. In-depth characterization of its glycan structures will ultimately enhance its sensitivity and specificity for cancer detection.

Ablation of miR-144 increases vimentin expression and atherosclerotic plaque formation

It has been suggested that miR-144 is pro-atherosclerotic via effects on reverse cholesterol transportation targeting the ATP binding cassette protein. This study used proteomic analysis to identify additional cardiovascular targets of miR-144, and subsequently examined the role of a newly identified regulator of atherosclerotic burden in miR-144 knockout mice receiving a high fat diet. To identify affected secretory proteins, miR-144 treated endothelial cell culture medium was subjected to proteomic analysis including two-dimensional gel separation, trypsin digestion, and nanospray liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We identified 5 gel spots representing 19 proteins that changed consistently across the biological replicates. One of these spots, was identified as vimentin. Atherosclerosis was induced in miR-144 knockout mice by high fat diet and vascular lesions were quantified by Oil Red-O staining of the serial sectioned aortic root and from en-face views of the aortic tree. Unexpectedly, high fat diet induced extensive atherosclerosis in miR-144 knockout mice and was accompanied by severe fatty liver disease compared with wild type littermates. Vimentin levels were reduced by miR-144 and increased by antagomiR-144 in cultured cardiac endothelial cells. Compared with wild type, ablation of the miR-144/451 cluster increased plasma vimentin, while vimentin levels were decreased in control mice injected with synthetic miR-144. Furthermore, increased vimentin expression was prominent in the commissural regions of the aortic root which are highly susceptible to atherosclerotic plaque formation. We conclude that miR-144 maybe a potential regulator of the development of atherosclerosis via changes in vimentin signaling.

Site-Specific and Quantitative N-Glycan Heterogeneity Analysis of the Charge Isomers of an Anti-VEGF Recombinant Fusion Protein by High-Resolution Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis and Mass Spectrometry.

Glycan modification prompts important concerns about the quality control of biopharmaceutical production. Conbercept is a multiglycosylated recombinant fusion protein drug approved for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). With 14 N-glycosites in the molecule and 7 N-glycosites in the monomer, the charge isomer separation and characterization of conbercept pose great challenges due to its enormous heterogeneities. The batch-to-batch stability on the charge isomer distribution and the possible causation of the pattern necessitate the development of effective analytical approaches. Here, the immobilized pH gradient (IPG)-based two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) approach was first optimized to achieve high-resolution, high-reproducible separation and preparation of charge isomers. Then, combined with the quantitative analysis strategy of site-specific N-glycan heterogeneity based on the diagnostic MS2 ion (peptides+GlcNAc, Y1 ions) of glycopeptides, an integrated approach for the quantitation of site-specific N-glycan heterogeneities among charge isomers was established. Finally, the quantitation of site-specific N-glycoforms in each of the 2-DE resolved spots were performed, and the results showed that the sialylation tends to increase for gel spots located in the acidic regions. This study provides an effective approach to separate the charge isomers of the heavily glycosylated protein drugs, and to quantitatively explore the site-specific N-glycans dynamics along with the different charge isomers.

Upregulated Expression of Calcium-Dependent Annexin A6: A Potential Biomarker of Ovarian Carcinoma.

An early and accurate diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma (OC) may reduce morbidity and mortality of the patients. To improve the clinical outcome in OC patients, the present study is aimed at identifying robust biomarkers for early OC diagnosis. EXPERIMENTALDESIGN: In order to look for early-stage protein markers, a systematic protein profiling approach involving 2-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometric analyses of human malignant and non-malignant ovarian biopsy samples, is performed. Six 2D gel spots, corresponding to five proteins, display statistically significant differential expression in the tumor tissues compared to benign controls (FDR≤0.05; PMF score≥79). Ingenuity pathway analysis predicts two proteins, that is, Ca2+ -dependent membrane-binding protein annexin A6 (AnxA6) and the metabolic enzyme l-lactate dehydrogenase A chain, as potential predictive biomarkers. Increased expression of AnxA6 is further ascertained by Western blot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in the resected tissues and the plasma samples. The expression is found markedly increasing particularly in the advanced stage tumors. The significant upregulation of AnxA6 in OC, reported for the first time, is likely to provide insight into the mechanism of OC progression, which may lead to the design of potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Abstract 892: Ablation of MiR-144 Increases Vimentin Expression and Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation

Objective: It has been suggested that miR-144 is pro-atherosclerotic via effects on reverse cholesterol transportation targeting the ATP binding cassette protein 1 (ABCA1). This study used proteomic analysis to identify additional cardiovascular targets of miR-144, and subsequently examined the role of a newly identified regulator of atherosclerotic burden in miR-144 KO mice receiving a high fat diet (HFD). Approach and Results: To identify affected secretory proteins, miR-144 treated endothelial cell culture medium was subjected to proteomic analysis including two-dimensional gel separation and nanospray liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We identified 5 gel spots representing 19 proteins that changed consistently across the biological replicates. One of these spots, was identified as vimentin. Atherosclerosis was induced in miR-144 KO mice by HFD and vascular lesions were quantified by Oil Red-O staining of the serial sectioned aortic root and from en-face views of the aortic tree. Unexpectedly, HFD induced extensive atherosclerosis in miR-144 KO mice in aortic root (WT 100% ± 22.71 vs miR-144 KO 256.88% ± 58.19, p &lt; 0.05, n = 10) and arch areas (WT 100% ± 29.67 vs miR-144 KO 371.74% ± 73.48, p &lt; 0.01, n = 10), and was accompanied by severe fatty liver disease compared with wild type littermates (WT). Vimentin levels were reduced by miR-144 and increased by antagomiR-144 in cultured cardiac endothelial cells without affecting vimentin mRNA levels. Compared with WT, ablation of the miR-144/451 cluster significantly increased plasma vimentin, while vimentin levels were decreased in control mice injected with synthetic miR-144 as double confirmed with Western blot and ELISA assays. Furthermore, increased vimentin expression was seen in the commissural regions of the aortic root (WT 100% ± 10.02 vs 164.19 ± 13.90, p &lt; 0.01, n = 10) and collocated with other areas of aortic atherosclerosis. In contrast, neither liver ABCA1 nor circulating cholesterol levels were different between WT and miR-144/451 KO mice. Conclusion: We conclude that miR-144 is a potential regulator of the development of atherosclerosis via changes in vimentin signaling and both miR-144 and vimentin are potential therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.

Identification of Novel Proteins from Black Cumin Seed Meals Based on 2D Gel Electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS Analysis.

The amount of cold press oil manufacture is globally rising, which in turn leads to the accumulation of deoiled plant seeds at significant quantities and consequent manufacture of plant protein products. In this study, we made an attempt to analyze the protein profile of black cumin seed protein concentrates prepared by the alkali extraction-acid precipitation technique (AE-IP). The analytical strategy relied on gel-based proteome mapping which included two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF). 14 different protein bands were identified, and in gel-trypsinolysis was carried out for the corresponding gel spots. Using the MASCOT database, current findings on 10 proteins were compared with the existing data. The highest similarity was 46 which was obtained between the highest pI black cumin protein observed here and the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor of Arabidopsis thaliana. The molecular mass of the intact protein was determined by linear MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS as 23,711.2186Da. The peptide constructs of this protein have been further studied in order to identify potential biological activity. Matching sequences generated bioactive peptides in silico such as IR, AL, and SL dipeptides during sequential enzymatic digestion with pepsin and trypsin. Since the majority of bioactivity investigations on black cumin seeds have been related to black cumin oil and its oil soluble components, the structure and bioactivities of black cumin proteins deserve further research.

Optimization Method for Proteomic Analysis of the Larva and Adult Tissues of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), the major insect pest of cruciferous crops worldwide shows significant resistance to almost all classes of insecticides. In order to effectively prevent and manage the insecticidal resistance, it is crucial to understand the physiological adaptation of insects against insecticides. Identification of insect protein that interacting with insecticides and characterization of their modification in resistant strains can be done by using differential proteomics approach. This study focuses on optimizing a sensitive and rapid method for the extraction of high quality protein of both larva and adult tissues of P. xylostella to be used in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Five extraction methods were evaluated for protein concentration, yields and resolving patterns of one-dimensional and two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results showed that trichloroacetic acid/acetone extraction methods with two different concentrations of 2-mercaptoethanol produced the highest protein concentration and yield for both adult and larva tissues, respectively. Meanwhile, trichloroacetic acid/acetone with dithiothreitol extraction method gave better separation of spots and intensity for both larva and adult tissues compared to other methods tested. As such, we concluded that trichloroacetic acid/acetone with dithiothreitol successfully yielded high total protein concentration and good separation of two-dimensional electrophoresis gel spots in both adult and larva P. xylostella.

Comparative two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) of human milk to identify dysregulated proteins in breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) remains a major cause of mortality, and early detection is considered important for reducing BC-associated deaths. Early detection of BC is challenging in young women, due to the limitations of mammography on the dense breast tissue of young women. We recently reported results of a pilot proteomics study, using one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MS) to investigate differences in milk proteins from women with and without BC. Here, we applied two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and MS to compare the protein pattern in milk from the breasts of a single woman who was diagnosed with BC in one breast 24 months after donating her milk. Statistically different gel spots were picked for protein digestion followed by nanoliquid chromatography tandem MS (nanoLC-MS/MS) analysis. The upregulated proteins in BC versus control are alpha-amylase, gelsolin isoform a precursor, alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 zinc isoform CRA_b partial, apoptosis-inducing factor 2 and vitronectin. Several proteins were downregulated in the milk of the breast later diagnosed with cancer as compared to the milk from the healthy breast, including different isoforms of albumin, cholesterol esterase, different isoforms of lactoferrin, different proteins from the casein family and different isoforms of lysozyme. Results warrant further studies to determine the usefulness of these milk proteins for assessing risk and detecting occult disease. MS data is available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD009860.

Two-dimensional Gel Electrophoresis Coupled with Mass Spectrometry Methods for an Analysis of Human Pituitary Adenoma Tissue Proteome.

Human pituitary adenoma (PA) is a common tumor that occurs in the human pituitary gland in the hypothalamus-pituitary-targeted organ axis systems, and may be classified as either clinically functional or nonfunctional PA (FPA and NFPA). NFPA is difficult for early stage diagnosis and therapy due to barely elevating hormones in the blood compared to FPA. Our long-term goal is to use proteomics methods to discover reliable biomarkers for clarification of PA molecular mechanisms and recognition of effective diagnostic, prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. Effective two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) methods were presented here to analyze human PA proteomes, including preparation of samples, 2D gel electrophoresis, protein visualization, image analysis, in-gel trypsin digestion, peptide mass fingerprint (PMF), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). 2-Dimensional gel electrophoresis matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry PMF (2DE-MALDI MS PMF), 2DE-MALDI MS/MS, and 2DE-liquid chromatography (LC) MS/MS procedures have been successfully applied in an analysis of NFPA proteome. With the use of a high-sensitivity mass spectrometer, many proteins were identified with the 2DE-LC-MS/MS method in each 2D gel spot in an analysis of complex PA tissue to maximize the coverage of human PA proteome.