Proteome analysis of rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes: a two-dimensional electrophoresis/mass spectrometry approach

The development of a two-dimensional (2-D) map of rat polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes is here reported for the first time. The map is built up by utilizing a wide immobilized pH gradient (IPG), pH 3-10, in the first dimension and also a narrower IPG pH 4.5-8.5 gradient. In addition, the map is constructed by adopting the most recent protocols in 2-D mapping, which call for reduction and alkylation of the sample prior to the start of any electrophoretic step, including the IPG dimension. Fifty-two major protein spots have been so far identified by utilizing both matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) and electrospray quadrupole (Q)-TOF mass spectrometry. A large number of house-keeping and cytoskeleton proteins were detected, together with proteins which are specific to PMN organelles or related to PMN functions such as phagocytosis and chemotaxis. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility of obtaining a single 2-D gel based proteomic map of PMN with representative proteins from different cellular compartments, also including membrane components, allowing the study of PMN protein expression on a proteome-wide scale. The aim of this project is to build an extensive database of such proteins, to be utilized for future studies where the expression of PMN proteins is used as a disease- or drug treatment marker.