Proteomic characterization of differentially expressed proteins associated with no stress in retinal ganglion cells

Proteomic analyses of differentially expressed proteins in rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5) following S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), an NO donor, treatment were conducted. Of the approximately 314 protein spots that were detected, 19 were differentially expressed in response to treatment with GSNO. Of these, 14 proteins were up-regulated and 5 were down- regulated. Notably, an increase in GAPDH expression following GSNO treatment was detected in RGC-5 cells through Western blotting as well as proteomics. The increased GAPDH expression in response to GSNO treatment was accompanied by an increase in Herc6 protein, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Moreover, GSNO treatment resulted in the translocation of GADPH from the cytosol to the nucleus and its subsequent accumulation. These results suggest that NO stress-induced apoptosis may be associated with the nuclear translocation and accumulation of GAPDH in RGC-5 cells.