[Identification of contraction related proteins in corpus myometrium at labor]

To explore the molecular mechanism of human corpus myometrium contraction related proteins and parturition.

The proteins of human corpus of myometrium tissues from full term non-in labor (38- 41 weeks amenorrhea) and full term in labor (38-41 weeks amenorrhea) gravidas were separated by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-GE), respectively. Then gels were stained by Coomassie brilliant blue G250, scanned by Image scanner and analyzed with PDQuest software. The differentially expressed protein spots of corpus myometrium between the 2 groups were identified by peptide mass finger print based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and database searching. Three identified differentially expressed proteins were confirmed by Western blot.

Well resolved and reproducible 2D-GE maps of human corpus myometrium from non-in labor and in-labor gravidas were acquired. Twenty more than 2-fold differentially expressed protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. These proteins were involved in cell structure, calcium binding, chaperone, energy metabolism, signal transduction, and antioxidant.

Twenty contraction related proteins of human corpus myometrium have been identified, indicating that cell structure and calcium-binding are important reasons for the contraction of human corpus myometrium.