ABSTRACT
Differential proteomics analysis of Sika deer antlers at rapid growth stage (60 d) and ossification stage ( 90 d) was performed by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation ( iTRAQ ) , ultra high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry technologies. A total of 127 differential proteins were identified. Compared with the ossification stage, 80 differential proteins were significantly up-regulated and 47 differential proteins were significantly down-regulated at the rapid growth stage. These differential proteins were mainly distributed in the regions of extracellular matrix, nucleosome, haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex, actin filament, endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment, endoplasmic reticulum lumen, and endometrium, etc. The up-regulated differential proteins were mainly involved in the regulations of oxygen transport in the blood, nerve growth and regeneration, cartilage and bone development and ATP synthesis compared with ossification stage, and the down-regulated differential proteins were mainly involved in the endochondral ossification process. The changes of protein expression at different growth stages were closely related to antler rapid growth and ossification. Therefore, the results of this study provided a basic data for discovering the molecular mechanisms of antler rapid growth and ossification, and it was of great significance for further study of the pharmacological basis and clinical application of antlers.