Proteomic identification of a novel protein regulated in CA1 and CA3 hippocampal regions during intermittent hypoxia.

The CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus markedly differ in their susceptibility to hypoxia in general, and more particularly to the intermittent hypoxia (IH) that characterizes sleep apnea. We used proteomic analysis to build a database of proteins expressed in normoxic CA1 and CA3. The current hippocampus protein database identifies 106 proteins. A hypothetical protein with accession number AK006737 (gimid R:12839969) was strongly upregulated in the CA1, but not CA3 hippocampal region. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the unknown protein contained a high stringency protein kinase e binding site. Domain analysis demonstrated the presence of a conserved sequence indicative of macrophage scavenger receptors. Using proteomic analysis we have previously demonstrated that acute (6 h) IH-mediated CA1 injury results from complex interactions between pathways involving increased metabolism, induction of stress-induced proteins and apoptosis, and ultimately disruption of structural proteins and cell integrity. The current findings identify a hypothetical protein that may play a key role in the response of CA1 to IH. These findings provide initial insights into mechanisms underlying differences in susceptibility to hypoxia in neural tissue and demonstrate how proteomic analysis can be used to generate new hypotheses, which define neuronal adaptation to IH.

Proteomic analysis of CA1 and CA3 regions of rat hippocampus and differential susceptibility to intermittent hypoxia.

The CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus markedly differ in their susceptibility to hypoxia in general, and more particularly to the intermittent hypoxia that characterizes sleep apnea. Proteomic approaches were used to identify proteins differentially expressed in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the rat hippocampus and to assess changes in protein expression following a 6-h exposure to intermittent hypoxia (IH). Ninety-nine proteins were identified, and 15 were differentially expressed in the CA1 and the CA3 regions. Following IH, 32 proteins in the CA1 region and only 7 proteins in the more resistant CA3 area were up-regulated. Hypoxia-regulated proteins in the CA1 region included structural proteins, proteins related to apoptosis, primarily chaperone proteins, and proteins involved in cellular metabolic pathways. We conclude that IH-mediated CA1 injury results from complex interactions between pathways involving increased metabolism, induction of stress-induced proteins and apoptosis, and, ultimately, disruption of structural proteins and cell integrity. These findings provide initial insights into mechanisms underlying differences in susceptibility to hypoxia in neural tissue, and may allow for future delineation of interventional strategies aiming to enhance neuronal adaptation to IH.

Differential expression of proteins in renal cortex and medulla: a proteomic approach.

BACKGROUND: Western blotting has previously been used to identify changes in protein expression in renal tissue. However, only a few proteins can be studied in each experiment by Western blot. We have used proteomic tools to construct protein maps of rat kidney cortex and medulla. METHODS: Expression of proteins was determined by silver stain after two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). Protein spots were excised and digested with trypsin. Peptide masses were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The Mascot search engine was used to analyze the peptide masses and identify the proteins. RESULTS: Seventy-two proteins were identified (54 unique proteins) out of approximately 1000 spots visualized on each gel. Most of the spots were expressed both in cortex and medulla. Of the identified proteins, three were expressed only in medulla and one only in cortex. Nine proteins were expressed in both regions but to a greater extent in cortex and three proteins were expressed more in medulla. Differential expression was confirmed for three proteins by Western blot. CONCLUSIONS: A large group of proteins and their relative expression levels from cortical and medullary portions of rat kidneys were found. Sixteen proteins are differentially expressed. Proteomics can be used to identify differential expression of proteins in the kidney on a large scale. Proteomics should be useful to detect changes in renal protein expression in response to a large range of physiological and pathophysiological stimuli.