Mapping of polar fox renal cortex proteins using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry--a preliminary study.

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to establish protein map of polar fox (Alopex lagopus) renal cortex. Kidney cortex proteins of isoelectric point ranging from 3 to 10 were analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Sixteen protein spots corresponding to thirteen different gene products were identified. These proteins were divided into following groups lipid and fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energetic pathways, regulatory proteins, transport proteins and structural proteins. This is the first attempt to create reproducible 2-D map, of renal cortex proteins characteristic for polar foxes, used as animal model for carnivores. It is worth emphasizing that the results of this study may broaden currently available protein databases.