Proteome analysis of differentiating human myoblasts by dialysis-assisted two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (DAGE)

In the present study, modifications in cytosolic expressed proteins during human myoblast differentiation were studied by dialysis-assisted 2-DE (DAGE, [1]). About 1000 spots were analysed on the 5th and 13th day of differentiation with a dynamic range of protein expression exceeding 1000-fold. During myogenic differentiation, the number of nonmatching spots as well as the extent of quantitative differences between matched spots significantly increased. Over one hundred differentially expressed spots were excised and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The differentiation-associated expression pattern of eight proteins was validated by Western blot analysis. Differential expression of several proteins was demonstrated for the first time in human myotubes. Interestingly, Ingenuity pathway analysis grouped 30 of these proteins into two overlapping networks containing as principal nodes IGF-1 and tumour necrosis factor, two proteins known to play a crucial role in cytogenesis. Our results illustrate the large rearrangement of the proteome during the differentiation of human myoblasts and provide evidence for new partners involved in this complex process.