Hi Folks,
I have been perfoming some experiments applying different environmental
stresses to marine algal cells and measuring a number of responses,
including changes in protein profiles on silver-stained SDS-PAGE.
In several specific cases I have noticed a phenomenon where a number of
lower MW (20-40 kDa) proteins in stressed cells seem to 'shift' to lower
MW on the gel (say 6-10 kDa lower, relative to controls). At first I
thought this was a gel artefact, but it is consistent and reproducible.
The extracts are TCA/acetone precipitated, so I have difficulty
believing it is an effect of some other compound produced by stressed
cells. I have considered the idea that it is some sort of proteolysis
producing lower MW fragments, but if so, it is highly ordered. The new
bands maintain a similar size-relationship and density relative to each
other.
Any thoughts or comments would be much appreciated.
_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ Dr. John A. Berges
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ Biology and Biochemistry
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ Queen's University, Belfast
_/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ BT9 7BL Northern Ireland
_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ FAX: 44 (0)1232 236 505
_/
