Bioinformatics Analysis of Serologic Proteins of Thyroid Cancer Patients separated by SDS-page

Author(s) : Mariam Khaliq, Zunera Tanveer, Muhammad Zahid Mustafa, Nargis Haider Kakar, Roheen Shakeel, Alia Ishaq, Roha Talat, Iqra Ayub, Sabeera Afzal & Fazila Razzaq

Abstract:

Objective:
This study was designed to profile differently expressed proteins (by SDS-PAGE) from sera of patients of thyroid cancer, and to analyze using bioinformatics tools.
Material and Methods:
30 serum samples were collected from thyroid cancer patients. The protein extract was resolved by SDS-PAGE for protein separation to profile the proteins differentially expressed in sera of patients. These proteins were analyzed using bioinformatics tools to predict the peptides produced by cutting the proteins, their physiochemical properties and the transmembrane domains using ExPASy server (www.expasy.org/tools/).
Results:
Seven protein bands were differentially stained in sera of thyroid cancer patients comparing sera of healthy subjects. The protein bands of 15 kDa, 32 kDa, 37.5 kDa, 38 kDa, 49 kDa, 82 kDa and 90 kDa were observed which might correspond to Gal3, CK19, TPO, Ki67, Calcitonin, Thyrotropin receptor and E cadherin. Physiochemical properties were predicted using ProtParam and putative transmembrane domains were predicted by ProtScale bioinformatics tool. The transmembrane domains were found more in thyrotropin receptor, few or less in Gal3, Ki67 and E cadherin, moderate in CK19 and TPO while null in calcitonin.
Conclusion:
The present study provides potential predictions on physiochemical properties, transmembrane domains and secondary structure of proteins differentially expressed in the sera of thyroid cancer patients which might be helpful in the discovery of prospective biomarkers for thyroid cancer diagnosis.

Key Words: Thyroid Cancer, SDS-PAGE, ExPASy, Bioinformatics tools