2D-Gel Analysis of Protein Synthesis Profiles of Different Stages of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

Protein synthesis profiles of leukaemic cells from 15 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients were analysed by 2D-electrophoresis of 35S-methionine labelled proteins. This series of CLL included patients with stage A (7), B (4) and C (4) disease. Although the protein synthesis profiles were similar in all cases, some consistent differences were noted between the different stages. The levels of synthesis of three proteins (approximately 35 kD size) were of particular interest. Two of these were always expressed in stage C CLL but either infrequently or not at all in stage A or B CLL. By contrast a third protein was expressed at a much reduced level in stage C compared to stages A or B. This type of analysis could prove invaluable for identifying proteins whose expression was intimately associated with the evolution of CLL.