Differential expression profiling of the proteomes and their mRNAs in porcine white and red skeletal muscles

Skeletal muscle is an heterogeneous tissue with various biochemical and physical properties of several fiber types. In this study, we carried out the comparative study of protein expression patterns in white and red muscles using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). From more than 500 protein spots detected on each 2-DE gel, we screened five proteins that were differentially expressed between white and red muscles. Using peptide mass fingerprint and tandem mass spectrometry analysis these proteins were identified as myoglobin, two slow-twitch isoforms of myosin light chain and two small heat shock proteins (HSP20 and HSP27). The protein levels of myoglobin, myosin light chain and HSP20 were higher in red muscle, whereas HSP27 was higher in white muscle. In addition, genes of the identified proteins were cloned and their mRNAs were examined. Positive correlations between protein content and their mRNA levels were observed in white and red muscle. These results may provide us with valuable information to understand the different expression profiling between white and red muscle at the protein level.