Proteome and phosphoproteome of primary cultured pig urothelial cells

Epithelial tissue lining the inner side of the urinary bladder is the most common target for bladder cancer-related diseases. Bladders of freshly slaughtered pigs were utilised for a comprehensive analysis of the proteome and phosphoproteome of bladder epithelial cells. Following protein separation by 2-D gel electrophoresis and identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) the first proteome and phosphoproteome maps of pig urinary bladder epithelial cells (PUBEC) were established. A total of 120 selected protein spots were identified. By using the La(3+) enrichment method further developed in our laboratory we identified 31 phosphoproteins with minimal contamination by non-phosphopeptides. The 2-DE map of pig urothelial cells may prove as a useful tool for studies on uroepithelial biology, and the analysed phosphoproteins expression pattern, together with the whole cell proteome, will be helpful for identifying the proteins involved in bladder-related diseases.