Prediction of Proteolytic Process Based on N-Terminal Sequences and Molecular Weights by Proteomics and Proteome Analysis

Abstract

In proteomics and proteome analysis using 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), molecular weights and N-terminal sequences for individual protein spots are relatively easily determined. In the present study, we propose a procedure for estimating fragmentation process of a protein based on the inclusion relation among peptide sequence, and estimate fragmentation process of vitellogenin (Vtg) of Oncorhynchus masou based on N-terminal sequences and molecular weights for 48 fragments, that appear at very high concentrations in the whole embryos of O. masou. A potential proteolytic process of Vtg is discussed in relation to normal and abnormal developmental embryos.