title: Determination of myosin light chain phosphorylation using astronomical image analysis programs on autoradiographs of electrophoretic gels.
abstract: Computer image analysis programs developed by astronomers for celestial photometry were used for the analysis of autoradiographs of electrophoretic slab gels. Oxytocin-stimulated myosin light chain phosphorylation in mammary myoepithelial cells was studied by incubating cells with [32P]orthophosphate followed by oxytocin addition, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cellular protein, and autoradiography of electrophoretic slab gels. After scanning and digitization of autoradiographs, [32P]phosphate incorporation into the myosin light chain was measured by the determination of radiation flux recorded on the X-ray film. Within seconds after oxytocin addition, the myosin light chain was fully phosphorylated. The large library of astronomical computer programs has applications for the quantitative analysis of both one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic gels.
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D003201:Computers; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D009218:Myosins; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin; D009218:Myosins