title: Agarose gel serum protein electrophoresis in cats with and without lymphoma and preliminary results of tandem mass fingerprinting analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum electrophoretic profiles in cats are poorly characterized with respect to the proteins that comprise the globulin fractions, and interpretation of the electrophoretograms is routinely done in the absence of information about identity of the proteins found within each fraction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to compare protein fractions separated by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) in healthy cats and in cats with lymphoma and to confirm some component proteins in the major fractions following SPE using tandem mass fingerprinting analysis (TMFA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Total protein concentration was measured and agarose gel SPE performed on serum from 14 healthy cats and 14 cats with lymphoma. The absolute protein concentration within each fraction was compared between the 2 groups. Bands corresponding to the SPE fractions were excised from the gels of 2 control cats and 1 cat with lymphoma and analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Results were compared with sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information protein database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median albumin concentrations were significantly decreased and median β-globulin concentrations were significantly increased in cats with lymphoma. Narrow electrophoretic spikes were present in the β/γ-globulin fraction in 3 cats with lymphoma. Following TMFA, multiple proteins were identified in each fraction, and their mobility agreed with results from previous studies generated using alternative techniques. Inter-α (globulin) inhibitor 4 was identified in feline serum for the first time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cats with lymphoma had lower albumin and higher β-globulin concentrations than did healthy cats. Despite limitations of one-dimensional agarose gel SPE, TMFA provided preliminary data to confirm the protein components of the various fractions.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerou-Ferriani
authors.forename: Alix R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: McBrearty
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Burchmore
authors.forename: Kamburapola G I
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Jayawardena
authors.forename: P David
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Eckersall
authors.forename: Joanna S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002415:Cats; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000662:veterinary*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000662:veterinary; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin