title: Protein expression dynamics during postnatal mouse brain development.
abstract: We explored differential protein expression profiles in the mouse forebrain at different stages of postnatal development, including 10-day (P10), 30-day (P30), and adult (Ad) mice, by large-scale screening of proteome maps using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis. Mass spectrometry analysis resulted in the identification of 251 differentially expressed proteins. Most molecular changes were observed between P10 compared to both P30 and Ad. Computational ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) confirmed these proteins as crucial molecules in the biological function of nervous system development. Moreover, IPA revealed Semaphorin signaling in neurons and the protein ubiquitination pathway as essential canonical pathways in the mouse forebrain during postnatal development. For these main biological pathways, the transcriptional regulation of the age-dependent expression of selected proteins was validated by means of in situ hybridization. In conclusion, we suggest that proteolysis and neurite outgrowth guidance are key biological processes, particularly during early brain maturation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laeremans
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Babs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van de Plas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. ; Group of Food & Bio-based Products, AgResearch Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clerens
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. ; Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van den Bergh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lutgarde
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arckens
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tjing-Tjing
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: 2-D DIGE; biological process; brain; development; mouse; proteomics