title: In-depth Proteomic mapping of mouse (Mus musculus) epididymal constructive basis for sperm maturation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mouse epididymis performs an essential role in sperm maturation, but global protein expression data in mouse epididymis are still lacking. Here, we reported the first in-depth gel-based profiling of mouse epididymis proteome and established a 2-DE map.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 832 protein spots were detected in the reproducible gels, and 625 spots corresponding to 355 unique protein entries have been successfully identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. The confidence of proteome data was validated by Western blot. Functional annotations showed that these proteins were mainly related to general metabolism, antioxidant and structural molecule activity. Immunohistochemistry disclosed two structural proteins (myosin regulatory light polypeptide 9 and alpha-2 type I collagen) continuously expressed in the myoid cell since postpartum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a first-draft reference map of the mouse epididymis proteome, which will greatly expand the knowledge of the epididymal structural basis and contribute to the better understanding of those proteins in the process of mouse epididymal sperm maturation.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu Huang Ding Hospital/Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu Huang Ding Hospital/Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fu-Jun
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Yantai Yu Huang Ding Hospital/Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shao-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu Huang Ding Hospital/Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu Huang Ding Hospital/Qingdao University, Yantai, 264000, Shandong People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Bioinformatics; Mouse epididymis; Proteomics; Sperm maturation; Structural proteins