Differential Protein Expression in the Cytosol Fraction of an MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line Selected for Resistance toward Melphalan

Analysis of differential protein expression in the cytosol of melphalan-resistant and -susceptible MCF-7 cell lines has been carried out using a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics. Comparison of multiple digitized gel arrays detected several spots as candidates for differentially expressed proteins in melphalan-resistant MCF-7 cells. The up-regulated proteins included retinoic acid binding protein II, an isoform of the macrophage migration inhibition factor, and other unidentified proteins. The down-regulated proteins included calreticulin, cyclophin A, and an isoform of the 27 kD heat shock protein. Correlation of the differential expression of some of the proteins with acquired resistance of MCF7 cells to melphalan is discussed. Keywords: proteomics • MCF-7 • melphalan • chemoresistance • post-translational modification • cyclophilin • cofilin • calreticulin • 27 kD heat shock protein • macrophage migration inhibition factor