Proteomic analysis illustrates the potential involvement of motor proteins in cleft palate development

Cleft palate (CP) is a congenital condition characterized by a complex etiology and limited diagnostic and therapeutic options. In this study, we delved into the molecular mechanisms associated with retinoic acid (RA)-induced CP in Kun Ming mice. Proteomic analysis of control and RA-induced CP samples at embryonic day 15.5 revealed 25 upregulated and 19 downregulated proteins. Further analysis identified these differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) as being involved in extracellular matrix organization, actin cytoskeleton, and myosin complex. Moreover, these DEPs were found to be enriched in pathways related to motor protein activity and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 10 hub proteins, including motor proteins and ECM-related proteins, which exhibited higher expression levels in CP compared to control tissues. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CP and highlight potential targets for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.