Proteomic identification of abnormally expressed proteins in early-stage placenta derived from cloned cat embryos

It is unknown whether gene expression in cloned placenta during pre- and postimplantation is associated with early pregnancy failure in the cat. In this study, protein expression patterns were examined in early-stage (21-day-old) domestic cat placentas of fetuses derived from AI (CP; N = 4) and cloned embryo transfer (CEP; N = 2). Differentially expressed proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). A total of 21 proteins were aberrantly expressed (P < 0.05) by >1.5-fold in CEP compared with CP. Compared with CP, 12 proteins were upregulated in CEP (peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A, annexin A2, protein DJ-1, adenylate kinase isoenzyme 1, protein disulfide-isomerase A3, actin cytoplasmic 1, serum albumin, protein disulfide-isomerase A6, and triosephosphate isomerase), and nine proteins were downregulated (triosephosphate isomerase; heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H; tropomyosin alpha-4; triosephosphate isomerase 1; 60 kDa heat shock protein, mitochondrial; serum albumin; calumenin; keratin type 1; and prohibitin). The identities of the differentially expressed proteins were validated by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-TOF/TOF MS/MS. The abnormally expressed proteins identified in this study might be associated with impaired development and dysfunction of CEP during early pregnancy. Abnormal protein expression might also induce fetal loss and contribute to failure to maintain pregnancy to term.