A gel-free approach in vascular smooth muscle cell proteome: perspectives for a better insight into activation

Results: This paper describes a strategy for the study of the VSMC proteome. Our approach was based on pre-fractionation with ion exchange chromatography coupled with matrix assisted laser desorption-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis assisted by a liquid chromatography (LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF). Ion exchange chromatography resulted in a good strategy designed to simplify the complexity of the cellular extract and to identify a large number of proteins. Selectivity based on the ion-exchange chemical features was adequate if evaluated on the basis of protein pl. The LC-MALDI approach proved to be highly reproducible and sensitive since we were able to identify up to 815 proteins with a concentration dynamic range of 7 orders of magnitude.