2D-GEL ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS PROFILES OF DIFFERENT STAGES OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

Protein synthesis profiles of leukaemic cells from 15 chronic lymphocy tic leukaemia (CLL) patients were analysed by 2D-electrophoresis of S- 35-methionine labelled proteins. This series of CLL included patients with stage A (7), B (4) and C (4) disease. Although the protein synthe sis profiles were similar in all cases, some consistent differences we re noted between the different stages. The levels of synthesis of thre e proteins (approximately 35 kD size) were of particular interest. Two of these were always expressed in stage C CLL but either infrequently or not at all in stage A or B CLL. By contrast a third protein was ex pressed at a much reduced level in stage C compared to stages A or B. This type of analysis could prove invaluable for identifying proteins whose expression was intimately associated with the evolution of CLL.