A 2-DIMENSIONAL PROTEIN MAP OF HUMAN AMNIOTIC-FLUID AT 17 WEEKS GESTATION

Using updated technical procedures (immobilized pH gradients for isoel ectric focusing followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: IPG/SDS-PAGE) we provide a two-dimensional (2-D) map of amniotic fluid (AF) proteins. This map comprises over 800 silver-st ained spots. Over 150 spots have been identified by matching on the ne t with human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid maps available from SWISS 2DPAGE database; several additional spots were assigned by immunoblott ing and/or microanalytical techniques. This report details our investi gation on AF proteins focusing on the 17th week of gestation, when AF is most commonly used for clinical evaluation of fetal disorders. As a whole, the map displays a number of potential markers for fetal devel opment and for gestation abnormalities. The 2-D electrophoretic techni que allows the monitoring of all these proteins at the same time along with additional spots that may prove of diagnostic significance.