Analysis of mouse beta-haptoglobin chain by lectin affinoblotting detection

Two different human mammary carcinoma cell lines were xenotransplanted into nude mice. Serum samples were obtained prior to and after transplantation and investigated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). By comparison o f these silver-stained patterns additional protein spots were detected resu lting either from proteins secreted or shed by the tumor itself or from mou se proteins induced by the tumor or the transplantation procedure. One grou p of spots detectable in post-transplantation serum as well as in control s erum after mock-transplantation but not in pretransplantation serum was mic rosequenced and identified as mouse P-haptoglobin. The carbohydrate structu res of P-haptoglobin were characterized by two different immunochemical gly coprotein, staining procedures to detect differential terminal glycan modif ications.