Analysis of age related changes of aqueous proteins in rat soleus using two-dimensional electrophoresis

The aqueous proteins of rat soleus at different ages have been mapped using two-dimensional electrophoresis. With the increasing of age, the expressions of certain proteins were decreased in the rat soleus. It was found that the expressions of most proteins were obviously decreased, and some of them were missing or undetected in the 15 month aged rat soleus compared with the young ones. The data of the present study represented that we are the first group to investigate muscle aging using comparative muscle aqueous protein maps. It is strongly suggested that the expression of certain aqueous proteins were significantly decreased in aged rat soleus. This decreased expression of certain aqueous proteins might directly associate with the functional changes over age. The current strategy represents an excellent model for investigation of muscle aging at the molecular level