Proteome analysis of the dorsolateral prefrontal region from healthy individuals

The frontal lobes, particularly the prefrontal region, have been of a great interest to researchers examining human behaviour and the origins of medical conditions involving disturbances in cognitive functions. However, further characterisation of this brain region is necessary to help understand the mechanisms of its disturbance in various disease processes. The work presented here demonstrates the first normative proteomic comparison of the soluble fractions of adjacent grey and white matter of a single brain area with a specific cytoarchitecture, Brodmann area 9 (BA9; part of the dorsolateral prefrontal region). BA9 grey and white matter samples from healthy human brains (i.e. absence of any CNS diseases), were subjected to 2D gel electrophoresis-based proteomics analysis to investigate differential protein expression. The results described herein highlight the importance of correct tissue sampling (i.e. proper separation of grey and white matters) and the necessity for future molecular brain mapping studies. Such studies may provide important information for understanding the molecular basis of the functional differences between grey and white matter and their response to various disease states.