Laser capture microdissection and colorectal cancer proteomics.

The ability to define protein profiles of normal and diseased cells is important in understanding cell function. Laser capture microdissection permits the isolation of specific cell types for subsequent molecular analysis. In this study we have established conditions for obtaining proteomic information from laser capture microdissected colorectal cancer cells.

Mortalin is over-expressed by colorectal adenocarcinomas and correlates with poor survival.

Using comparative proteomic analysis we have identified over-expression of mortalin in colorectal adenocarcinomas. Mortalin, also known as mitochondrial heat-shock protein 70 (mhsp 70), is involved in cell cycle regulation with important roles in cellular senescence and immortalization pathways. It is known to bind to and inactivate wild-type tumour suppressor protein p53 and influences the Ras-Raf-MAPK pathway.