Identification of novel centrosomal proteins in Dictyostelium discoideum by comparative proteomic approaches

The centrosome functions as the main microtubule-organization center of the cell and is of importance for all microtubule-dependent processes such as organelle transport and directionality of cell migration. One of the major model organisms in centrosome research is the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. Since only 10 centrosomal proteins are known so far in Dictyostelium discoideum, the elucidation of new centrosomal components may give a more comprehensive understanding of centrosomal function. To distinguish between centrosomal and contaminating proteins we established different separation and relative quantification strategies including techniques such as iTRAQ and DIGE. In this work, we present the identification of several known components as well as more than 70 new candidates--currently subject of further investigations--for the protein inventory of the Dictyostelium centrosome. Among these protein identifications, 44% represent hypothetical proteins of still unknown function associated with the centrosome.