2-D gel comparison of membrane proteins from freshly isolated and cultured fetal and adult hepatocytes

Labelled membrane proteins from freshly isolated or over-night cultured rat hepatocytes were compared using 2-D gel electrophoresis. The membrane protein patterns changed rapidly after culturing, some changes being apparent after 5 hours in culture. These changes included the disappearance of a number of membrane proteins and the apparent altered glycosylation of others. Stability of hepatocyte membrane proteins in culture did not appear to be related to the stage of hepatocyte differentiation. A recognition that rapid changes in the membrane protein composition may occur after culturing is important for those wishing to use cultured cells to study membrane-associated functions.