A Method for the Effective Depletion of Albumin From Cellular Extracts: Application to Human Myocardium

Proteomic analysis of large numbers of proteins is assisted if each protein species is present at approximately equal concentrations. As such, the extraction of proteins from tissue samples should be designed to maintain a limited dynamic range in the concentration of proteins present. However, in many tissue extracts a high concentration of serum albumin exists from tissue perfusion and/or an inability to effectively rinse the tissue owing to surgical limitations. The analysis of these tissues would be assisted if contaminating serum albumin could be reduced. This chapter outlines a protocol for the effective reduction of serum albumin levels from human myocardium extracts enriched for soluble cytoplasmic proteins.