ABSTRACT
Protein quantitation and detection methods typically rely on antibody-based or mass spectrometry-based technologies. Western blotting approaches have diverse applications for investigating protein expression and abundance, kinase and phosphatase activities, cellular localization, protein–protein interactions, and post-translational modifications. A key aspect of the Wes system is the use of capillary electrophoresis for protein separation. Protein separation, immobilization, and immunodetection are all accomplished in the capillary tube. In many cases it is no longer enough to determine whether a particular protein is present or not within a particular cell type; it is more meaningful to determine how protein expression impacts other proteins by examining its interactions with other proteins. Different protein–protein interactions within several intracellular signaling pathways of different smooth muscles have been examined using the isproximity ligation assay approach. Smooth muscles are complex tissues containing a variety of cells in addition to muscle cells, which provide important regulatory controls in both the normal and pathophysiological responses of smooth muscles.
