Two-dimensional gel analysis of rat liver nuclear proteins after thyroidectomy and thyroid hormone treatment.

The composition of nucleoproteins in normal rat liver, in livers from thyroidectomized animals, and in thyroidectomized animals treated with 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine was examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A computer program was designed to measure the relative concentrations of each protein. Approximately 500 protein subunits could be distinguished. Of these, 102 either disappeared or were markedly decreased after thyroidectomy. Shortly after administration of the thyronine (6 hr), 13 proteins reappeared and, by 24 hr, 67 additional proteins had reappeared. These changes in protein concentrations are both the greatest in number and have the largest reported as an effect of thyroid hormone. Twenty-four hr after triiodothyronine administration, some 22 proteins seen in normal liver could not be found. Two new proteins appeared in thyroidectomized rat liver nuclei. We conclude that a major and rapid effect of thyroid hormone is exerted on hepatic nucleoproteins.