Application of Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis in Combination with Mass Spectrometry in the Study of Hormone Proteoforms

Hormone is a category of important endocrine regulatory proteins in human endocrine systems. Clarification of hormone proteoforms directly leads to understanding of its biological roles. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE) in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) plays important roles in identification of hormone proteoforms such as human growth hormone (hGH) proteoforms and human prolactin (hPRL) proteoforms. This book chapter will review the hormone proteoforms focusing on hGH and hPRL, the methodology of hormone proteoform study, and future perspective of human hormone proteoform study to find biomarkers for in-depth understanding of molecular mechanisms, and individualized and precise diagnosis, therapy, and prognostic assessment of hormone-related diseases.