Proteomic comparison of human and great ape blood plasma reveals conserved glycosylation and differences in thyroid hormone metabolism

Bibliographic Data

ID8318944
AuthorsPascal Gagneux (0000-0001-9599-9838, University of California San Diego), Bob Amess, Sandra Díaz (0000-0003-2016-4195, University of California San Diego), Stephen Moore (0009-0003-3635-795X), Stephen E Moore, Thakor Patel, Wolfgang Dillmann (0000-0003-0361-6946, University of California San Diego), Raj Parekh, Ajit Varki (0000-0002-2206-975X, University of California San Diego, corresponding author)
Year2001
Volume115
Issue2
Pages99-109
Publication date2001-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.1061
PMID11385598
OpenAlexW2143424374
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited82

Most blood plasma proteins are glycosylated. These glycoproteins typically carry sialic acid‐bearing sugar chains, which can modify the observed molecular weights and isoelectric points of those proteins during electrophoretic analyses. To explore changes in protein expression and glycosylation that occurred during great ape and human evolution, we subjected multiple blood plasma samples from all these species to high‐resolution proteomic analysis. We found very few species‐specific differences, indicating a remarkable degree of conservation of plasma protein expression and glycosylation during ∼12 million years of evolution. A few lineage‐specific differences in protein migration were noted among the great apes. The only obvious differences between humans and all great apes were an apparent decrease in transthyretin (prealbumin) and a change in haptoglobin isoforms (the latter was predictable from prior genetic studies). Quantitative studies of transthyretin in samples of blood plasma (synthesized primarily by the liver) and of cerebrospinal fluid (synthesized locally by the choroid plexus of the brain) confirmed ∼2‐fold higher levels in chimpanzees compared to humans. Since transthyretin binds thyroid hormones, we next compared plasma thyroid hormone parameters between humans and chimpanzees. The results indicate significant differences in the status of thyroid hormone metabolism, which represent the first known endocrine difference between these species. Notably, thyroid hormones are known to play major roles in the development, differentiation, and metabolism of many organs and tissues, including the brain and the cranium. Also, transthyretin is known to be the major carrier of thyroid hormone in the cerebrospinal fluid, likely regulating delivery of this hormone to the brain. A potential secondary difference in retinoid (vitamin A) metabolism is also noted. The implications of these findings for explaining unique features of human evolution are discussed. Am J Phys Anthropol 115:99–109, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Biology · Blood proteins · Central nervous system · Cerebrospinal fluid · Choroid plexus · Glycoprotein · Glycosylation · Haptoglobin · Hormone · Sialic acid · Thyroid · Transthyretin · Biochemistry · Cellular transport and secretion · Endocrinology · Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Neuroscience · Thyroid Disorders and Treatments