To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal development of two salmonids, masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) and rainbow trout (O. mykiss), we used two-dimensional (2-D) electrophoresis to construct a series of 2-D maps during the embryonic period. We identified all visible protein spots on the 2-D map by assigning numbers for masu salmon and rainbow trout, and we determined N-terminal sequences of proteins for one hundred of the spots, that appear at very high concentrations in the whole embryos of masu salmon and rainbow trout. We also characterized embryonic stages according to the periods of appearance of spots. Most of the N-terminal sequences were identical or at least highly similar to partial sequences reported for vitellogenin (Vtg) of O. mykiss. A potential proteolytic processing of Vtg for rainbow trout is discussed in relation to the time of appearance and relative position of Vtg fragments within the complete protein sequence.

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In proteomics and proteome analysis using 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), molecular weights and N-terminal sequences for individual protein spots are relatively easily determined. In the present study, we propose a procedure for estimating fragmentation process of a protein based on the inclusion relation among peptide sequence, and estimate fragmentation process of vitellogenin (Vtg) of Oncorhynchus masou based on N-terminal sequences and molecular weights for 48 fragments, that appear at very high concentrations in the whole embryos of O. masou. A potential proteolytic process of Vtg is discussed in relation to normal and abnormal developmental embryos.