Protein Patterns during Regeneration and Wound Healing in the Adult Newt: A Comparative Study Using Gel Electrophoresis

Gel electrophoresis was performed on tissue extracts made from regenerating tails, limbs and deep razor blade wounds to the back of adult newts. In general, 3 types of changes appeared in posttrauma gels: decrease in density of some bands, increase in others, and "new" bands. Patterns were very similar in limb and tail regeneration suggesting that the two processes do not differ significantly with regard to alterations in the major soluble proteins. The patterns further indicated that certain wound-healing events also occur in regeneration. Some of these events are prolonged in the latter, while others are long-lasting in both. The results also suggest the existence of a regeneration-specific protein.