Fig 1: The ECM proteome is altered in oim/oim mice at 3 months of age. The ECM proteome is altered in oim/oim mice at 3 months of age. Individual AoV ring isolates (containing annulus ring and cusps) from n = 3 wildtype and oim/oim mice at 3 months of age were decellularized, enriched for the ECM, and subjected to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. (A) Principal component analysis of all decellularized samples largely showed proteomic homology amongst genotypes, with biological variance observed for one biological replicate in each cohort. (B) Significantly altered proteins in oim/oim mice compared to wildtype controls (abundance ratio (sample/control) log2 fold change > 1 and p-value < 0.05. (C) Significantly altered proteins from (B) filtered for an association with the “ECM” based on gene ontology classification terms. (D) Volcano plot of differentially expressed proteins in AoVs from 3-month-old oim/oim mice versus wildtype (green, downregulated; red, upregulated). Fmod, fibromodulin; Itih1, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2; Mgp, matrix gla protein; Vcan, versican.