A preliminary two-dimensional map of human aorta tunica media proteins comprising 280 polypeptide fractions has been constructed. Individual protein fractions were characterized in terms of molecular masses and relative electrophoretic mobility; the resulting values were stored in the "protein" data base. Using co-electrophoresis, the positions of certain tunica media proteins (light chains, myosin, tropomyosin, actin, albumin) was determined. The two-dimensional map was used to compare tunica media proteins with their human cardiac muscle counterparts.