The Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas) proteome: a valuable tool for biological studies in marine gastropods

Authors: DOMINGUEZ-PEREZ, DANY - The University Of Porto; Lippolis, John; DENNIS, MICHELLE - Ross University School Of Veterinary Medicine; MILLER, BLAKE - Ross University School Of Veterinary Medicine; TILEY, KATE - Ross University School Of Veterinary Medicine; VASCONCELOS, VITOR - The University Of Porto; DE ALMEIDA, ANDRE - Universidade Nova De Lisboa; CAMPOS, ALEXANDRE - The University Of Porto

Submitted to: The Protein Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2019
Publication Date: 8/9/2019
Citation: Dominguez-Perez, D., Lippolis, J.D., Dennis, M., Miller, B., Tiley, K., Vasconcelos, V., De Almeida, A.M., Campos, A. 2019. The Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas) proteome: a valuable tool for biological studies in marine gastropods. The Protein Journal. 38:628-639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10930-019-09857-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10930-019-09857-0

Interpretive Summary: Queen conch (Lobatus gigas) is a gastropod species common to the Caribbean. The Queen conch is a cultural symbol, being a significant source of food and economic income in the region. Over-exploitation of fisheries, the degradation of natural habitats and climate change have exerted a high pressure on the survival of this species. This work aims to provide the first proteomic data with the goal of better understanding the biology and physiology of the species. The proteomics approach used was enable to identify different proteins from 3 organs (gills, digestive gland and muscle). The proteomics approach allowed the identification for the first time in the species of putative protein markers that could be extremely useful in future investigations for diagnosing and monitoring L. gigas population health.

Technical Abstract: Queen conch (Lobatus gigas) is a gastropod species endemic to the Caribbean, and of great importance to local populations. The species is a cultural symbol, being a significant source of food and economic income in the region. However, over-exploitation of fisheries, the degradation of natural habitats and climate change have exerted a high pressure on the survival of this species. This work aims to provide novel proteomic data, important to highlight the metabolism of the species and providing an important tool for the understanding of the biology and physiology of the species. A shotgun proteomics approach combining gel-free (FASP) and gel-based techniques (GEL BASED) was used to enable the identification of different types of proteins from 3 organs (gills, digestive gland and muscle). Overall 420 clusters of proteins were identified from the 3 organs corresponding to the minimum of protein sequence redundancy. Gastropods comprised the major source of protein sequences matching L. gigas MS and MS/MS data. The functional subcategories mostly represented in this subset of L. gigas proteome concerned “Cellular Process” and “Metabolic Process” and to “Binding” and “Catalytic Activity”. Gene ontology and KEGG analysis highlighted 59 metabolic pathways. The most relevant routes according of the number of sequences found per pathway were purine and thiamine metabolism, closely related to nucleotide and carbohydrate metabolism. We also emphasize the high number of proteins associated to the biosynthesis of antibiotics (93 proteins and a total of 28 enzymes), among the top-twenty pathways identified by KEGG analysis. The proteomics approach allowed finally the identification for the first time in the species of putative markers of oxidative stress, xenobiotic metabolism, heat shock response and respiratory chain, which could be extremely useful in future investigations for diagnosing and monitoring L. gigas population health.