Abstract
The polychaetous annelid Neanthes acuminata complex has a widespread distribution, with the California population referred to as N. arenaceodentata. The reproductive pattern in this complex is unique, in that the female reproduces once and then dies, whereas the male can reproduce up to nine times. The male incubates the embryos until the larvae leave the male’s tube 21–28 days later and commences feeding. Reproductive success and protein expression patterns were measured over the nine reproductive periods. The percent success of the male in producing juveniles increased during the first three reproductive periods and then decreased, but the number of juveniles produced was similar through all nine periods. iTRAQ based quantitative proteomics were used to analyze the dynamics of protein expression patterns. The expression patterns of several proteins were found to be altered. The abundant expression of muscular and contractile proteins may have affected body weight and reproductive success. Sperm have never been observed; fertilization occurs within the parent’s tube. Proteins associated with sperm maturation and fertilization were identified, including ATPase, clathrin, peroxiredoxins and enolase, which may provide clues to the molecular mechanisms enabling males to reproduce multiple times.
Highlights
The polychaetous annelid Neanthes acuminata complex has a widespread distribution, with the California population referred to as N. arenaceodentata
The key questions were: (i) do males proceed through cycles of changes in protein expression patterns corresponding to successive reproductive periods? and (ii) are the changes in proteomic characteristics that influence male reproductive success achieved through repeated cycles of gametogenesis and sexual maturation? Male reproductive success rate was measured during each successive reproductive period
N. arenaceodentata reproductive success was found to be associated with changes in protein expression patterns, with these proteins possibly influencing gametogenesis and sexual maturation
Summary
The polychaetous annelid Neanthes acuminata complex has a widespread distribution, with the California population referred to as N. arenaceodentata. Reproductive success and protein expression patterns were measured over the nine reproductive periods. The male N. arenaceodentata undergoes behavioral, morphological and physiological changes during reproduction and is capable of reproducing nine times[10]. Their fighting pattern is altered during the incubation period, in that males fight any intruder. Proteomic studies with N. arenaceodentata have analyzed the changes in the transition from egg to larvae[8] and in males and females before and after fertilization[9]. This study hypothesized that plasticity in protein expression patterns influences male reproductive success. The key questions were: (i) do males proceed through cycles of changes in protein expression patterns corresponding to successive reproductive periods? The number of males reproducing decreased after the fifth cycle and dropped significantly after the sixth
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