Abstract
The Neanthes acuminata species complex (Polychaeta) are cosmopolitan in distribution. Neanthesarenaceodentata , Southern California member of the N . acuminata complex, has been widely used as toxicological test animal in the marine environment. Method of reproduction is unique in this polychaete complex. Same sexes fight and opposite sexes lie side by side until egg laying. Females lose about 75% of their weight and die after laying eggs. The male, capable of reproducing up to nine times, fertilizes the eggs and incubates the embryos for 3-4 weeks. The objective of this study was to determine if there is any set of proteins that influences this unique pattern of reproduction. Gel-based two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and gel-free quantitative proteomics methods were used to identify differential protein expression patterns before and after spawning in both male and female N . arenaceodentata . Males showed a higher degree of similarity in protein expression patterns but females showed large changes in phosphoproteme before and after spawning. There was a decrease (about 70%) in the number of detected phosphoproteins in spent females. The proteins involved in muscular development, cell signaling, structure and integrity, and translation were differentially expressed. This study provides proteomic insights of the male and female worms that may serve as a foundation for better understanding of unusual reproductive patterns in polychaete worms.
Highlights
Polychaete species are widely distributed in the marine environment and inhabit estuaries to deep-hydrothermal vents [1]
Proteome and phosphoproteome 2-DE maps of mature virgin males (MM), males after first spawning (MAS), MF, and spent females (SF) are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, respectively
There were 145, 128, 116, and 91 abundant protein and 81, 65, 51, and 15 phosphoprotein spots detected in MM, MAS, MF, and SF, respectively (Figure 4A and B)
Summary
Polychaete species are widely distributed in the marine environment and inhabit estuaries to deep-hydrothermal vents [1]. The laboratory populations of N. arenaceodentata have been used in many studies: toxicity [4,5], reproductive behavior [3], vitellogensis [6], feeding rate metabolism [7] and nervous system architecture [8]. Same sexes fight and opposite sexes lie side by side within a mucoid tube until female lays her eggs. The female dies after laying eggs, and the male incubates the fertilized eggs for three to four weeks. Females who have laid eggs are referred to as spent females Her locomotive ability is reduced after egg laying; her digestive tract is complete but she is unable to protrude her proboscis to feed because of reduced musculature and may either leave the tube or be eaten by the male [2].
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