Comparative proteomic identification of the hepatopancreas response to cold stress in white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

• A reliable hepatopancreas protein extraction method was established.
• 81.93% of the total hepatopancreas proteins were distributed in the range of pI 4–7.
• 37 proteins exhibited significant alterations upon cold stress.
• Cold stress may lead to the decline of innate immunity of the shrimp.
• The anabolism is vigorous in the hepatopancreas under cold stress.

To understand molecular responses of crustacean hepatopancreas to cold stress, we applied 2-DE proteomics approach to investigate altered proteins in the hepatopancreas of Litopenaeus vannamei during cold stress. At 13 °C for 24 h post cold stress, MALDI-TOF/TOF MS analysis revealed that 10 proteins of 13 spots showed significantly down-regulated during cold stress. Seven of them were enzymes, including chymotrypsin BI, preamylase 1, dimethylaniline monooxygenase, legumain, egumain-like, esterase D and adenosine kinase 2-like. Other three proteins identified to be down-regulated during cold stress in hepatopancreas are putative 40S ribosomal protein S12, proteasome subunit alpha type-5 and one hypothetical protein. 19 proteins of 24 significant up-regulated spots were observed in the hepatopancreas of cold-stress-treated shrimp, including crustacyanin-A, hemocyanin, fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, malic enzyme, chitinase, glucose-regulated protein 78 and other 13 proteins whose functions during cold stress remain unclear. RT-PCR confirmed that the levels of transcription of the CBI, PA1, HC and CHI genes were found to relate well with that of its translation products after cold stress treated. The function of these proteins should be focused in the future studies. Further investigation of these data may lead to better understanding of the molecular responses of crustacean hepatopancreas to cold stress.Statement of relevanceThe purpose of this paper may lead to better understanding of the molecular responses of crustacean hepatopancreas to cold stress. The results provide important information on shrimp immune responses against cold stress.