Gonad differential proteins revealed with proteomics in oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) using alga as food contaminated with cadmium

As mercury and lead, cadmium (Cd) is one of the highly toxic metals in both the ocean and land environments, but its toxicological mechanism in organisms including human is still unclear because of the complex toxicological pathways in vivo. Here, the alga Chlorella vulgaris were cultivated at room temperature under the stress of cadmium (1 mg L−1) to obtain a toxic food, and then the contaminated food were directly supplied to oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) in seawater. After feeding with C. vulgaris contaminated with Cd (C. vulgaris–Cd), the differential proteins in the oyster gonad (OG) were effectively separated and identified with proteomic approaches. Eleven protein spots were observed to be significantly changed in the OG feeding with C. vulgaris–Cd, which seven spots of these differential proteins were down-regulated while four spots were up-regulated. These altered spots were further excised in gels and identified by a combined technique of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) and database searching. A portion of these differential proteins were further proofed by real-time PCR and Western blotting. The results indicate that the major functions of these differential proteins were described as follows: binding, protein translocation, catalysis, regulation of energy metabolism, reproductive function and skeleton structure. These differential proteins in part may effectively provide a few novel biomarkers for the evaluation of Cd pollution level via a food pathway for harming halobios, mammal and human health, and for understanding the complex mechanisms of Cd toxicity in vivo.

► The Saccostrea cucullata were breed by alga Chlorella vulgaris contaminated with Cd as food in seawater.
► The proteome of the oysters gonad were effectively separated for identifying differentially expression proteins.
► A portion of these differential proteins were further verified using mass spectrometry, real-time PCR and western blotting.
► These differential proteins may effectively provide novel biomarkers for evaluating the levels of Cd contamination in sea.