Identification of cypermethrin induced protein changes in green algae by iTRAQ quantitative proteomics

•Effects of exposure to cypermethrin on algae proteome were assessed.•Exposure durations and concentrations were investigated.•Cypermethrin induced protein alterations were attributable to several mechanisms.•Mechanisms affected included photosynthesis, stress response and carbohydrate metabolism.•Potential protein biomarkers were identified.

Cypermethrin (CYP) is one of the most widely used pesticides in large scale for agricultural and domestic purpose and the residue often seriously affects aquatic system. Environmental pollutant-induced protein changes in organisms could be detected by proteomics, leading to discovery of potential biomarkers and understanding of mode of action. While proteomics investigations of CYP stress in some animal models have been well studied, few reports about the effects of exposure to CYP on algae proteome were published. To determine CYP effect in algae, the impact of various dosages (0.001 μg/L, 0.01 μg/L and 1 μg/L) of CYP on green algae Chlorella vulgaris for 24 h and 96 h was investigated by using iTRAQ quantitative proteomics technique. A total of 162 and 198 proteins were significantly altered after CYP exposure for 24 h and 96 h, respectively. Overview of iTRAQ results indicated that the influence of CYP on algae protein might be dosage-dependent. Functional analysis of differentially expressed proteins showed that CYP could induce protein alterations related to photosynthesis, stress responses and carbohydrate metabolism. This study provides a comprehensive view of complex mode of action of algae under CYP stress and highlights several potential biomarkers for further investigation of pesticide-exposed plant and algae.

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