Mass Spectrometry and bioinformatics tools to study the proteome of the digestive gland and digestive contents of the golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata

ESCOBAR CORREAS, SOPHIA; COLGRAVE, MICHELLE; MENDOZA PORRAS OMAR; VEGA ISRAEL A

Simposio; Queensland Mass Spectrometry Simposium; 2017

Pomacea canaliculata is a freshwater mollusc native from the Plata region comprising Argentina,Uruguay, southern Paraguay and Brazil. More commonly known as the golden apple snail (GAS), it was first introduced in Asia for ornamental aquaculture purposes. Currently GAS is considered an invasive species throughout Eastern Asia, Hawaii and Spain, where it has become a plague and caused significant economic losses in agriculture. The present study aimed to investigate the proteome of the digestive gland and digestive contents of P. canaliculata. Using mass spectrometry we identified proteins involved in metabolic pathways and specifically focus on the digestive enzymes to understand GAS adaptive advantage and in an attempt to develop a specific method forpest control. Using a custom-built transcript database, a total of 3,541 proteins (≥ 95% confidence) were identified in the digestive gland and 2,518 were found in the intestine. Additionally, 920 and 801 proteins were identified in the digestive contents of crop and style sac respectively. Gene ontology analysis of the digestive gland revealed that 45% of the proteome corresponded to proteins participating in cellular processes and 23% corresponded to proteins participating in metabolic pathways. Proteins involved in regulation accounted for 13% and 5% constituted enzymes with relevant roles in the digestion of polysaccharide and proteins. The remaining 14% were proteins with uncharacterised functions. Using mass spectrometry it was possible to obtain the proteome of a range of tissues specific to the survival of this important molluscan pest. This study provides the foundation for future studies that aim to control or eradicate this invasive species by targeting specific constituents of its metabolic and digestive pathways.