Mapping sea urchins tube feet proteome — A unique hydraulic mechano-sensory adhesive organ

• Published in: Journal of proteomics 2013-02, Vol.79, p.100-113
• Main Authors: Santos, Romana, Barreto, Ângela, Franco, Catarina, Coelho, Ana Varela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesive proteins; Glycosylation; Phosphorylation; Proteome; Sea urchin; Tube feet
• ISSN: 1874-3919
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2012.12.004

Marine organisms secrete adhesives for substrate attachment that to be effective require functional assembly underwater and displacement of water, ions, and weakly bound polyions that are ubiquitous in seawater. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of these protein/carbohydrate-based marine adhesives is imperative to decipher marine adhesion and also, to accelerate the development of new biomimetic underwater adhesives and anti-fouling agents. The present study, aims at mapping the proteome of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus adhesive organs using a combination of complementary protein separation techniques (1-D-nanoLC and 2-DE), databases and search algorithms. This strategy resulted in the identification of 328 non-redundant proteins, constituting the first comprehensive list of sea urchin tube feet proteins. Given the known importance of phosphorylation and glycosylation in marine adhesion, the 2DE proteome was re-analyzed with specific fluorescent stains for these two PTMs, resulting in the identification of 69 non-redundant proteins. The obtained results demonstrate that tube feet are unique mechano-sensory adhesive organs and highlight putative adhesive proteins, that although requiring further confirmation, constitute a step forward in the quest to decipher sea urchins temporary adhesion. [Display omitted] ► Sea urchin tube feet proteome using several separation techniques, databases and algorithms ► A total of 328 non-redundant proteins were identified in tube feet adhesive discs. ► Results demonstrate that tube feet are unique mechano-sensory adhesive organs.