ECOMARE - Laboratory for Innovation and Sustainability of Marine Biological Resources, CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
GreenCoLab - Associação Oceano Verde, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
J Proteomics. 2024 Mar 15;294:105087. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2024.105087. Epub 2024 Jan 17.
Elysia crispata is a tropical sea slug that can retain intracellular functional chloroplasts from its algae prey, a mechanism termed kleptoplasty. This sea slug, like other gastropods, secretes mucus, a viscous secretion with multiple functions, including lubrication, protection, and locomotion. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the mucus proteome of the sea slug E. crispata using gel electrophoresis and HPLC-MS/MS. We identified 306 proteins in the mucus secretions of this animal, despite the limited entries for E. crispata in the Uniprot database. The functional annotation of the mucus proteome using Gene Ontology identified proteins involved in different functions such as hydrolase activity (molecular function), carbohydrate-derived metabolic processes (biological processes) and cytoskeletal organization (cell component). Moreover, a high proportion of proteins with enzymatic activity in the mucus of E. crispata suggests potential biotechnological applications including antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Putative antimicrobial properties are reinforced by the high abundance of hydrolases. This study also identified proteins common in mucus samples from various species, supporting a common mechanism of mucus in protecting cells and tissues while facilitating animal movement. SIGNIFICANCE: Marine species are increasingly drawing the interest of researchers for their role in discovering new bioactive compounds. The study "Proteomic Analysis of the Mucus of the Photosynthetic Sea Slug Elysia crispata" is a pioneering effort that uncovers the complex protein content in this fascinating sea slug's mucus. This detailed proteomic study has revealed proteins with potential use in biotechnology, particularly for antimicrobial and antitumor purposes. This research is a first step in exploring the possibilities within the mucus of Elysia crispata, suggesting the potential for new drug discoveries. These findings could be crucial in developing treatments for severe diseases, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, and may lead to significant advances in medical research.
卷曲滨螺是一种能从藻类食物中保留细胞内功能性叶绿体的热带海螺，这种机制被称为盗食质体。这种海螺和其他腹足纲动物一样，会分泌黏液，这是一种具有多种功能的粘性分泌物，包括润滑、保护和运动。本研究使用凝胶电泳和 HPLC-MS/MS 首次对卷曲滨螺的黏液蛋白质组进行了全面分析。尽管卷曲滨螺在 Uniprot 数据库中的条目有限，但我们在该动物的黏液分泌物中鉴定出了 306 种蛋白质。使用基因本体论对黏液蛋白质组进行功能注释，鉴定出了参与不同功能的蛋白质，如水解酶活性（分子功能）、碳水化合物衍生的代谢过程（生物过程）和细胞骨架组织（细胞成分）。此外，卷曲滨螺黏液中具有酶活性的蛋白质比例很高，表明其具有潜在的生物技术应用，包括抗菌和抗肿瘤活性。水解酶的高丰度进一步证实了其潜在的抗菌特性。本研究还鉴定出了在不同物种的黏液样本中常见的蛋白质，这支持了黏液在保护细胞和组织同时促进动物运动的共同机制。意义：海洋物种因其在发现新生物活性化合物方面的作用而越来越引起研究人员的关注。研究论文“Photosynthetic 海蛞蝓卷曲滨螺黏液的蛋白质组学分析”是一项开创性的工作，揭示了这种迷人的海蛞蝓黏液中复杂的蛋白质含量。这项详细的蛋白质组学研究揭示了具有在生物技术中应用潜力的蛋白质，特别是在抗菌和抗肿瘤方面。这项研究是探索卷曲滨螺黏液中可能性的第一步，表明在新药发现方面具有潜力。这些发现对于开发治疗严重疾病，特别是由多药耐药菌引起的疾病，可能至关重要，并可能在医学研究方面取得重大进展。
