Meeting Abstract
Three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are a globally widespread species that is capable of residing in marine and limnetic habitats. Its geographical distribution and potential to adapt to an anadromous life history make it a suitable candidate in providing insight into the mechanisms underlying salinity tolerance in teleosts. To analyze the influence of marine versus limnetic habitats on three spined sticklebacks, we compared a resident marine (Bodega Harbor, CA) with a landlocked limnetic (Lake Solano, CA) population. The marine population ecotypes were classically fully plated whereas the limnetic population were classically low-plated. Morphometric parameters were measured after staining fish with Alizarin Red, and the Bodega population were significantly larger and more plated. To gain insight into differences of gill function between these ecotypes, label-free quantitative proteomics was performed. Specific proteins of interest were validated by targeted proteomics based on multiple reaction monitoring and analysis using Skyline software. Proteins that were significantly different in abundance were then analyzed by gene ontology and pathway analyses. PANTHER (Protein Analysis Through Evolutionary Relationships) was used for protein enrichment and overrepresentation analyses. The current study provides a network based analysis of proteins and compares consistent differences in the stickleback gill proteome in both populations. These analyses delineate specific branchial pathways involved in ionic regulation, proteosomal degradation, and molecular chaperoning that different between the two populations. We conclude that these pathways are under strong selection pressure when marine sticklebacks invade limnetic habitats. Funded by NSF Grant IOS-1355098
