Proteomic analysis of eleven tissues in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)

Abstract

The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus, CGS) is the largest extant amphibian species in the world. Global quantitative proteome analysis of multiple tissues would indicate tissue-specific physiological processes and clarify the function of each protein from a whole-organism perspective. This study performed proteome analysis of eleven tissues collected from adult CGSs using iTRAQ coupled with LC-MS/MS technology. Based on the predicted protein database from previously obtained CGS transcriptome data, 2153 proteins were identified for subsequent analysis. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) clustered 2153 proteins into 17 co-expressed modules, which will be useful for predicting the functions of unannotated proteins. The protein levels of molecular complexes with housekeeping functions, such as ribosomes, spliceosomes and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, were tightly regulated in different tissues of the CGS, as they are in mammalian tissues. Transcription regulator, pathway and bio-functional analysis of tissue-specific proteins showed that highly expressed proteins largely reflected the physiological functions of specific tissues. Our data, as an initial atlas of protein expression of an amphibian species, will be useful for further molecular biology research on CGS.

Natural and Designed Proteins Inspired by Extremotolerant Organisms Can Form Condensates and Attenuate Apoptosis in Human Cells

“…Among the top hits in apoptosis reduction are an IGKV protein highly expressed in the mucus of the Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus that is used as a medical glue in traditional Chinese medicine, an LEA protein from the nematode Aphelenchus avenae previously shown to have the ability to reduce a form of protein aggregation associated with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy in human cells, and a mitochondrial LEA protein from the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana shown to protect human cells during desiccation (Figure D). The prominence of these ExTol proteins suggests that the assay can help identify other proteins that can protect cells from more general stresses beyond CPT-induced apoptosis.…”

Transcriptomic analysis of Andrias davidianus meat and experimental validation for exploring its bioactive components as functional foods

“…Considering that the protein content in the meat of CGS is 15.37% [2], the content of VPI in the proteins in CGS was 36.35 μg/g [VPI/protein]. Considering that most proteins obtained from tissues of CGS range from 10 -100 kDa [44], the molar ratio of VPI to proteins was 0.1 -1%.…”

Natural and designed proteins inspired by extremotolerant organisms can form condensates and attenuate apoptosis in human cells

“…Among the top hits in apoptosis reduction are an IGKV protein highly expressed in mucus of the Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus (Geng et al, 2019) that is used as a medical glue in traditional Chinese medicine, an LEA protein from the nematode Aphelenchus avenae previously shown to have the ability to reduce a form of protein aggregation associated with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy in human cells (Chakrabortee et al, 2010), and a mitochondrial LEA protein from the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana shown to protect human cells during desiccation (Li et al, 2012) (Figure 3D). The prominence of these ExTol proteins suggests the assay can help identify other proteins that can protect cells from more general stresses beyond CPT-induced apoptosis.…”