Elucidating the Biochemical Overwintering Adaptations of Larval Cucujus clavipes puniceus and Cucujus clavipes clavipes, Non-Model Organisms, via High Throughput Proteomics

Martin Aguirres Carrasco
2012
Beetles form the largest group of organisms on the planet and exhibit numerous interesting phenotypes. One in particular, Cucucus clavipes, is a freeze avoiding beetle that has two unique traits which are linked; the ability to vitrify (or form a glass-like transition state) and survive temperatures as low as -100°C. There are two sub-species, Cucujus clavipes puniceus (Western, C.c.p.) and Cucujus clavipes clavipes (Eastern, C.c.c.). Previous work has shown C.c.p. undergoes dehydration,
more » ... e, produces anti-freeze proteins (AFPs), glycerol, antifreeze glycolipid (AFGL) to successfully overwinter. C.c.c. produces AFGL, glycerol, and AFPs to overwinter, though they generally produce less of each compound than C.c.p.To characterize biochemical adaptations, we applied high-throughput proteomics to ascertain proteins that may contribute to overwintering. To facilitate our study, especially data analysis, we compiled a compendium of low temperature responsive proteins. We generated a database containing 2,030 low temperature responsive protein/gene product entries, of which 1,353 were up-regulated and 549 were down-regulated in response to various cold exposures across 34 different species; including bacteria (9 species), yeast (1 species), animals (including nematodes (1 species), collembola (2 species), insects (5 species), fish (1 species), amphibians (1 species), reptiles (1 species), mammals (2 species)), and plants This is for my wife, Angelena, daughters, Eliana & Alexia, and future children.
doi:10.7274/mw22v408336 fatcat:vtvzt4ys5benjebwzsjb5p5boa