Proteomic changes occurring along gonad maturation in the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.
The reproductive stage of Paracentrotus lividus strongly influences product quality that, in turn, impacts significantly on the market price. Large, compact and sweet gonads are preferred, and sensory attributes are positively related to the ratio of nutritive phagocytes to gametes. Gonads at advanced maturation stages, although larger, have less desirable attributes, being more watery and bitter especially in females. Therefore, the best compromise among size, texture, and taste needs to be reached. In this study, wild P. lividus were collected along coastal Sardinia, and gonads in the recovery, pre-mature, mature, and spent stages were analyzed by gel-based and by shotgun proteomics. A detailed characterization of the proteome changes occurring in gonads of both sexes along maturation was achieved, and significant modifications were seen in numerous proteins involved in nutrient accumulation in nutritive phagocytes, as well as in gamete biology and maturation. Adding to an improved understanding of the P. lividus reproductive cycle in its natural environment, the results described in this work may form the basis for defining novel protein markers and procedures for an easier sexing and staging, and for monitoring sea urchin gonad maturation cycles in aquaculture plants. Mass spectrometry data are deposited in ProteomeXchange (PXD004200).



The sensory quality of P. lividus gonads is strongly influenced by the reproductive cycle, with significant changes in flavor, texture, and size. A better knowledge of the protein profiles, patterns, and markers associated with gonad sex and maturation stage can have useful implications for understanding and monitoring these changes. One of these is the ability to identify protein profiles specifically associated with a given stage and, in perspective, to identify maturation and sex markers. The comprehensive proteomic evaluation achieved in this work was made possible by the application of combined gel-based and shotgun approaches. As a result, this study generated the largest proteomic dataset available in the literature for P. lividus, as well as a general picture of protein abundance changes occurring along maturation.
Porto Conte Ricerche S. r. l., S.P. 55 Porto Conte, Capo Caccia, Km 8.400, Loc. Tramariglio, Alghero, SS, Italy.
Stefania
S
Ghisaura
IMC - International Marine Centre, località Sa Mardini, 09170 Torregrande, OR, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche (DEB), Università della Tuscia, Largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, VT, Italy.
Barbara
B
Loi
Porto Conte Ricerche S. r. l., S.P. 55 Porto Conte, Capo Caccia, Km 8.400, Loc. Tramariglio, Alghero, SS, Italy.
Grazia
G
Biosa
IMC - International Marine Centre, località Sa Mardini, 09170 Torregrande, OR, Italy.
Maura
M
Baroli
Porto Conte Ricerche S. r. l., S.P. 55 Porto Conte, Capo Caccia, Km 8.400, Loc. Tramariglio, Alghero, SS, Italy.
Daniela
D
Pagnozzi
Porto Conte Ricerche S. r. l., S.P. 55 Porto Conte, Capo Caccia, Km 8.400, Loc. Tramariglio, Alghero, SS, Italy.
Tonina
T
Roggio
Porto Conte Ricerche S. r. l., S.P. 55 Porto Conte, Capo Caccia, Km 8.400, Loc. Tramariglio, Alghero, SS, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100 Sassari, SS, Italy.
Sergio
S
Uzzau
Porto Conte Ricerche S. r. l., S.P. 55 Porto Conte, Capo Caccia, Km 8.400, Loc. Tramariglio, Alghero, SS, Italy.
Roberto
R
Anedda
Porto Conte Ricerche S. r. l., S.P. 55 Porto Conte, Capo Caccia, Km 8.400, Loc. Tramariglio, Alghero, SS, Italy. Electronic address: addis@portocontericerche.it.
Maria Filippa
MF
Addis
D000818:Animals; D047328:Paracentrotus; D012617:Sea Urchins
Maturation marker; Reproductive cycle; Roe; Sardinia; Shotgun proteomics