title: An evaluation of coral lophelia pertusa mucus as an analytical matrix for environmental monitoring: A preliminary proteomic study.
abstract: For the environmental monitoring of coral, mucus appears to be an appropriate biological matrix due to its array of functions in coral biology and the non-intrusive manner in which it can be collected. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using mucus of the stony coral Lophelia pertusa (L. pertusa) as an analytical matrix for discovery of biomarkers used for environmental monitoring. More specifically, to assess whether a mass-spectrometry-based proteomic approach can be applied to characterize the protein composition of coral mucus and changes related to petroleum discharges at the seafloor. Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) screening analyses of orange and white L. pertusa showed that the mucosal protein composition varies significantly with color phenotype, a pattern not reported prior to this study. Hence, to reduce variability from phenotype difference, L. pertusa white individuals only were selected to characterize in more detail the basal protein composition in mucus using liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In total, 297 proteins were identified in L. pertusa mucus of unexposed coral individuals. Individuals exposed to drill cuttings in the range 2 to 12 mg/L showed modifications in coral mucus protein composition compared to unexposed corals. Although the results were somewhat inconsistent between individuals and require further validation in both the lab and the field, this study demonstrated preliminary encouraging results for discovery of protein markers in coral mucus that might provide more comprehensive insight into potential consequences attributed to anthropogenic stressors and may be used in future monitoring of coral health.
authors.affiliation: a International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Biomiljø , Randaberg , Norway.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Provan
authors.affiliation: a International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Biomiljø , Randaberg , Norway.
authors.forename: Mari Mæland
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: a International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Biomiljø , Randaberg , Norway.
authors.forename: Eivind
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larssen
authors.affiliation: a International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Biomiljø , Randaberg , Norway.
authors.forename: Kai-Erik
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Uleberg
authors.affiliation: a International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Biomiljø , Randaberg , Norway.|b Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Mathematics and Natural Science , University of Stavanger , Stavanger , Norway.
authors.forename: Magne O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Sydnes
authors.affiliation: a International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Biomiljø , Randaberg , Norway.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lyng
authors.affiliation: a International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Biomiljø , Randaberg , Norway.
authors.forename: Kjell Birger
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Øysæd
authors.affiliation: a International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS), Biomiljø , Randaberg , Norway.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baussant
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D009659:North Sea; D009664:Norway; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D020543:Proteome / Q000187:drug effects*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D020543:Proteome; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical