Proteomic profiling of a parasitic wasp exposed to constant and fluctuating cold exposure

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.07.004
• Publication Date: 2007-07-17T07:22:42Z
• Authors: Hervé Colinet; Thi Thuy An Nguyen; Conrad Cloutier; Dominique Michaud; Thierry Hance
• Keywords: [SDE.BE] Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; Cold Temperature; Proteomics; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Acclimatization; Wasps; Animals; Insect Proteins; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology

When insects are exposed to fluctuating thermal regimes (FTRs) (i.e., cold exposure alternating with periodic short pulses to high temperature), in contrast to constant low temperature (CLT), mortality due to accumulation of chill injuries is markedly reduced. To investigate the physiological processes behind the positive impact of FTR, based on a holistic approach, two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis were performed with the parasitic wasp Aphidius colemani. Parasitoid proteomes revealed 369 well-distinguishable protein spots, where the overall response to cold exposure was clearly specific to treatments (CLT versus FTR). The reduced mortality under FTR was associated with up-regulation of several proteins playing key roles in energy metabolism (glycolysis, TCA cycle, synthesis and conversion of ATP), protein chaperoning (Hsp70/Hsp90), and protein degradation (proteasome). Our results also support the idea that cytoskeleton components, particularly actin arrangement, could play a role in the higher survival rates of insects under FTR.