Protein expression profiles in Bathymodiolus azoricus exposed to cadmium

Proteomic changes in the "gill-bacteria complex" of the hydrothermal vent mussel B. azoricus exposed to cadmium in pressurized chambers ((Incubateurs Pressurises pour l'Observation en Culture d'Animaux Marins Profonds - IPOCAMP) were analyzed and compared with the non-exposed control group. 2-D Fluorescence Difference Gel Electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) showed that less than 1.5% of the proteome of mussels and symbiotic bacteria were affected by a short-term (24 h) Cd exposure. Twelve proteins of the more abundant differentially expressed proteins of which six were up-regulated and six were down-regulated were excised, digested and identified by mass spectrometry. The identified proteins included…