Lab Projects

The stress proteome of Mytilus congeners

We are investigating the stress proteome of several species of the marine mussel genus Mytilus.  Mytilus galloprovincialis and M. trossulus differ in their tolerance towards temperature and salinity.  We are currently describing the proteome of Mytilus in response to temperature stress and hyposaline condition.  We are separating proteins of gill tissue by applying two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (see gel image).  We are then applying mass spectrometry to identify the protein spots (see the example mass spectrum of ATP synthase  β subunit).

Our goal is to describe the variation in the proteomes of the two species that determine the differences in temperature and salinity tolerance.  We are collaborating with Dr. George Somero of Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University on how the transcriptomic and the proteomic stress response correlate with each other.  The project is supported by the National Science Foundation.