Transcriptome-proteome compendium of the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)

• Published in: PROTEOMICS
• Main Authors: Möller, L., Vainstein, Yevhen, Wöhlbrand, L., Dörries, M., Meyer, B., Sohn, Kai, Rabus, R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Antarctic krill; Bransfield Strait; Euphausia superba; functional categorisation; hybrid assembly; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill
• Online Access: https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/429516; https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.202100404

The Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) is a keystone species in the Southern Ocean that uses an arsenal of hydrolases for biomacromolecule decomposition to effectively digest its omnivorous diet. The present study builds on a hybrid-assembled transcriptome (13,671 ORFs) combined with comprehensive proteome profiling. The analysis of individual krill compartments allowed detection of significantly more different proteins compared to that of the entire animal (1464 vs. 294 proteins). The nearby krill sampling stations in the Bransfield Strait (Antarctic Peninsula) yielded rather uniform proteome datasets. Proteins related to energy production and lipid degradation were particularly abundant in the abdomen, agreeing with the high energy demand of muscle tissue. A total of 378 different biomacromolecule hydrolysing enzymes were detected, including 250 proteases, 99 CAZymes, 14 nucleases and 15 lipases. The large repertoire in proteases is in accord with the protein-rich diet affiliated with E. superba’s omnivorous lifestyle and complex biology. The richness in chitin-degrading enzymes allows not only digestion of zooplankton diet, but also the utilisation of the discharged exoskeleton after moulting. 22 18