Fish protein fingerprint in whole muscle samples of yellow perch (<i>Perca flavescens</i>) using trichloroacetic acid precipitation

Abstract

Many studies have shown the impact of environmental and/or genetic factors on the growth and development of various fish species. However, the role of genes supporting the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for fish was to compare whole muscle proteomic profiles of large versus small growth yellow perch and identify the proteins associated with fish growth or size. Seven samples of large fish (16 - 18g) and seven samples of small fish (3 - 4g) yellow perch were randomly selected for proteomic analysis. The study observed two protein factions from same species of different sizes provided substantial muscle proteins. It was observed that the lowest protein profile obtained (31,000KDa) in large yellow perch (LYP) was observed to be the highest for the small yellow perch (SYP) but the lane and band volumes of existing proteins in SYP was higher in the small than the large protein fractions. It is therefore concluded that in every hatchery fish breeding regime, the various discrepancies of offspring sizes obtained are likely to be distinct in skeletal muscle proteomic profiles. This study revealed proteins associated with muscle tissues such as (gelsonin, fimbrin, nebulin, alpha-actinin) needed for fish growth or size that are absent in the small sized yellow perch. The research could be used as a template for proteomic studies on large and small sized indigenous African fish species.

Keywords: Skeletal muscle, protein, profile, trichloroacetic acid