Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS14 Microbial Diversity (Disciplinary Connections)

Date: Monday, February 12, 2001, Time: 4:15:00 PM

Location: Brazos

Keil, R, G, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, rickkeil@u.washington.edu

Norbeck, A, , University of Washington, Seattle, USA,

Arnarson, T, , University of Washington, Seattle, USA,

Abell, J, , University of Washington, Seattle, USA,

Holcombe, B, , University of Washington, Seattle, USA,

Van Mooy, B, , University of Washington, Seattle, USA,

Grocock, J, , University of Washington, Seattle, USA,

Satterberg, J, , University of Washington, Seattle, USA,

Fogel, M, , Carnegie Institution of Washington, Geophysical Laboratory, Washington DC, USA,

ON THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTEOMICS: PROTEIN DYNAMICS IN AQUATIC SYSTEMS

What organisms make the proteins and peptides found in aquatic systems, and what portion of the protein found in environmental samples is traceable to a specific source? We have used a combination of MALDI-TOF-MS and stable carbon isotopic analysis of individual amino acids to evaluate the source, preservation potential, and degradation dynamics of protein and peptides in marine systems. Our results indicate that 1) nearly all the protein present in marine sediments is attributable to bacterial populations and not to phytoplankton, 2) protein degradation in seawater leads directly to the formation of free amino acids via exopeptidases, specifically aminopeptidases which sequentially cleave single amino acids from the N-terminus of the protein, 3) the exopeptidases produced by different bacterial populations may be distinguishable if they are isolated and sequenced. Similar to that of medical proteomics, efforts in environmental proteomics can provide a wealth of information including a description of the function, domain structure, subcellular location, post-translational modification, and source for the proteins found in aquatic environments. Such efforts complement nucleic acid-based approaches to understanding microbial diversity and activity in aquatic systems.

This Session Listing

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks