Differential expression of cuticle-epidermis proteins in the shrimp Penaeus vannamei during molting

High-resolution mini-two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (mini-2D-PAGE) was used to analyze silver-stained, soluble proteins from the cuticle-epidermis of Penaeus vannamei during molting. The 2D-PAGE patterns of epidermis polypeptides from metecdysis and anecdysis/proecdysis molt stages demonstrated similarities as well as several quantitative and qualitative differences. Quantitative modulation in polypeptide expression was noted in at least seven prevalent polypeptides during molting. A 50 kDa protein is specifically expressed in anecdysis/proecdysis tissue samples. Quantitative and qualitative differences were also noted in proteins migrating mainly in the molecular mass ranges of 26-32 kDa. An overall increase in polypeptide expression was noted in this molecular mass range at metecdysis as compared to anecdysis/proecdysis epidermis tissues. These results indicate modulation of cuticle-epidermis proteins in Penaeus vannamei shrimps during molting.