Liver proteomic analysis of the large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) following polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid induction

In the present study, we examined the liver protein profiles of the large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) exposed to polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid [poly(I:C)], a viral mimic, using the differential proteomic approach. Sixteen altered protein spots were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry, including eight upregulated proteins and eight downregulated proteins. These altered host proteins were classified into six categories based on their biological function: cellular process, metabolic process, biological regulation, binding, and catabolic process, highlighting the fact that response to poly(I:C) induction in fish seems to be complex and diverse. Moreover, four corresponding genes of the differentially expressed proteins were validated by relative quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot analysis further demonstrated the changes in protein abundance of natural killer enhancing factor and peroxiredoxin 6. These results will be helpful in furthering our understanding of the changes of physiological processes in liver of fish during virus infection.