|  |
Program |
 |
| |
 |
Special Session 1: Ecosystem under multiple stressors |
| |
|
|
Will ocean acidification affect molluscan shell?
SS1-02-S
Kanmani Chandra Rajan* , PhD Candidate, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
V. Thiyagarajan, Associate Professor, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong.
Presenter Email: kanmani_c@outlook.com
|
| Organic matrix of the Molluscan shell mainly contains carbohydrates and proteins which are generally acidic. These acidic proteins are found to play an important role in the calcification or biomineralization. In the scenario of changing climate and increase in Carbon-dioxide emission, it is expected that Ocean Acidification (OA) might affect the marine organisms. However, there are also contradicting opinions regarding the effect of OA on marine invertebrates, especially regarding molluscan shells. Generally, OA leads to oxidative stress in animals which in turn changes the expression of various stress related proteins and we predict, this ultimately could have an effect over Post Translational Modifications (PTMs) of matrix proteins. This effect can be easily monitored using proteomic studies as these studies can give a picture of immediate response of the organisms at molecular level. Based on our preliminary literature survey, we have hypothesized 1) the ways in which OA might affect the PTMs of molluscan shell proteins; 2) how the changes in PTMs can alter the molluscan shell micro-structure or affect the shell strength. There are no specific studies which focus on the changes in PTMs with relation to molluscan shell micro-structure and therefore this review has significance as it identifies the ‘knowledge gap’ for an inter-disciplinary research. Key words: Mollusc, Shell protein, Biomineralisation, Ocean Acidification |
|
|
|
|