Data from: Statistical analysis of the individual variability of 1D protein profiles as a tool in ecology: an application to parasitoid venom

Understanding the forces that shape eco-evolutionary patterns often requires linking phenotypes to genotypes, allowing characterization of these patterns at the molecular level. DNA-based markers are less informative in this aim compared to markers associated with gene expression, and more specifically with protein quantities. The characterization of eco-evolutionary patterns also usually requires the analysis of large sample sizes to accurately estimate inter-individual variability. However, the methods used to quantify proteins are generally expensive and time consuming, which constrains the size of the produced datasets to few individuals. We present here a method that estimates the inter-individual variability of protein quantities based on a global, semi-automatic analysis of 1D electrophoretic profiles, opening the way to rapid analysis and comparison of hundreds of individuals. The main original features of the method are the in silico normalization of sample protein quantities using pictures of electrophoresis gels at different staining levels, as well as the detection of reference bands on a median profile. We demonstrate that this method can accurately discriminate between species and between geographically distant or close populations, based on inter-individual variation in venom protein profiles from three endoparasitoid wasps of two different genera (Psyttalia concolor, Psyttalia lounsburyi and Leptopilina boulardi). Finally, we discuss the experimental designs that would benefit from the development of this method.

解析塑造生态进化模式的驱动因素，往往需要将表型与基因型相关联，从而实现在分子层面上对这些模式进行表征。相较于与基因表达相关的标记物，尤其是与蛋白质丰度相关的标记物，基于DNA的标记物在这一研究目标下所能提供的信息较为有限。对生态进化模式的表征通常也需要分析大样本量，以精准估算个体间的变异程度。然而，当前用于定量蛋白质的方法往往成本高昂且耗时较长，这使得所生成数据集的样本量被限制在少数个体范围内。本文提出一种基于全局半自动分析一维电泳图谱的方法，用于估算蛋白质丰度的个体间变异程度，从而为数百个个体的快速分析与比较开辟了路径。该方法的主要创新特性在于：利用不同染色程度的电泳凝胶图像对样本蛋白质丰度进行虚拟归一化，同时基于中位数图谱检测参考条带。本研究基于分属两个不同属的三种内寄生蜂（Psyttalia concolor、Psyttalia lounsburyi及Leptopilina boulardi）的毒液蛋白质谱的个体间变异，证实该方法能够精准区分不同物种，以及地理距离远近各异的种群。最后，本文探讨了可从该方法的开发应用中获益的实验设计方案。