Quantitative LC-MSMS of Southern elephant seal muscles

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonine) are marine mammals with extreme diving profiles (300m to 1000m deep for 20 to 30 min). These apnea dives raise the question of muscular adaptations to hypoxia, as the muscles are particularly solicited during these dives. Moreover, exposure to hypoxia followed by reperfusion generally leads to the production of reactive oxygen species with deleterious effects on cells. The oxidative stress response can therefore be triggered in muscle cells during diving, as well as key changes related to cellular energetics. Finally, exposure to hypoxia may differ between juveniles and adults. To answer these questions, we analyzed the muscle proteome of juvenile and adult elephant seals, with the ultimate aim of linking differences with possible differences in antioxidant balance and mitochondrial function.