Analysis of the Gulf toadfish intestinal proteome response to chronic hypersalinity exposure

The marine teleost intestine plays a vital role in whole body salt and water homeostasis. Marine fish must drink seawater in order to rehydrate, and processing of that seawater throughout the gastrointestinal tract allows for the extraction of water from this highly hyperosmotic source. Although the molecular mechanisms of this process have been the subject of much investigation, numerous questions remain. Here, Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) were acclimated to normal seawater (35 ppt) of hypersaline seawater (60 ppt) and changes in the anterior intestine, posterior intestine, and intestinal fluid proteomes were investigated using a shotgun proteomics approach employing isobaric TMT tags.