Identification and in silico characterisation of differentially expressed fluoride induced proteins in the muscle tissue of Indian Major Carp – Gibelion catla (Hamilton, 1822)

The detrimental effects of fluoride on aquatic life and humans have made the toxicity of this substance a worldwide concern. Fluoride impacts fish survival, growth and reproduction by affecting the levels of biomolecules, as well as enzyme inhibition, collagen degradation, gastrointestinal injury and immune system disruption. Thus, it is essential to comprehend the molecular mechanisms influenced by fluoride to devise strategies for the protection and preservation of aquatic systems. The current investigation focuses on identifying and characterising differentially expressed proteins in Gibelion catla with respect to fluoride toxicity. Protein measurement indicated that the protein concentrations in the muscular tissues of control and NaF-treated fish were 17.8±1.4 and 12.3±2.2 mg/g. Additionally, comparative proteome analysis through SDS-PAGE demonstrated that two peptide bands with molecular weights of 31 and 18 kDa were differentially expressed in fish exposed to NaF. These protein bands were identified by PMF as caspase-3 and Cu/Zn SOD. The physico-chemical characterisation indicated that the caspase-3 and Cu/Zn SOD proteins exhibited acidic characteristics, with pI values of 6.07 and 5.69. The secondary structure revealed that caspase-3 and Cu/Zn SOD exhibit a greater fraction of random coils, with respective percentages of 53.11 and 55.19%. Furthermore, the homology modelling indicated that the C5jftB and d1q0ea are the most suitable templates for caspase-3 and Cu/Zn SOD. The present research demonstrated that the predicted 3D models of caspase-3 and Cu/Zn SOD were reliable and coherent.