Proteomic analysis of plasma from rescued Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) exposed to light and heavy degrees of oiling from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

ABSTRACT: In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in an estimated loss of 61,000–174,000 sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. Rescued Kemp’s ridley sea turtle exhibited adverse effects, including physiological stress and severe derangements. While prior studies evaluated health impacts of oil exposure, effects on plasma proteins remained largely unexplored. This study compared the plasma proteome of turtles from two oiling categories (OC) before and after rehabilitation. Plasma samples were collected from lightly oiled (n=9) and heavily oiled (n=15) turtles at admission and post-rehabilitation. Proteins were analyzed using label-free tandem mass spectrometry. At admission, few differences were observed between groups, with 17 proteins reduced in heavily oiled turtles relative to lightly oiled turtles. After rehabilitation, no significant differences were detected, suggesting normalization of the plasma proteome. Osteocalcin, a bone mineralization and metabolic hormone, displayed a large increase after recovery implicating a mechanistic role for this hormone in the recovery of sea turtles. Unexpectedly, alpha-fetoprotein was the most abundant plasma protein in 41 of 48 samples representing 20.2 ± 3.1% of the molar protein fraction surpassing albumin which is routinely measured for diagnostic evaluation. These findings demonstrate that plasma proteomics can distinguish oiling status and support future biomarker development.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Lepidochelys Kempii

TISSUE(S): Blood Plasma

SUBMITTER: Benjamin Neely  

LAB HEAD: Camille Berardone, Benjamin A. Neely, Michael G. Janech

PROVIDER: PXD079061 | Pride | 2026-05-29

REPOSITORIES: Pride