Proteomic analysis of two Dreissenid species, Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugensis, after exposure to cadmium

The study concerns two freshwater mussels of the Dreissenid genus (Mollusca, Bivalvia): the zebra mussel (ZM), Dreissena polymorpha, and the quagga mussel (QM), Dreissena rostriformis bugensis. ZM arrived in France from the Caspian region in the 1850s and has since colonised the rivers in the Moselle area (Eastern France). ZM is currently used for biomonitoring in European rivers and can be considered a sentinel species. Recently, QM have been introduced to western European courses through ballast water transport. To differentiate the species' tolerance to contaminants or physiological response to heavy metal poisoning, a proteomic approach was used with cadmium as a classic contaminant (7-day exposure at 100 µg/L). The gill proteomes were analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry. Gel images and mass spectra files have been deposited here.