Integrated Proteomic and Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals Characteristics of Glycogen Metabolism in the Hepatopancreas of Crassostrea ariakensis during Starvation and Refeeding.

Abstract

In both natural and aquaculture environments, oysters commonly face starvation driven by seasonal phytoplankton scarcity, high stocking densities, and environmental fluctuations, followed by refeeding once food availability is restored. Nevertheless, how metabolic pathways are reprogrammed and which upstream signaling networks govern these adaptive responses remain incompletely understood. Glycogen is the primary energy reserve in oysters and is central to these responses. In this study, we integrated glycogen measurement, proteomics, and phosphoproteomics to investigate the hepatopancreas of Crassostrea ariakensis. In this study, glycogen measurement, proteomics, and phosphoproteomics were integrated to investigate the hepatopancreas of Crassostrea ariakensis. Glycogen decreased to its lowest level on day 5 after starvation, recovered during days 7 to day 15, and showed upregulation after refeeding, with significant activation at 12 h and return to baseline by 48 h. We identified 340 differentially expressed proteins, mainly enriched in lysosome, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, other glycan degradation, and galactose metabolism. Phosphoproteomics revealed 250 differentially phosphorylated sites; GSK3β and Wnt11 were upregulated, whereas FoxO, MAPK, PPP1R3, and PYG were downregulated, with enrichment in MAPK signaling, focal adhesion, tight junction, and PPAR signaling. These findings indicate that C. ariakensis adapts to nutritional fluctuations through metabolic reprogramming, signaling modulation, and structural remodeling, providing potential biomarkers for bivalve nutritional stress and aquaculture health.

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