Acetylation-mediated remodeling of energy metabolism in Exopalaemon carinicauda after multigenerational high-temperature acclimation

Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent under global warming, creating persistent thermal challenges for aquaculture species. To examine the capacity and mechanism of crustaceans to acclimate to elevated temperature, we compared Exopalaemon carinicauda maintained in Rizhao (RZ) with a population transferred to Zhanjiang (ZJ) and reared for four years. Results showed that ZJ population had a greater body length and a significantly higher critical thermal maximum (CTMax) Proteomic analysis revealed significant up-regulation of proteins related to the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Acetylome profiling identified 3620 acetylation sites on 1329 proteins, including differential sites on proteins involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and lysosomal proteolysis. Several sites on cathepsin L, cathepsin B, and digestive cysteine protease 2 showed lower acetylation in the ZJ population. Together, these findings associate multigenerational exposure to a warmer environment with phenotypic, physiological, proteomic, and acetylomic remodeling in E. carinicauda and provide a molecular basis for understanding crustacean thermal adaptation under climate change.