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Article
Environmental Hypoxia Influences Hemoglobin Subunit Composition in the Branchiopod Crustacean Triops Longicaudatus
Journal of Experimental Biology
  • J. A. Guadagnoli
  • A. M. Braun
  • S. (Stephen) P. Roberts, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • C. L. Reiber
Abstract

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a Highly Conserved Protein that Provides a Vital Link between Environmental Oxygen and its Use And/or Storage within an Organism. While Ubiquitous among Vertebrates, Hb Occurs Frequently in Invertebrate Phyla as Well. Many Arthropod Species Use the Copper-Binding Pigment Hemocyanin, But Unique in This Phylum Are the Branchiopod Crustaceans, Which Express Hb. Branchiopod Hb Concentration and Structure Are Exquisitely Sensitive to Environmental Oxygen Availability. Hemoglobin Concentration and Oxygen-Binding Affinity Increase with Decreasing Oxygen Tension in Daphnia, Artemia and Triops. the Change in Binding Affinity is Attributed to Differential Hb Subunit Expression in Daphnia and Artemia But Remains Unclear for Triops. This is the First Study to Demonstrate Developmental Plasticity of Hb Subunit Expression in a Notostracan, Triops Longicaudatus, Reared under Conditions of Varying Oxygen Availability. in Response to Variable Oxygen Environments, T. Longicaudatus Differentially Express Four Primary Hb Subunits Ranging between 30 and 34 KDa, with Normoxic-Reared Animals Expressing Primarily the Heavier Subunits, and Hypoxic-Reared Animals Expressing Increased Proportions of the Lower Molecular Mass Subunits. Moreover, Differential Hb Subunit Expression is Induced Upon Transfer of Normoxic-Reared Adults to a Hypoxic Environment, such that the Distribution of Hb Subunits in the Transferred Adults Becomes Similar to that of Hypoxic-Reared Animals. Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis and Follow-Up Analyses Revealed Several Isoforms of Hb Subunits that May Represent Differential Gene Expression And/or Post-Translational Modification. Unlike Daphnia and Artemia, the Hb Hypoxic Response in Triops is Not Reversible in that There Was No Significant Decrease in Hb Concentration or Change in Hb Subunit Expression Pattern When Hypoxic-Reared Adults Were Transferred to a Normoxic Environment.

Department(s)
Biological Sciences
Comments

National Center for Research Resources, Grant P20RR016464

Keywords and Phrases
  • Hemoglobin,
  • Hypoxia,
  • Invertebrate,
  • Triops longicaudatus
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2023 The Company of Biologists, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
9-1-2005
Publication Date
01 Sep 2005
PubMed ID
16155226
Disciplines
Citation Information
J. A. Guadagnoli, A. M. Braun, S. (Stephen) P. Roberts and C. L. Reiber. "Environmental Hypoxia Influences Hemoglobin Subunit Composition in the Branchiopod Crustacean Triops Longicaudatus" Journal of Experimental Biology Vol. 208 Iss. 18 (2005) p. 3543 - 3551 ISSN: 0022-0949
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/stephen-roberts/28/