Mitochondrial metabolism and respiration adjustments following temperature acclimation in Daphnia magna

Seasonal temperature changes and local variations in the water column challenge lentic zooplankton in their habitat. At the cellular level, exposure to varying temperatures affects the mitochondrial functional properties of poikilothermic organisms. Metabolic enzymes that supply reduced substrates to the electron transport chain and elements of the oxidative phosphorylation system must therefore adjust their activity and flux rates to the altered temperature conditions. In the present study, Daphnia magna respiration was analyzed in response to acute and chronic changes in ambient temperature. Oxygen consumption as well as substrate and electron flux rates were measured at the animals' acclimation temperature and at two additional acute temperatures. High activity of citrate synthase (CS) in cold-acclimated animals (10 °C) may have resulted from mitochondrial quantitative adjustments. However, thermal sensitivity of the functional properties of mitochondrial enzymes was greater in warm-acclimated animals (30 °C). In whole animals, temperature-induced changes were partly compensated by acclimation, but these changes were promoted by acclimation in the case of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Thus, respiration realised in whole animals was limited by the provision of reduced substrates in the tricarboxylic acid cycle rather than by restrictions of the respiratory chain complexes. This may minimize production of reactive oxygen species and resulting damage and reduce waste of substrates from the animals' energy reserves. Still, the integrated biomarker response indicated increased defense against oxidative stress at elevated temperatures.

Limits of the thermal tolerance of two lentic crustaceans: The role of lactate dehydrogenase

Limits of thermal tolerance in animal life is dependent on energy supply. Accordingly, the lowered ATP production capacity in ectotherms at high temperatures, which arises from a mismatch between oxygen supply and demand and the consequent switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, affects the thermal resistance of these animals. The anaerobic ATP production capacity depends on the functional properties of the enzymes that reduce pyruvate. Thus, the present study focused on the role of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of two daphnid species for anaerobic energy production at warm temperatures and the implications for their specific heat tolerances. Daphnia magna showed a higher thermal limit (indicated by immobilization time at 37°C) than Daphnia pulex, and in both species, this limit increased with rising acclimation temperature. In contrast to D. pulex, D. magna accumulated significant amounts of lactate at higher ambient temperatures. The intensity of anaerobic metabolism was also affected by acclimation temperature. Studying the functional enzyme properties revealed altered maximal reaction rates and substrate inhibitions of the LDH suites of the two daphnid species. D. magna LDH showed a significantly lower substrate inhibition than D. pulex LDH. The LDH isoform composition and the temperature-induced changes differed between both species. The detected qualitative modulations of the LDH suites may have resulted from differential isoform expression and different maturation processes. The species-specific LDH characteristics imply a higher anaerobic energy production at warm temperatures in D. magna, which likely contributes to the higher heat tolerance of this species.

Microplastic burden in Daphnia is aggravated by elevated temperatures

Contamination of freshwater habitats with microplastic is threatening particularly filter-feeders within the aquatic community. Using Daphnia magna and Daphnia pulex as models, the effects of food supply and temperature on the ingestion of polystyrene spheres (diameter 1 μm, concentration of 200 ng*ml^-1) was analysed. The ingestion rates of microplastic beads were increased in conditions of low food and high temperatures, reflecting the complex regulation patterns of the water current generated by the animals' thoracic limbs. Maximal enrichment of 1160 times the concentration in the ambient medium was observed within one hour. Analyses of the impact of microplastic ingestion on physiological parameters used the carbohydrate concentration as an indicator for the animals' metabolic state. Exposure to the microplastic beads for three days in the presence or absence of Desmodesmus subspicatus did not affect the animals' glycogen reserves beyond the response to the prevailing food and temperature conditions. Projecting the insights from laboratory experiments to the habitat situation, increased burdens of microplastic particles can be expected in filtering zooplankton organisms in warm water and scarce supply of food, like the clear-water phase of lakes in the summer.

Hemoglobin in Arthropods-Daphnia as a Model

Hemoglobin is the respiratory protein of many arthropods, enhancing the oxygen transport capacity of the hemolymph. One example, that has been subject of extensive studies, is the hemoglobin of the crustacean genus Daphnia. Here the characteristics of this oxygen binding protein are reviewed. The genetic structure is the result of repeated duplication events in the evolution, leading to a variety of di-domain isoforms. Adjustments to environmental changes thus result from differential expression of these paralogs. The biochemical properties, including spectral characteristics, concentration ranges, molecular mass of monomers and native oligomers, are compared. Structural differences between isoforms can be correlated to functional properties of oxygen binding characteristics. The mechanism of hemoglobin induction via hypoxia-inducible factor 1 allows the response to altered oxygen and temperature conditions. Changes of the hemoglobin suite in quantity and functional quality can be linked to their benefits for the animals' physiological performance. However, there is a large inter- and intra-specific variability of this induction potential. The consequences of altered hemoglobin characteristics for the animals' success within their habitat are discussed.

Automated measurement of upper thermal limits in small aquatic animals

We present a method for automating the measurement of upper thermal limits in small aquatic organisms. Upper thermal limits are frequently defined by the cessation of movement at high temperature, with measurement being performed by manual observation. Consequently, estimates of upper thermal limits may be subject to error and bias, both within and among observers. Our method utilises video-based tracking software to record the movement of individuals when exposed to high, lethal temperatures. We develop an algorithm in the R computing language that can objectively identify the loss of locomotory function from tracking data. Using independent experimental data, we validate our approach by demonstrating the expected response in upper thermal limits to acclimation temperature.

The transcriptomic and proteomic responses of Daphnia pulex to changes in temperature and food supply comprise environment-specific and clone-specific elements

Background

Regulatory adjustments to acute and chronic temperature changes are highly important for aquatic ectotherms because temperature affects their metabolic rate as well as the already low oxygen concentration in water, which can upset their energy balance. This also applies to severe changes in food supply. Thus, we studied on a molecular level (transcriptomics and/or proteomics) the immediate responses to heat stress and starvation and the acclimation to different temperatures in two clonal isolates of the model microcrustacean Daphnia pulex from more or less stressful environments, which showed a higher (clone M) or lower (clone G) tolerance to heat and starvation.

Results

The transcriptomic responses of clone G to acute heat stress (from 20 °C to 30 °C) and temperature acclimation (10 °C, 20 °C, and 24 °C) and the proteomic responses of both clones to acute heat, starvation, and heat-and-starvation stress comprised environment-specific and clone-specific elements. Acute stress (in particular heat stress) led to an early upregulation of stress genes and proteins (e.g., molecular chaperones) and a downregulation of metabolic genes and proteins (e.g., hydrolases). The transcriptomic responses to temperature acclimation differed clearly. They also varied depending on the temperature level. Acclimation to higher temperatures comprised an upregulation of metabolic genes and, in case of 24 °C acclimation, a downregulation of genes for translational processes and collagens. The proteomic responses of the clones M and G differed at any type of stress. Clone M showed markedly stronger and less stress-specific proteomic responses than clone G, which included the consistent expression of a specific heat shock protein (HSP60) and vitellogenin (VTG-SOD).

Conclusions

The expression changes under acute stress can be interpreted as a switch from standard products of gene expression to stress-specific products. The expression changes under temperature acclimation probably served for an increase in energy intake (via digestion) and, if necessary, a decrease in energy expenditures (e.g, for translational processes). The stronger and less stress-specific proteomic responses of clone M indicate a lower degree of cell damage and an active preservation of the energy balance, which allowed adequate proteomic responses under stress, including the initiation of resting egg production (VTG-SOD expression) as an emergency reaction.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4742-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Haemoglobin-mediated response to hyper-thermal stress in the keystone species Daphnia magna

Anthropogenic global warming has become a major geological and environmental force driving drastic changes in natural ecosystems. Due to the high thermal conductivity of water and the effects of temperature on metabolic processes, freshwater ecosystems are among the most impacted by these changes. The ability to tolerate changes in temperature may determine species long‐term survival and fitness. Therefore, it is critical to identify coping mechanisms to thermal and hyper‐thermal stress in aquatic organisms. A central regulatory element compensating for changes in oxygen supply and ambient temperature is the respiratory protein haemoglobin (Hb). Here, we quantify Hb plastic and evolutionary response in Daphnia magna subpopulations resurrected from the sedimentary archive of a lake with known history of increase in average temperature and recurrence of heat waves. By measuring constitutive changes in crude Hb protein content among subpopulations, we assessed evolution of the Hb gene family in response to temperature increase. To quantify the contribution of plasticity in the response of this gene family to hyper‐thermal stress, we quantified changes in Hb content in all subpopulations under hyper‐thermal stress as compared to nonstressful temperature. Further, we tested competitive abilities of genotypes as a function of their Hb content, constitutive and induced. We found that Hb‐rich genotypes have superior competitive abilities as compared to Hb‐poor genotypes under hyper‐thermal stress after a period of acclimation. These findings suggest that whereas long‐term adjustment to higher occurrence of heat waves may require a combination of plasticity and genetic adaptation, plasticity is most likely the coping mechanism to hyper‐thermal stress in the short term. Our study suggests that with higher occurrence of heat waves, Hb‐rich genotypes may be favoured with potential long‐term impact on population genetic diversity.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the heat stress response of Daphnia pulex: ROS-mediated activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1) and the clustered expression of stress genes

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Heat stress in ectotherms involves direct (e.g. protein damage) and/or indirect effects (temperature-induced hypoxia and ROS formation), which cause activation of the transcription factors (TF) heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1) and/or hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). The present study focused on the links between stress (ROS) signals, nuclear (n) and cytoplasmic (c) HSF-1/HIF-1 levels, and stress gene expression on mRNA and protein levels (e.g. heat-shock protein 90, HSP90) upon acute heat and ROS (H₂ O₂ ) stress.

RESULTS

Acute heat stress (30°C) evoked fluctuations in ROS level. Different feeding regimens, which affected the glutathione (GSH) level, allowed altering the frequency of ROS fluctuations. Other data showed fluctuation frequency to depend also on ROS production rate. The heat-induced slow or fast ROS fluctuations (at high or low GSH levels) evoked slow or fast fluctuations in the levels of nHIF-1α, nHSF-1 and gene products (mRNAs and protein), albeit after different time delays. Time delays to ROS fluctuations were, for example,shorter for nHIF-1α than for nHSF-1 fluctuations, and nHIF-1α fluctuations preceded and nHSF-1 fluctuations followed fluctuations in HSP90 mRNA level. Cytoplasmic TF levels either changed little (cHIF-1α) or showed a steady increase (cHSF-1). Applying acute H₂ O₂ stress (at 20°C) revealed effects on nHIF-1α and mRNA levels, but no significant effects on nHSF-1 level. Transcriptome data additionally showed coordinated fluctuations of mRNA levels upon acute heat stress, involving mRNAs for HSPs and other stress proteins, with all corresponding genes carrying DNA binding motifs for HIF-1 and HSF-1.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided evidence for promoting effects of ROS and HIF-1 on early haemoglobin, HIF-1α and HSP90 mRNA expressions upon heat or ROS stress. The increasing cHSF-1 level likely affected nHSF-1 level and later HSP90 mRNA expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

Heat stress evoked ROS fluctuations, with this stress signal forwarded via nHIF-1 and nHSF-1 fluctuations to stress gene expression. The frequency of ROS fluctuations seemed to integrate information about ROS productionrate and GSH antioxidant buffer capacity, resulting in stress protein expression of different speed. Results of this study suggest ROS as early (pre-damage) and protein defects as later (post-damage) stress signals to trigger heat stress responses.

A phenomenological approach shows a high coherence of warming patterns in dimictic aquatic systems across latitude

To predict the coherence in local responses to large-scale climatic forcing among aquatic systems, we developed a generalized approach to compare long-term data of dimictic water bodies based on phenomenologically defined hydrographic events. These climate-sensitive phases (inverse stratification, spring overturn, early thermal stratification, summer stagnation) were classified in a dual code (cold/warm) based on threshold temperatures. Accounting for a latitudinal gradient in seasonal timing of phases derived from gradients in cumulative irradiation (2.2 days per degree latitude), we found a high spatial and temporal coherence in warm-cold patterns for six lakes (84 %) and the Baltic Sea (78 %), even when using the same thresholds for all sites. Similarity to CW-codes for the North Sea still was up to 72 %. The approach allows prediction of phase-specific warming trends and resulting instantaneous or time-delayed ecological responses. Exemplarily, we show that warming during early thermal stratification controls food-web-mediated effects on key species during summer.

Acclimatory responses of the Daphnia pulex proteome to environmental changes. I. Chronic exposure to hypoxia affects the oxygen transport system and carbohydrate metabolism

Background

Freshwater planktonic crustaceans of the genus Daphnia show a remarkable plasticity to cope with environmental changes in oxygen concentration and temperature. One of the key proteins of adaptive gene control in Daphnia pulex under hypoxia is hemoglobin (Hb), which increases in hemolymph concentration by an order of magnitude and shows an enhanced oxygen affinity due to changes in subunit composition. To explore the full spectrum of adaptive protein expression in response to low-oxygen conditions, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to analyze the proteome composition of animals acclimated to normoxia (oxygen partial pressure [Po₂]: 20 kPa) and hypoxia (Po₂: 3 kPa), respectively.

Results

The comparative proteome analysis showed an up-regulation of more than 50 protein spots under hypoxia. Identification of a major share of these spots revealed acclimatory changes for Hb, glycolytic enzymes (enolase), and enzymes involved in the degradation of storage and structural carbohydrates (e.g. cellubiohydrolase). Proteolytic enzymes remained constitutively expressed on a high level.

Conclusion

Acclimatory adjustments of the D. pulex proteome to hypoxia included a strong induction of Hb and carbohydrate-degrading enzymes. The scenario of adaptive protein expression under environmental hypoxia can be interpreted as a process to improve oxygen transport and carbohydrate provision for the maintenance of ATP production, even during short episodes of tissue hypoxia requiring support from anaerobic metabolism.

Acclimatory responses of the Daphnia pulex proteome to environmental changes. II. Chronic exposure to different temperatures (10 and 20 degrees C) mainly affects protein metabolism

BACKGROUND

Temperature affects essentially every aspect of the biology of poikilothermic animals including the energy and mass budgets, activity, growth, and reproduction. While thermal effects in ecologically important groups such as daphnids have been intensively studied at the ecosystem level and at least partly at the organismic level, much less is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the acclimation to different temperatures. By using 2D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, the present study identified the major elements of the temperature-induced subset of the proteome from differently acclimated Daphnia pulex.

RESULTS

Specific sets of proteins were found to be differentially expressed in 10 degrees C or 20 degrees C acclimated D. pulex. Most cold-repressed proteins comprised secretory enzymes which are involved in protein digestion (trypsins, chymotrypsins, astacin, carboxypeptidases). The cold-induced sets of proteins included several vitellogenin and actin isoforms (cytoplasmic and muscle-specific), and an AAA+ ATPase. Carbohydrate-modifying enzymes were constitutively expressed or down-regulated in the cold.

CONCLUSION

Specific sets of cold-repressed and cold-induced proteins in D. pulex can be related to changes in the cellular demand for amino acids or to the compensatory control of physiological processes. The increase of proteolytic enzyme concentration and the decrease of vitellogenin, actin and total protein concentration between 10 degrees C and 20 degrees C acclimated animals reflect the increased amino-acids demand and the reduced protein reserves in the animal's body. Conversely, the increase of actin concentration in cold-acclimated animals may contribute to a compensatory mechanism which ensures the relative constancy of muscular performance. The sheer number of peptidase genes (serine-peptidase-like: > 200, astacin-like: 36, carboxypeptidase-like: 30) in the D. pulex genome suggests large-scaled gene family expansions that might reflect specific adaptations to the lifestyle of a planktonic filter feeder in a highly variable aquatic environment.

Respiratory plasticity in response to changes in oxygen supply and demand

Aerobic organisms maintain O(2) homeostasis by responding to changes in O(2) supply and demand in both short and long time domains. In this review, we introduce several specific examples of respiratory plasticity induced by chronic changes in O(2) supply (environmental hypoxia or hyperoxia) and demand (exercise-induced and temperature-induced changes in aerobic metabolism). These studies reveal that plasticity occurs throughout the respiratory system, including modifications to the gas exchanger, respiratory pigments, respiratory muscles, and the neural control systems responsible for ventilating the gas exchanger. While some of these responses appear appropriate (e.g., increases in lung surface area, blood O(2) capacity, and pulmonary ventilation in hypoxia), other responses are potentially harmful (e.g., increased muscle fatigability). Thus, it may be difficult to predict whole-animal performance based on the plasticity of a single system. Moreover, plastic responses may differ quantitatively and qualitatively at different developmental stages. Much of the current research in this field is focused on identifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying respiratory plasticity. These studies suggest that a few key molecules, such as hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) and erythropoietin, may be involved in the expression of diverse forms of plasticity within and across species. Studying the various ways in which animals respond to respiratory challenges will enable a better understanding of the integrative response to chronic changes in O(2) supply and demand.

Molecular mass of macromolecules and subunits and the quaternary structure of hemoglobin from the microcrustacean Daphnia magna

The molecular masses of macromolecules and subunits of the extracellular hemoglobin from the fresh-water crustacean Daphnia magna were determined by analytical ultracentrifugation, multiangle laser light scattering and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The hemoglobins from hypoxia-incubated, hemoglobin-rich and normoxia-incubated, hemoglobin-poor Daphnia magna were analyzed separately. The sedimentation coefficient of the macromolecule was 17.4 +/- 0.1 S, and its molecular mass was 583 kDa (hemoglobin-rich animals) determined by AUC and 590.4 +/- 11.1 kDa (hemoglobin-rich animals) and 597.5 +/- 49 kDa (hemoglobin-poor animals), respectively, determined by multiangle laser light scattering. Measurements of the hemoglobin subunit mass of hemoglobin-rich animals by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry revealed a significant peak at 36.482 +/- 0.0015 kDa, i.e. 37.715 kDa including two heme groups. The hemoglobin subunits are modified by O-linked glycosylation in the pre-A segments of domains 1. No evidence for phosphorylation of hemoglobin subunits was found. The subunit migration behavior during SDS/PAGE was shown to be influenced by the buffer system used (Tris versus phosphate). The subunit mass heterogeneity found using Tris buffering can be explained by glycosylation of hemoglobin subunits. Based on molecular mass information, Daphnia magna hemoglobin is demonstrated to consist of 16 subunits. The quaternary structure of the Daphnia magna hemoglobin macromolecule was assessed by three-dimensional reconstructions via single-particle analysis based on negatively stained electron microscopic specimens. It turned out to be much more complex than hitherto proposed: it displays D4 symmetry with a diameter of approximately 12 nm and a height of about 8 nm.

Oxygen Preference ofDaphnia magnaIs Influenced by Po2Acclimation and Biotic Interactions

Oxygen preference of the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna was observed within an oxygen gradient. Long-term acclimation to specific oxygen conditions determined the preferred oxygen tension. Animals from hypoxic acclimation stayed in oxygen-poor water at first. They chose oxygen tensions above the critical partial pressure, thus maintaining aerobic energy supply, but they avoided higher oxygen concentrations. However, they gradually took more oxygen-rich positions within 2 d. Animals from severe hypoxic and hyperoxic acclimation showed stenoxic behavior. Specimens raised in moderately hypoxic or normoxic medium spread out more widely in the oxygen gradient (euryoxic behavior). The possible role of hemoglobin and antioxidant defense capacity limiting the animals' distribution at low or high oxygen concentrations, respectively, is discussed. In tests with mixed groups of D. magna from opposing oxygen acclimation conditions, the animals clustered at intermediate oxygen conditions. However, the acclimation condition of the major group was found to determine the position taken within the gradient to a greater extent. Selected oxygen tensions were closer to the preference values of the larger group, yet the influence of the minority prevented the majority in heterogeneous groups from taking their originally determined preference position. Thus, aggregation behavior interfered with the acclimation-dependent oxygen preference behavior.

Macromolecular isoforms of Daphnia magna haemoglobin

The haemoglobin (Hb) of Daphnia magna acclimated to different oxygen conditions was sampled, and in its natively assembled state it was separated by chromatofocusing. The Hb isoforms were analysed for their subunit composition under denaturating conditions by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The Hb system is suggested to consist of three predominant Hb aggregates, which are characterised by a specific subunit composition and synthesised in response to different ambient oxygen conditions. In normoxia, a dominant Hb aggregate (DmHbI) with a pI of 4.4-4.6 was composed of subunits B, C, E, F and G. In severe hypoxia, a different dominant Hb isoform (DmHbIII) with a pI of 5.7-5.9 was composed of subunits A, B, C, D, E and F. Further analyses in moderate hypoxia provided evidence for a third Hb isoform (DmHbII) composed of subunits B, C, D, E and F. Sequence alignment and homology modelling of the tertiary structure of the D. magna Hb domains 1 and 2 revealed functionally relevant substitutions of amino acid residues at positions B10, E7 and E11, which determine the functional properties of D. magna haemoglobin in terms of haem contact, oxygen binding and affinity. Both domains are predicted to possess the common haemoglobin fold, but helices C and D are not properly formed, and helix G is interrupted by a short coil.

Control of oxygen transport in the microcrustacean Daphnia: regulation of haemoglobin expression as central mechanism of adaptation to different oxygen and temperature conditions

The pathway for oxygen, the control of oxygen transport and the role of haemoglobin expression for the physiological adaptation to different oxygen and temperature conditions were studied in the ecological model organism Daphnia magna. Ventilation of the inner walls of the carapace as the main gas exchange area as well as of the embryos in the brood pouch are controlled, oxygen-dependent processes. The P(O2)-dependent increase of heart rate as well as perfusion rate during short-term, progressive hypoxia improves the circulatory oxygen transport within the body. The regulation of haemoglobin (Hb) expression is the central mechanism for a medium-term adaptation to hypoxia. Genetic control elements and oxygen conditions near the two Hb synthesis sites (fat cells, epipodite epithelial cells) determine, which types of Hb subunits and, accordingly, hetero-multimeric Hb macromolecules are produced. One synthesis site may respond mainly to internal, the other one to external oxygen conditions. Depending on environmental condition, either higher quantities of macromolecules of unchanged functionality (P50) or increasing amounts of macromolecules with higher oxygen affinity are synthesized. The Hb subunit DmHbA is probably of considerable importance for this functional change. The physiological benefits of haemoglobin in Daphnia are discussed. Physiological adaptation of Daphnia to different temperatures is also related to the control of oxygen transport processes with the regulation of haemoglobin expression again as a central mechanism.

A swimming activity assay shows that the thermal tolerance ofDaphnia magnais influenced by temperature acclimation

Daphnia magna Straus, 1820 is a widespread zooplanktic organism enduring considerable changes in oxygen concentration and temperature within its natural habitat. The thermal tolerance window of D. magna was analyzed using the animals' swimming activity as a test parameter in a photometrical assay. Acclimation to different temperatures (10, 20, 30 °C) resulted in a shift of the thermal optimum corresponding to acclimation conditions. Acclimation to warm temperatures also increased the upper thermal tolerance limit in acute thermal tolerance tests. However, the magnitude of the resulting shift in the acute thermal tolerance (LT50) was much smaller. An increase in acclimation temperature by 10 °C changed the thermal optimum by approximately this value, whereas the LT50was enhanced only by 1–2 °C. The time course of the acclimation process was followed by surveying temperature-dependent swimming activity upon the transfer of animals raised in a medium at 20 °C to a medium at 30 °C. Maximum swimming intensity at 20 °C was lost within 3 days. The swimming behavior resembled that of animals acclimated to 30 °C after 2 weeks, indicating that acclimation to the elevated temperature was achieved.

Molecular adaptation of Daphnia magna hemoglobin

Daphnia magna responds to changing environmental conditions impeding aerobic metabolism by synthesizing hemoglobin of adequate quantity and quality to maintain oxygen supply of the tissues. Hemoglobin subunit composition and its oxygen affinity were analyzed as a function of temperature as well as depending on the oxygen partial pressure of the medium. Additionally, the time course of acclimation to hypoxia was studied. Correlating structural and functional changes, the role of individual subunits for the increase in oxygen affinity is discussed.

Differential haemoglobin gene expression in the crustacean Daphnia magna exposed to different oxygen partial pressures

The quantity and quality of the haemoglobin (Hb) of Daphnia magna is related to oxygen partial pressure in the water. Both the dynamics of hypoxia-induced Hb gene transcription, as well as Hb properties in animals incubated long-term at hyperoxia, normoxia and hypoxia, were investigated. Examination of Hb gene (dhb1-dhb3) transcription showed the expression of dhb2 and especially dhb3 to increase markedly approximately one hour after the onset of hypoxia, whereas dhb1 was expressed more or less constitutively. At an incubation close to anoxia, an onset of dhb3 transcription was found already after two minutes. In long-term incubated animals, concentration and oxygen affinity of Hb were lower at higher oxygen partial pressures. With decreasing oxygen availability, the subunit composition of Hb macromolecules changed. The share of the dhb2-encoded subunit, DHbF, increased already during moderate hypoxia. The increase of dhb3 mRNA (encoding DHbC) may be related to a transient increase of DHbC in the first days of hypoxia and/or to an additional coding of dhb3 for DHbD. The rise of DHbD, and particularly DHbA, only at severe hypoxia coincided with the increase of Hb oxygen affinity. The dhb1-encoded subunits DHbB and DHbE showed either a relatively moderate increase or even a decrease in concentration at hypoxia. In small animals with restricted homeostasis capabilities such as Daphnia, adaptation of the protein equipment seems to be a more effective strategy than allosteric modulator control.

The process of hypoxic induction of Daphnia magna hemoglobin: subunit composition and functional properties

The process of oxygen-dependent hemoglobin induction in Daphnia magna was studied over an 11-day period of hypoxia (ambient oxygen partial pressure: 3 kPa). Along with the increase of hemoglobin concentration in the hemolymph, hemoglobin became the dominant protein fraction in gel filtration experiments using extracts of whole animals. The size of the native aggregates was constant. However, subunit composition depended on the duration of hypoxia: the pattern of predominantly expressed subunits under hypoxia deviated from that of normoxic individuals. The varying degree of hypoxic induction for different hemoglobin subunits was confirmed by autoradiography. Along with changes in hemoglobin subunit composition, oxygen affinity of the respiratory protein increased. The dynamics of the hemoglobin induction process was analysed. Newly synthesized hemoglobin can be detected within 18 h after the onset of hypoxia. A marked increase in hemoglobin concentration is evident from the third day of hypoxia, and a steady state of hemoglobin concentration is reached within 11 days. The changes of hemoglobin subunit expression in response to hypoxia form the structural basis for the observed adjustments of hemoglobin function leading to enhanced oxygen transport at low ambient oxygen concentrations.

Temperature acclimation influences temperature-related behaviour as well as oxygen-transport physiology and biochemistry in the water fleaDaphnia magna

To evaluate the role of temperature in oxygen transport in the water flea Daphnia magna, temperature-related behaviour as well as oxygen-transport physiology and biochemistry were investigated in animals long-term acclimated to moderate temperatures: 10, 20, or 30°C (normoxia) or 20°C (hypoxia). Study of the behaviour of animal groups within a normoxic thermal gradient showed their preferred temperatures and distribution patterns to be connected with acclimation conditions; for example, cold-acclimated individuals, with their relatively high metabolic rates and low oxygen-transport capacities, crowded at low temperatures where the oxygen concentration was high. One key to explaining these data is to assume a strategy of avoiding oxygen shortage. Both temperature and hypoxia acclimation also modified oxygen-transport variables such as oxygen consumption, ventilation and circulation rates, or the concentration and oxygen affinity of haemoglobin. Characteristic features of cold-acclimated D. magna were relatively high oxygen-consumption and heart rates and a low concentration and oxygen affinity of haemoglobin. Hypoxia-acclimated D. magna showed relatively low convective rates (frequency of thoracic-limb movements, heart rate) but a high concentration and oxygen affinity of haemoglobin. Additional experiments showed that independently of each other, temperature and ambient oxygen concentration modify haemoglobin quantity and quality, the former possibly acting via a temperature-induced hypoxia. The varying oxygen affinity is probably due to alterations of haemoglobin subunit composition, with the particular participation of subunits A, E, and G as revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.