Changes in Mitochondrial Gene and Protein Expression in Grass Shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, Exposed to Chronic Hypoxia

Authors

Marius Brouwer, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Thea Hoexum-Brouwer, University of Southern Mississippi
Steve Manning, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Nancy Denslow, University of FloridaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2008

Department

Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Abstract

Spatial and temporal increases of hypoxia in estuaries are of major environmental concern. Since mitochondria consume most of the oxygen in the cell, we examined the potential role of mitochondrial gene and protein expression in adaptation to chronic hypoxia in the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio. Grass shrimp were exposed to DO levels slightly above and below the critical pO(2), 1.8 mg/L, for P. pugio, and hypoxia-induced alterations in gene expression were screened using custom cDNA macroarrays. Mitochondrial gene expression was not affected by exposure to moderate hypoxia (2.5 mg/L DO). However, chronic exposure to severe hypoxia (1.5 mg/L DO) for 7 days resulted in an increase of transcription of genes present in the mitochondrial genome (including 16S rRNA and Ccox 1), together with up-regulation of genes involved in Fe/heme metabolism. This pattern was completely reversed by day 14, when a significant down-regulation of these genes was observed. Separating mitochondrial proteins in two dimensions by IEF and reverse phase chromatography, followed by LC/MS/MS of differentially expressed proteins, showed cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2, encoded by Ccox 2, was down-regulated after 12 d exposure to severe hypoxia. It appears therefore that decreases in mitochondrial Ccox gene transcription result in decreased mitochondrial Ccox protein synthesis. These results suggest that mitochondrial genes and proteins show promise as molecular indicators of exposure to hypoxia. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Marine Environmental Research

Volume

66

Issue

1

First Page

143

Last Page

145

Recommended Citation

Brouwer, M., Brown-Peterson, N. J., Hoexum-Brouwer, T., Manning, S., Denslow, N. (2008). Changes in Mitochondrial Gene and Protein Expression in Grass Shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, Exposed to Chronic Hypoxia. Marine Environmental Research, 66(1), 143-145.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/1485