QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fraser, K. P. P. Articles by Peck, L. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fraser, K. P. P. Articles by Peck, L. S. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Journal of Experimental Biology 205, 3077-3086 (2002)
© 2002 The Company of Biologists Limited

Low-temperature protein metabolism: seasonal changes in protein synthesis and RNA dynamics in the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna Strebel 1908

Keiron P. P. Fraser^*, Andrew Clarke and Lloyd S. Peck

Natural Environment Research Council, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: kppf{at}pcmail.nerc-bas.ac.uk)

Accepted 9 July 2002

Protein synthesis is a fundamental and energetically expensive physiological process in all living organisms. Very few studies have examined the specific challenges of manufacturing proteins at low ambient temperatures. At high southern latitudes, water temperatures are continually below or near freezing and are highly stable, while food availability is very seasonal. To examine the effects of low temperature and a highly seasonal food supply on protein metabolism, we have measured wholebody protein synthesis, RNA concentrations, RNA:protein ratios and RNA translational efficiencies in the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna at four times of the year. From summer to winter, protein synthesis rates decreased by 52%, RNA concentrations decreased by 55% and RNA:protein ratios decreased by 68%, while RNA translational efficiencies were low and very variable. Protein synthesis rates in N. concinna approached those measured in temperate mussels, while RNA:protein ratios were considerably higher than in temperate species. Interspecific comparisons show that species living at low temperatures have elevated RNA:protein ratios, which are probably needed to counteract a thermally induced reduction in RNA translational efficiency. Calculations using theoretical energetic costs of protein synthesis suggest that Antarctic species may allocate a larger proportion of their metabolic budget to protein synthesis than do temperate or tropical species.

Key words: protein synthesis, RNA:protein ratio, Antarctic limpet, Nacella concinna, temperature

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. D. Rogers Evolution and biodiversity of Antarctic organisms: a molecular perspective Phil Trans R Soc B, December 29, 2007; 362(1488): 2191 - 2214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. O Portner, L. Peck, and G. Somero Thermal limits and adaptation in marine Antarctic ectotherms: an integrative view Phil Trans R Soc B, December 29, 2007; 362(1488): 2233 - 2258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. P. Fraser, A. Clarke, and L. S. Peck Growth in the slow lane: protein metabolism in the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna (Strebel 1908) J. Exp. Biol., August 1, 2007; 210(15): 2691 - 2699. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Lewis and W. R. Driedzic Tissue-specific changes in protein synthesis associated with seasonal metabolic depression and recovery in the north temperate labrid, Tautogolabrus adspersus Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2007; 293(1): R474 - R481. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. D. Bowgen, K. P. P. Fraser, L. S. Peck, and A. Clarke Energetic cost of synthesizing proteins in Antarctic limpet, Nacella concinna (Strebel, 1908), is not temperature dependent Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 2007; 292(6): R2266 - R2274. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Pace and D. T. Manahan Cost of Protein Synthesis and Energy Allocation During Development of Antarctic Sea Urchin Embryos and Larvae Biol. Bull., April 1, 2007; 212(2): 115 - 129. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. F. Gillooly, A. P. Allen, J. H. Brown, J. J. Elser, C. M. del Rio, V. M. Savage, G. B. West, W. H. Woodruff, and H. A. Woods The metabolic basis of whole-organism RNA and phosphorus content PNAS, August 16, 2005; 102(33): 11923 - 11927. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Storch, G. Lannig, and H. O. Portner Temperature-dependent protein synthesis capacities in Antarctic and temperate (North Sea) fish (Zoarcidae) J. Exp. Biol., June 15, 2005; 208(12): 2409 - 2420. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. P. Place and G. E. Hofmann Comparison of Hsc70 orthologs from polar and temperate notothenioid fishes: differences in prevention of aggregation and refolding of denatured proteins Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2005; 288(5): R1195 - R1202. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]