First published online June 15, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 2462-2471 (2006)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2006
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02268
Mitochondrial mechanisms of cold adaptation in cod (Gadus morhua L.) populations from different climatic zones
M. Lucassen*,
N. Koschnick,
L. G. Eckerle and
H.-O. Pörtner
Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Physiology of
Marine Animals, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany

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Fig. 1. Effects of temperature acclimation on mRNA levels of (A) citrate synthase
and (B) cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 in white muscle of G.
morhua from North Sea (NSC) and Barents Sea (NEAC). The relative
quantities of CISY and COX2 were determined from ribonuclease protection
assays. Data were corrected for loading differences using the 18S rRNA signal.
Values are means ± s.e.m. (N=56) and expressed relative
to the warm-acclimated control group (NSC, 10°C), which was set to 1. The
data were tested for outliers at the 95% significance level using Nalimov's
test (Noack, 1980 ).
*Significant difference from the warm-acclimated control group within a
population; *significant difference between populations at the same
acclimation temperature.
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Fig. 2. mRNA levels of (A) citrate synthase and (B) cytochrome c oxidase
subunit 2 in the liver of G. morhua from North Sea (NSC) and Barents
Sea (NEAC), respectively, acclimated to 4°C and 10°C. The relative
quantities of CISY and COX2 were determined from ribonuclease protection
assays. Data were corrected for loading differences using the 18S rRNA signal.
Values are means ± s.e.m. (N=56) and expressed relative
to the warm-acclimated control group (NSC, 10°C), which was set to 1. The
data were tested for outliers at the 95% significance level using Nalimov's
test (Noack, 1980 ).
*Significant difference from the warm-acclimated control group within a
population; *significant difference between populations at the same
acclimation temperature.
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Fig. 3. Effects of temperature acclimation on maximum activities of (A) citrate
synthase and (B) cytochrome c oxidase in white muscle of G.
morhua. Activities were measured at 10°C. Values are means ±
s.e.m. (N=56). The data were tested for outliers at the 95%
significance level using Nalimov'stest
(Noack, 1980 ). *Significant
difference from the warm-acclimated control group within a population;
*significant difference between populations at the same acclimation
temperature.
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Fig. 4. Maximum activities of (A,B) citrate synthase and (C,D) cytochrome
c oxidase in liver of G. morhua after acclimation to 4°C
and 10°C. Activities were measured at 10°C. The values in A and C are
expressed relative to wet mass. For the calculation of activities in total
liver (B,D) individual enzyme activities determined per g wet mass were
multiplied by the hepatosomatic index thus yielding an activity value for all
liver in 100 g fish. Values are means ± s.e.m. (N=56).
The data were tested for outliers at the 95% significance level using
Nalimov'stest (Noack, 1980 ).
*Significant difference from the warm-acclimated control group within a
population; *significant difference between populations at the same
acclimation temperature.
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Fig. 5. Enzymatic activities versus mRNA levels in liver of cold
acclimated G. morhua. (A) Citrate synthase (CS); (B) Cytochrome
c oxidase (COX). Enzyme activities (per g fresh mass; 10°C assay
temperature) and mRNA levels (per g fresh mass) were normalized by setting the
mean activity of warm-acclimated G. morhua from the North Sea
population to 1. Cold acclimation led to increments in maximum activities of
both enzymes, reflecting a higher aerobic capacity in the Arctic population.
Citrate synthase activities were significantly correlated with the increase in
mRNA levels in both populations, in line with transcriptional control of this
enzyme. No such correlation was found for cytochrome c oxidase
activity and COX2 mRNA levels despite a significant increase in mRNA levels
for the Arctic population. Open circles, G. morhua (North Sea, NSC);
filled triangles, G. morhua (north eastern Arctic Sea NEAC). Broken
line, line of identity for COX (y=1.0x).
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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2006