Determination of acute protein biosynthesis rates in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis: the role of hemolymph parameters in temperature dependent growth
Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Climate change leads to increasing water temperatures and the question how that may effect marine ectothermic communities needs to be answered.It is commonly known that marine ectothermic animals have an optimum temperature range and grow less efficient at higher temperatures.For a better understanding and to model potential population dynamics, not only ecological, but also physiological data are needed.Therefore, this study aimed to investigate cause and effect relation of temperature-dependent growth.The temperature itself is not the only factor causing temperature-dependent growth, since it affects body fluid parameters, such as extracellular PO2, PCO2 and pH as well as other parameters of the carbonate system.It is unclear, which of these factors is/are the main factor(s) determining temperature-dependent growth in marine ectotherms.This study investigated the specific effects of temperature and pH, while specifically controlling PO2 and PCO2, on protein biosynthesis as a measure for somatic growth of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, which serves as a model organism for marine ectotherms.Protein biosynthesis was measured directly via 13 C-phenylalanine incorporation into proteins of isolated gill tissue of M. edulis using 13 C-NMR spectroscopy.The control incubation led to extremely variable protein biosynthesis rates and was therefore neglected for further interpretation of the results.The remaining four treatments revealed significant differences between those treatments that differed PO2 and PCO2 (p<0.05).Increased temperature, independent of other hemolymph parameters, though, did not affect protein biosynthesis when the other hemolymph parameters were constant (p>0.05).Further, pH was most likely not the determining factor for temperature-dependent growth, although some samples still need to be measured in order to further confirm this preliminary evidence.These findings led to the conclusion that PO2, PCO2 and/or bicarbonate concentrations are most likely the main factors to trigger temperature-dependent growth.
Author: Franziska Kupprat
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2261774371