Publication Date:
2017-11-08
Description:
Metabolic regulation, control of gene expression or the evolutionary origin of new proteins are
examples of biochemical adaptations that allow organisms to survive within a wide spectrum of
environmental conditions. The North Sea shrimp Crangon crangon has high reproduction rates. It is
an opportunistic feeder and shows to be well adapted to heterogeneous and variable environmental
conditions. Previous studies revealed unusual expression patterns and isoforms of digestive enzymes
with a high variability between individuals and between seasons. Such a pronounced variability is not
common in other decapod species. The unspecific feeding habits of C. crangon can be seen as an
adaptation to a variable environment. This may be supported by the heterogeneity of digestive
endopeptidases due to the variability of food sources. Previous studies showed protein polymorphism
as a phase in molecular evolution. It represents the first step in the long‐lasting establishment of
mutations within populations. The reasons for the unusual heterogeneity of digestive enzymes in C.
crangon are not yet clear, but a better understanding of this phenomenon can help to explain the
extraordinary performance of C. crangon in a highly variable environment. We obtained the
transcriptome of midgut gland tissue from C. crangon, which we used as a basis for gene expression
analyses. Additionally, the obtained sequences were analysed for isoforms of the key digestive
enzymes. First results indicate that the expression of digestive enzymes in C. crangon follow a similar
pattern as previously seen in enzyme activities. Cysteine proteinases seem to have more isoforms
participating in the extracellular digestion than serine proteinases. This approach will help to better
understand processes that modulate the unique expression pattern of digestive enzymes and
biochemical strategies that allow this species to exist in a very variable environment.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Conference
,
notRev