Detecting the adaptive mechanism of crustaceans when hypoxic

According to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists at Oregon State University, USA, have shown that crustaceans belong to the genus Tigriopus californicus, without gills to breathe or molecules carrying oxygen like hemoglobin. There is a new mechanism to combat low oxygen levels in the water.

Species of crustaceans belonging to the genus Tigriopus californicus have a new mechanism to counteract low oxygen levels in the water - (Photo: L.Chalker-Scott).

The number of areas with low oxygen levels is becoming more and more in the waters of the world, mainly due to artificial factors, such as irrigation, fossil fuel burning and wastewater treatment. Hypoxia is a lack of oxygen in the aquatic environment , the main cause for some animals to change the way oxygen is supplied to their cells. The so-called HIF (HIF-pathway) path is one of the mechanisms involved in this. It involves the production of HIF1A enzyme , which contributes to the increase and supply of oxygen to hypoxic regions.

However, Pacific crustacean Tigriopus californicus lacks the main genetic components of the HIF pathway, they do not have gills or molecules, such as human hemoglobin, which increase the ability of blood to transport oxygen. However, they are still able to withstand extremely low oxygen levels for at least 24 hours at both larval and adult stages.

Research by American scientists shows that crustaceans Tigriopus californicus can rely on other genes involved in re-organizing epidermis and chitin metabolism to successfully respond to hypoxia.

It is the membrane that secretes and covers the epidermis, outside of the skin and chitin, forming the frame of crustaceans. Solving RNA sequences in animals exposed to low oxygen levels in water shows the expression of more than 400 genes, in which chitin and transgenic reorganization genes reflect consistent change. in hypoxia (anoxia).

According to scientists, there is no respiratory structure or special molecules, T. californicus can rely on the diffusion of skin to exchange carbon dioxide to acquire oxygen.