The strange anti-cold way of Antarctic octopus

A new study by scientists shows that in order to adapt to the glacial waters of Antarctica, the squid used a special way to change RNAs.

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When neurons operate, the protein channels in its cell membrane open or close to allow different ions to enter or exit. In a cold environment, low temperatures will prevent proteins from passing signals to the nervous system because low temperatures will delay the closed state of potassium channels, thereby impeding the ability of the system to transmit signals. nervous system.

Therefore, scientists predict that animals living in cold environments will improve their potassium channels to be able to adapt to life in low-temperature environments.

Antarctic octopus species modifies ARN to like
doubt with their icy habitat.

Joshua Rosenthal and Sandra Garrett from Puerto Rico University of Medical Sciences say they have found the answer to this problem.'I think we are studying this transformation from genetic research , ' Rosenthal said on Wired.

In his work, two experts from Puerto Rico conducted a comparison of two octopus, one living in the icy waters of Antarctica and one living in Puerto Rican coral, which has heat The average is about 25-35 degrees.

The comparison results show that the DNA sequence of the potassium channels inside the body of both octopus is almost identical.

Rosenthal and Garret then implanted these genes into frog egg cells. This approach helps scientists know the electrical activity of the potassium channels of each octopus species. Experimental results show that the function of the potassium channels of the two octopus species is basically the same. Meanwhile, if in its habitat habitat, the Antarctic octopus's potassium channel is 60 times slower than its counterpart living in Puerto Rican.

So how can organisms living in icy polar regions maintain the normal functioning of the nervous system? Scientists conclude that these animals have used a different method of modifying RNA to modify proteins in cell membranes.

In the process of modifying RNA, cells change the nucleotide sequence. This change allows them to change the sequence of amino acids in the protein, thereby changing the function of these proteins.

Through research, scientists found that Antarctic octopus changed 9 points on their RNA, thereby changing amino acids of potassium channels.

The results of Josenthal and Garrett were published on the Science magazine website. In this article, Josenthal and Garrett also point out that, of the 9 modified points, the I321V position is particularly important for the ability to adapt to cold environments. The change in this position caused a twofold increase in the closing rate of the potassium channel in Antarctic octopus cells.