ARCTIC Antifreeze Proteins in the Arctic Shorthorn Sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius)

• Main Authors: Garth L. Fletcher, Richard F. Addison, Don Slaughter, Choy L. Hew
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Canada; Ellesmere Island; Grise Fiord; Arctique*; Newfoundland; Terre-Neuve
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.549.6493; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic35-2-302.pdf

ABSTRACT. The plasma of shorthorn sculpin caught at Grise Fiord (Southern Ellesmere Island, arctic Canada) during late August contained antifreeze proteins which were essentially identical, with respect to molecular weight, number of components and amino acid composition, to the antifreeze proteins found in Newfoundland populations of shorthorn sculpin. The concentration of antifreeze protein in the plasma of the arctic sculpins during the summer was similar to that observed in the plasma of Newfoundland sculpin during the winter. The results suggest that unlike their Newfoundland counterparts, the plasma of sculpin residing in the High Arctic contains high concentrations of antifreeze protein all year round. Key words: shorthorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius, antifreeze proteins RESUME. Le plasma de chaboisseaux a Cpines courtes captures a Grise Fjord (Territoire du Nord-Ouest) a la fin d'aoGt contenait des protCines resistantes au froid. Celles-ci etaient essentiellement identiques, en considerant le poids molkculaire, le nombre d'ClCments et la composition de I'acide aminee, aux protCines resistantes au froid trouvCes chez des populations de chaboisseaux 2 Cpines courtes de Terre-Neuve. La concentration de protCines rCsistantes au froid dans le plasma des chaboisseaux a Cpines courtes de I'Arctique durant I'ttC, Ctait similaire A celle observCe dans le plasma des chaboisseaux a Cpines courtes de Terre-Neuve durant I'hiver. Les rtsultats suggtrent que le plasma des chaboisseaux residant dans le Haut Arctique contient toute I'annte de plus hautes concentrations de proteines resistantes au froid. Traduit par Claude Rocheleau, ArkCos Inc., Montreal.