Molecular analysis, tissue profiles, and seasonal patterns of cytosolic and mitochondrial GPDH in freeze-resistant rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax)

Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) is an anadromous teleost that, beginning in late fall, accumulates plasma glycerol in excess of 200 mM, which subsequently decreases in the spring. The activity of cytosolic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (cGPDH) is higher (i) in liver of smelt than in that of Atla...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiological and Biochemical Zoology
Main Authors: Robinson, Jason L., Hall, Jennifer R., Charman, Mark, Ewart, K. Vanya, Driedzic, William R.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1086/660162
https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=b412ea5a-8f65-42e3-bfd3-a07e4d9692ae
https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=b412ea5a-8f65-42e3-bfd3-a07e4d9692ae
Description
Summary:Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) is an anadromous teleost that, beginning in late fall, accumulates plasma glycerol in excess of 200 mM, which subsequently decreases in the spring. The activity of cytosolic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (cGPDH) is higher (i) in liver of smelt than in that of Atlantic salmon and capelin (nonglycerol accumulators), (ii) in liver of smelt maintained at 1°C than in that of smelt held at 8°-10°C, and (iii) in smelt liver than in smelt muscle, heart, brain, or kidney. In addition, transcript levels of cGPDH in liver peak in December during the onset of glycerol production and then decline over the remainder of the season. There are four cGPDH protein isoforms in smelt liver that are present regardless of glycerol production status. A minimum of four cGPDH gene copies identified by Southern blotting provide adequate genetic potential to yield multiple protein isoforms. A full-length cDNA for smelt mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) was cloned and characterized. The 2,790-bp cDNA contains a 109-bp 5'UTR, a 2,193-bp open reading frame, and a 488-bp 3'UTR; transcripts are ubiquitously expressed in both warm- and cold-acclimated smelt tissues. Smelt mGPDH encodes a 730-aa protein that clusters with that of zebrafish and frog and contains several common structural motifs. mGPDH transcript levels generally increase late in the seasonal glycerol cycle, and mGPDH enzyme activity increases significantly durduring the glycerol decrease phase. Taken together, these findings suggest that liver cGPDH and mGPDH play a key role in the glycerol accumulation and decrease phases, respectively. © 2011 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. Peer reviewed: Yes NRC publication: Yes