Protein expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) in spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) exposed to constant and diel-cycling hypoxia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2012
Abstract
Fish kills often occur overnight from low dissolved oxygen (DO) events, however many mortality events are of unknown cause, since little water quality monitoring occurs overnight. The hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) protein is an excellent candidate as a biomarker for deciphering idiopathic fish kills. In this study, spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) were exposed to either constant or diel-cycling hypoxia, and HIF-1α expression was compared to normoxic control over three days. The results indicated that HIF-1α protein increased (p < 0.005) in muscle tissue after three days exposure to both constant and a simulated diel-cycling hypoxic event in a laboratory setting when compared to normoxic control animals. In comparison, diel-cycling hypoxia produced higher HIF-1α protein concentrations than constant hypoxia in all treatments, suggesting that the fluctuations of DO induced the expression of protein. The results from this study pose implications for using HIF-1α as a biomarker in wild populations, as overnight hypoxic cycles may produce higher protein concentrations than a constant hypoxic event, which would enable the detection of otherwise unnoticed hypoxic stress. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Publication Title
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Volume
424-425
First Page
1
Last Page
4
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.jembe.2012.04.020
ISSN
00220981
Citation Information
Smith, Gelsleichter, J., & Smith, K. J. (2012). Protein expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) in spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) exposed to constant and diel-cycling hypoxia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 424-425, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2012.04.020