Metabolomic Fingerprint of Cryo-Stress in a Freeze Tolerant Insect

Authors: Hawes, T.C.; Hines, A.; Viant, M.R.; Bale, J.S.; Worland, M.R.; Convey, P.

Source: Cryoletters, Volume 29, Number 6, November 2008 , pp. 505-515(11)

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Abstract:

This study employed ¹H NMR spectroscopy to assay the metabolome of the high Arctic freeze-tolerant dipteran larvae, Heleomyza borealis, after recovery from exposure to a range of sub-zero temperature treatments. Our data demonstrate the resilience of freeze tolerance in individuals of this permanently freeze-tolerant species that were acclimated to summer temperatures (5°C): recovery of homeostasis after 48h was not significantly disturbed by 2h exposures to -3, -12, or -20°C. Evidence of homeostatic perturbation to cryo-stress - both in terms of changes in specific metabolite concentrations as well as systemic changes in metabolism determined using multivariate pattern recognition techniques - was expressed almost entirely at a temperature coincident with the significant onset of mortality (-25°C) and considerably below the minimum winter temperatures of its over-wintering habitat (c.-12°C).

Keywords: FREEZE TOLERANCE; NMR; METABOLOMICS; HELEOMYZA BOREALIS; HOMEOSTASIS; PROLINE

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2008-11-01

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CryoLetters is a bimonthly international journal for low temperature sciences, including cryobiology, cryopreservation or vitrification of cells and tissues, chemical and physical aspects of freezing and drying, and studies involving ecology of cold environments, and cold adaptation
The journal publishes original research reports, authoritative reviews, technical developments and commissioned book reviews of studies of the effects produced by low temperatures on a wide variety of scientific and technical processes, or those involving low temperature techniques in the investigation of physical, chemical, biological and ecological problems.