Ammonia transporter 2 as a molecular marker to elucidate the potentials of ammonia transport in phylotypes of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium and Durusdinium in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa.

Giant clams harbor coccoid Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates that are phototrophic. These dinoflagellates generally include multiple phylotypes (species) of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium in disparate proportions depending on the environmental conditions. The coccoid symbionts can share photosynthate with the clam host, which in return supply them with nutrients containing inorganic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Symbionts can recycle nitrogen by absorbing and assimilating the endogenous ammonia produced by the host. This study aimed to use the transcript levels of ammonia transporter 2 (AMT2) in Symbiodinium (Symb-AMT2), Cladocopium (Clad-AMT2) and Durusdinium (Duru-AMT2) as molecular indicators to estimate the potential of ammonia transport in these three genera of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates in different organs of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, obtained from Vietnam. We also determined the transcript levels of form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcII) and nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) in Symbiodinium (Symb-rbcII; Symb-NRT2), Cladocopium (Clad-rbcII; Clad-NRT2) and Durusdinium (Duru-rbcII; Duru-NRT2), in order to examine the potential of ammonia transport with reference to the potentials of phototrophy or NO3- uptake independent of the quantities and proportion of these Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes. Our results indicated for the first time that phylotypes of Symbiodinium and Cladocopium could have different potentials of ammonia transport, and that phylotypes of Symbiodinium might have higher potential of NO3- transport than ammonia transport. They also suggested that Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes residing in different organs of T. squamosa could have disparate potentials of ammonia transport, alluding to the functional diversity among phylotypes of coccoid Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium.

Molecular characterization, immunofluorescent localization, and expression levels of two bicarbonate anion transporters in the whitish mantle of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, and the implications for light-enhanced shell formation.

Giant clams conduct light-enhanced shell formation, which requires the increased transport of Ca2+ and inorganic carbon (Ci) from the hemolymph through the shell-facing epithelium of the whitish inner mantle to the extrapallial fluid where CaCO3 deposition occurs. The major form of Ci in the hemolymph is HCO3-, but the mechanisms of HCO3- transport through the basolateral and apical membranes of the shell-facing epithelial cells remain unknown. This study aimed to clone from the inner mantle of Tridacna squamosa the complete coding cDNA sequences of electrogenic Na+-HCO3-cotransporter 1 homolog (NBCe1-like-b) and electrogenic Na+-HCO3-cotransporter 2 homolog (NBCe2-like). NBCe1-like-b comprised 3360 bp, encoding a 125.7 kDa protein with 1119 amino acids. NBCe1-like-b was slightly different from NBCe1-like-a of the ctenidium reported elsewhere, as it had a serine residue (Ser1025), which might undergo phosphorylation leading to the transport of Na+: HCO3- at a ratio of 1: 2 into the cell. NBCe1-like-b was localized at the basolateral membrane of the shell-facing epithelial cells, and its gene and protein expression levels increased significantly in the inner mantle during illumination, indicating a role in the light-enhanced uptake of HCO3- from the hemolymph. The sequence of NBCe2-like obtained from the inner mantle was identical to that reported previously for the outer mantle. In the inner mantle, NBCe2-like had an apical localization in the shell-facing epithelial cells, and its protein abundance was upregulated during illumination. Hence, NBCe2-like might take part in the light-enhanced transport of HCO3- through the apical membrane of these cells into the extrapallial fluid.

Evidence for the involvement of branchial Vacuolar-type H+-ATPase in the acidification of the external medium by the West African lungfish, Protopterus annectens, exposed to ammonia-loading conditions.

African lungfishes are obligatory air-breathers with exceptionally high environmental ammonia tolerance. They can lower the pH of the external medium during exposure to ammonia-loading conditions. This study aimed to demonstrate the possible involvement of branchial vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (Vha) in the ammonia-induced acidification of the external medium by the West African lungfish, Protopterus annectens, and to examine whether its capacity to acidify the medium could be augmented after exposure to 100 mmol l-1 NH4Cl for six days. Two full coding cDNA sequences of Vha subunit B (atp6v1b), atp6v1b1 and atp6v1b2, were obtained from the internal gills of P. annectens. The sequence of atp6v1b1 comprised 1548 bp, encoding 515 amino acids (57.4 kDa), while that of atp6v1b2 comprised 1536 bp, encoding 511 amino acids (56.6 kDa). Using a custom-made antibody reactive to both isoforms, immunofluorescence microscopy revealed the collective localization of Atp6v1b (atp6v1b1 and atp6v1b2) at the apical or the basolateral membrane of two different types of branchial Na+/K+-ATPase-immunoreactive ionocyte. The ionocytes labelled apically with Atp6v1b presumably expressed Atp6v1b1 containing a PDZ-binding domain, indicating that the apical Vha was positioned to transport H+ to the external medium. The expression of Atp6v1b was regulated post-transcriptionally, as the protein abundance of Atp6v1b and Vha activity increased significantly in the gills of fish exposed to 100 mmol l-1 NH4Cl for six days. Correspondingly, the fish exposed to ammonia had a greater capacity to acidify the external medium, presumably to decrease the ratio of [NH3] to [NH4+] in order to reduce the influx of exogenous NH3.

Basolateral Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 and Na+/K+-ATPase, which display light-enhanced gene and protein expression levels, could be involved in the absorption of exogenous Ca2+ through the ctenidium of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa.

Giant clams perform light-enhanced shell formation (calcification) and therefore need to increase the uptake of exogenous Ca2+ during illumination. The ctenidium of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, is involved in light-enhanced Ca2+ uptake. It expresses the pore-forming voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) subunit alpha 1 (CACNA1) in the apical membrane of the epithelial cells, and the protein expression level of CACNA1 is upregulated in the ctenidium during illumination. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism involved in the transport of the absorbed Ca2+ across the basolateral membrane of the ctenidial epithelial cells into the hemolymph. We obtained a homolog of Na+/Ca2+exchanger 1 (NCX1-like) from the ctenidium of T. squamosa, which comprised 2418 bp, encoding a protein of 806 amino acids (88.9 kDa). NCX1-like had a basolateral localization in the epithelial cells of the ctenidial filaments and tertiary water channels. Illumination resulted in significant increases in the transcript and protein levels of NCX1-like/NCX1-like in the ctenidium. Hence, NCX1-like could operate in conjunction with VGCC to increase the transport of Ca2+ from the ambient seawater into the hemolymph during illumination. Illumination also resulted in the upregulation of the gene and protein expression levels of Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) α-subunit (NKAα/NKAα) in the ctenidium of T. squamosa. As light-enhanced extrusion of Ca2+ into the hemolymph through NCX1-like would lead to a greater influx of extracellular Na+, the increased expression of the basolateral NKA was required to augment the capacity of intracellular Na+ homeostasis.

Effects of seawater acclimation on two Na+/K+-ATPase α-subunit isoforms in the gills of the marble goby, Oxyeleotris marmorata.

The marble goby, Oxyeleotris marmorata, is a freshwater teleost, but can acclimate progressively to survive in seawater (salinity 30). As an obligatory air-breather, it can also survive long periods of emersion. Two isoforms of Na+/K+-ATPase (nka) α-subunit, nkaα1 and nkaα3, but not nkaα2, had been cloned from the gills of O. marmorata. The cDNA sequence of nkaα1 consisted of 3069 nucleotides, coding for 1023 amino acids (112.5 kDa), whereas nkaα3 consisted of 2976 nucleotides, coding for 992 amino acids (109.5 kDa). As only one form of branchial Nkaα1 was identified using molecular cloning in this study, O. marmorata lacks specific freshwater- and seawater-type Nkaα isoforms as demonstrated by some other euryhaline fish species. The nkaα1 transcript level was about 2.5-fold higher than that of nkaα3 in the gills of freshwater O. marmorata. During exposure to seawater, the branchial transcript level of nkaα1 increased significantly on day 1 (~3.3-fold) and day 6 (~2.6-fold). By contrast, the branchial transcript level of nkaα3 increased significantly on day 1 (~2.6-fold), but not on day 6, of seawater exposure. Six days of exposure to seawater also led to significant increases in protein abundances of Nkaα1 (~6.9-fold) and Nkaα3 (~2.8-fold) in the gills of O. marmorata. Hence, the mRNA and protein expressions of both nkaα1/Nkaα1 and nkaα3/Nkaα3 were up-regulated in O. marmorata during seawater acclimation. This could explain why Vmax increases but Km for Na+ and K+ remain unchanged in Nka extracted from the gills of O. marmorata acclimated to seawater as reported previously.

Illumination enhances the protein abundance of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases-like transporter in the ctenidium and whitish inner mantle of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, to augment exogenous Ca2+ uptake and shell formation, respectively.

The fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, can perform light-enhanced shell formation, aided by its symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, Durusdinium), which are able to donate organic nutrients to the host. During light-enhanced shell formation, increased Ca2+ transport from the hemolymph through the shell-facing epithelium of the inner mantle to the extrapallial fluid, where calcification occurs, is necessary. Additionally, there must be increased absorption of exogenous Ca2+ from the surrounding seawater, across the epithelial cells of the ctenidium (gill) into the hemolymph, to supply sufficient Ca2+ for light-enhanced shell formation. When Ca2+ moves across these epithelial cells, the low intracellular Ca2+ concentration must be maintained. Sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) regulates the intracellular Ca2+ concentration by pumping Ca2+ into the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) and Golgi apparatus. Indeed, the ctenidium and inner mantle of T. squamosa, expressed a homolog of SERCA (SERCA-like transporter) that consists of 3009 bp, encoding 1002 amino acids of 110.6 kDa. SERCA-like-immunolabeling was non-uniform in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells of ctenidial filaments, and that of the shell-facing epithelial cells of the inner mantle. Importantly, the protein abundance of SERCA-like increased significantly in the ctenidium and the inner mantle of T. squamosa after 12 h and 6 h, respectively, of light exposure. This would increase the capacity of pumping Ca2+ into the endoplasmic reticulum and avert a possible surge in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in epithelial cells of the ctenidial filaments during light-enhanced Ca2+ absorption, and in cells of the shell-facing epithelium of the inner mantle during light-enhanced shell formation.

Using glutamine synthetase 1 to evaluate the symbionts' potential of ammonia assimilation and their responses to illumination in five organs of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa.

Nitrogen-deficient symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) living inside the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, need to obtain nitrogen from the host. Glutamine synthetase 1 (GS1) is a cytosolic enzyme that assimilates ammonia into glutamine. We determined the transcript levels of zooxanthellal GS1 (Zoox-GS1), which represented comprehensively GS1 transcripts of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium and Durusdinium, in five organs of T. squamosa. The outer mantle had significantly higher transcript level of Zoox-GS1 than the inner mantle, foot muscle, hepatopancreas and ctenidium, but the transcript ratios of Zoox-GS1 to zooxanthellal form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Zoox-rbcII), which represented the potential of ammonia assimilation relative to the phototrophic potential, were comparable among these five organs. Based on transcript ratios of Zoox-GS1 to zooxanthellal Urease (Zoox-URE), the outer mantle had the highest potential of urea degradation relative to ammonia assimilation among the five organs, probably because urea degradation could furnish CO2 and NH3 for photosynthesis and amino acid synthesis, respectively, in the symbionts therein. The protein abundance of Zoox-GS1 was upregulated in the outer mantle and the inner mantle during illumination. Zoox-GS1 could catalyze light-enhanced glutamine formation using ammonia absorbed from the host or ammonia released through urea degradation in the cytoplasm. The glutamine produced could be used to synthesize other nitrogenous compounds, including amino acids in the cytoplasm or in the plastid of the dinoflagellates. Some of the amino acids synthesized by the symbionts in the inner mantle and foot muscle could be donated to the host to support shell organic matrix formation and muscle production, respectively.

The fluted giant clam (Tridacna squamosa) increases the protein abundance of the host's copper-zinc superoxide dismutase in the colorful outer mantle, but not the whitish inner mantle, during light exposure.

The colorful outer mantle of giant clams contains abundance of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) and iridocytes, and has direct exposure to light. In light, photosynthesizing dinoflagellates produce O2, and the host cells in the outer mantle would be confronted with hyperoxia-related oxidative stress. In comparison, the whitish inner mantle contains few symbiotic dinoflagellates and no iridocytes. It is involved in shell formation, and is shaded from light. CuZnSOD is a cytosolic enzyme that scavenges intracellular O2-. We had obtained from the outer mantle of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, the complete cDNA coding sequence of a host-derived copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), which comprised 462 bp and encoded for 154 amino acids with a calculated MW of 15.6 kDa. CuZnSOD was expressed strongly in the outer mantle, ctenidium, hepatopancreas and kidney. The transcript level of CuZnSOD remained unchanged in the outer mantle during light exposure, but the protein abundance of CuZnSOD increased ~3-fold after exposure to light for 6 or 12 h. By contrast, 12 h of light exposure had no significant effects on the gene and protein expression levels of CuZnSOD/CuZnSOD in the inner mantle. Hence, the increased expression of CuZnSOD in the outer mantle of T. squamosa was probably a host's response to ameliorate oxidative stress related to photosynthesis in the symbionts, and not simply due to increased metabolic rate in the host cells. Evidently, the host clam must possess light- or O2-responsive anti-oxidative defenses in order to align with the light-dependent photosynthetic activity of its symbionts.

Increased apical sodium-dependent glucose transporter abundance in the ctenidium of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa upon illumination.

Giant clams contain phototrophic zooxanthellae, and live in nutrient-deficient tropical waters where light is available. We obtained the complete cDNA coding sequence of a homolog of mammalian sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) - SGLT1-like - from the ctenidium of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosaSGLT1-like had a host origin and was expressed predominantly in the ctenidium. Molecular characterizations reveal that SGLT1-like of T. squamosa could transport urea, in addition to glucose, as other SGLT1s do. It has an apical localization in the epithelium of ctenidial filaments and water channels, and the apical anti-SGLT1-like immunofluorescence was stronger in individuals exposed to light than to darkness. Furthermore, the protein abundance of SGLT1-like increased significantly in the ctenidium of individuals exposed to light for 12 h, although the SGLT1-like transcript level remained unchanged. As expected, T. squamosa could perform light-enhanced glucose absorption, which was impeded by exogenous urea. These results denote the close relationships between light-enhanced glucose absorption and light-enhanced SGLT1-like expression in the ctenidium of T. squamosa Although glucose absorption could be trivial compared with the donation of photosynthates from zooxanthellae in symbiotic adults, SGLT1-like might be essential for the survival of aposymbiotic larvae, leading to its retention in the symbiotic stage. A priori, glucose uptake through SGLT1-like might be augmented by the surface microbiome through nutrient cycling, and the absorbed glucose could partially fulfill the metabolic needs of the ctenidial cells. Additionally, SGLT1-like could partake in urea absorption, as T. squamosa is known to conduct light-enhanced urea uptake to benefit the nitrogen-deficient zooxanthellae.

Light exposure enhances urea absorption in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, and up-regulates the protein abundance of a light-dependent urea active transporter, DUR3-like, in its ctenidium.

Giant clams live in nutrient-poor reef waters of the Indo-Pacific and rely on symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp., also known as zooxanthellae) for nutrients. As the symbionts are nitrogen deficient, the host clam has to absorb exogenous nitrogen and supply it to them. This study aimed to demonstrate light-enhanced urea absorption in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, and to clone and characterize the urea active transporter DUR3-like from its ctenidium (gill). The results indicate that T. squamosa absorbs exogenous urea, and the rate of urea uptake in the light was significantly higher than that in darkness. The DUR3-like coding sequence obtained from its ctenidium comprised 2346 bp, encoding a protein of 782 amino acids and 87.0 kDa. DUR3-like was expressed strongly in the ctenidium, outer mantle and kidney. Twelve hours of exposure to light had no significant effect on the transcript level of ctenidial DUR3-like However, between 3 and 12 h of light exposure, DUR3-like protein abundance increased progressively in the ctenidium, and became significantly greater than that in the control at 12 h. DUR3-like had an apical localization in the epithelia of the ctenidial filaments and tertiary water channels. Taken together, these results indicate that DUR3-like might participate in light-enhanced urea absorption in the ctenidium of T. squamosa When made available to the symbiotic zooxanthellae that are known to possess urease, the absorbed urea can be metabolized to NH3 and CO2 to support amino acid synthesis and photosynthesis, respectively, during insolation.

Ammonia exposure affects the mRNA and protein expression levels of certain Rhesus glycoproteins in the gills of climbing perch.

The freshwater climbing perch, Anabas testudineus, is an obligate air-breathing and euryhaline teleost capable of active ammonia excretion and tolerant of high concentrations of environmental ammonia. As Rhesus glycoproteins (RhGP/Rhgp) are known to transport ammonia, this study aimed to obtain the complete cDNA coding sequences of various rhgp isoforms from the gills of A. testudineus, and to determine their mRNA and protein expression levels during 6 days of exposure to 100 mmol l-1 NH4Cl. The subcellular localization of Rhgp isoforms in the branchial epithelium was also examined in order to elucidate the type of ionocyte involved in active ammonia excretion. Four rhgp (rhag, rhbg, rhcg1 and rhcg2) had been identified from the gills of A. testudineus They had conserved amino acid residues for NH4+ binding, NH4+ deprotonation, channel gating and lining of the vestibules. Despite inwardly directed NH3 and NH4+ gradients, there were significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of the four branchial rhgp in A. testudineus at certain time points during 6 days of ammonia exposure, with significant increases in the protein abundances of Rhag and Rhcg2 on day 6. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed a type of ammonia-inducible Na+/K+-ATPase α1c-immunoreactive ionocyte with apical Rhag and basolateral Rhcg2 in the gills of fish exposed to ammonia for 6 days. Hence, active ammonia excretion may involve NH4+ entering the ionocyte through the basolateral Rhcg2 and being excreted through the apical Rhag, driven by a transapical membrane electrical potential generated by the apical cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl- channel, as suggested previously.

Ascorbate synthesis in fishes: A review.

Biosynthesis of ascorbate is known to occur in liver and/or kidney of some vertebrates; however, a recent study discovered the expression of l-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase, an enzyme essential for ascorbate synthesis, in the brain of the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens. This report provides an up-to-date review on ascorbate synthesis in fishes and the possible future directions of study in view of the discovery of the unusual site of ascorbate biosynthesis.

L-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase expression and vitamin C synthesis in the brain and kidney of the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the brain of Protopterus annectens expressed L-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase (gulo/Gulo), the enzyme catalyzing the last step of ascorbate biosynthesis, and could maintain high concentrations of ascorbate during estivation. We cloned and sequenced gulo from the kidney of P. annectens and performed quantitative PCR to determine its mRNA expression in kidney and brain. Gulo activity was assayed and its protein abundance was determined by Western blot using custom-made anti-Gulo antibody. Effects of estivation on concentrations of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate in the kidney and brain were also determined. Both brain and kidney, but not liver, of P. annectens expressed gulo/Gulo. Desiccation induced P. annectens to estivate, and 6 mo of estivation led to drastic decreases in gulo/Gulo expression and ascorbate concentration in the kidney. However, high concentrations of ascorbate and ascorbate + dehydroascorbate were maintained in the brain during estivation, probably resulting from in situ ascorbate synthesis. Control fish were placed in freshwater, where they were fully active in a favorable environment unlike estivation on land. The ability to synthesize ascorbate to ameliorate oxidative stress directly in the brain might contribute to the ability of P. annectens to undergo prolonged estivation on land.

Aestivation induces changes in transcription and translation of coagulation factor II and fibrinogen gamma chain in the liver of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens.

This study aimed to sequence and characterize two pro-coagulant genes, coagulation factor II (f2) and fibrinogen gamma chain (fgg), from the liver of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens, and to determine their hepatic mRNA expression levels during three phases of aestivation. The protein abundance of F2 and Fgg in the liver and plasma was determined by immunoblotting. The results indicated that F2 and Fgg of P. annectens were phylogenetically closer to those of amphibians than those of teleosts. Three days of aestivation resulted in an up-regulation in the hepatic fgg mRNA expression level, while 6 days of aestivation led to a significant increase (3-fold) in the protein abundance of Fgg in the plasma. Hence, there could be an increase in the blood-clotting ability in P. annectens during the induction phase of aestivation. By contrast, the blood-clotting ability in P. annectens might be reduced in response to decreased blood flow and increased possibility of thrombosis during the maintenance phase of aestivation, as 6 months of aestivation led to significant decreases in mRNA expression levels of f2 and fgg in the liver. There could also be a decrease in the export of F2 and Fgg from the liver to the plasma so as to avert thrombosis. Three to 6 days after arousal from 6 months of aestivation, the protein abundance of F2 and Fgg recovered partially in the plasma of P. annectens; a complete recovery of the transcription and translation of f2/F2 in the liver might occur only after refeeding.

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, decreases nitrogenous excretion, reduces urea synthesis and suppresses ammonia production during emersion.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of 6 days of emersion on nitrogen metabolism and excretion in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. Despite having a soft shell with a cutaneous surface that is known to be water permeable, P. sinensis lost only ~2% of body mass and was able to maintain its hematocrit and plasma osmolality, [Na(+)] and [Cl(-)] during 6 days of emersion. During emersion, it ameliorated water loss by reducing urine output, which led to a reduction (by 29-76%) in ammonia excretion. In comparison, there was a more prominent reduction (by 82-99%) in urea excretion during emersion due to a lack of water to flush the buccopharyngeal epithelium, which is known to be the major route of urea excretion. Consequently, emersion resulted in an apparent shift from ureotely to ammonotely in P. sinensis. Although urea concentration increased in several tissues, the excess urea accumulated could only account for 13-22% of the deficit in urea excretion. Hence, it can be concluded that a decrease (~80%) in urea synthesis occurred in P. sinensis during the 6 days of emersion. Indeed, emersion led to significant decreases in the activity of some ornithine-urea cycle enzymes (argininosuccinate synthetase/argininosuccinate lyase and arginase) from the liver of P. sinensis. As a decrease in urea synthesis occurred without the accumulation of ammonia and total free amino acids, it can be deduced that ammonia production through amino acid catabolism was suppressed with a proportional reduction in proteolysis in P. sinensis during emersion. Indeed, calculated results revealed that there could be a prominent decrease (~88%) in ammonia production in turtles after 6 days of emersion. In summary, despite being ureogenic and ureotelic in water, P. sinensis adopted a reduction in ammonia production, instead of increased urea synthesis, as the major strategy to ameliorate ammonia toxicity and problems associated with dehydration during terrestrial exposure.

Roles of three branchial Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase α-subunit isoforms in freshwater adaptation, seawater acclimation, and active ammonia excretion in Anabas testudineus.

Three Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase (nka) α-subunit isoforms, nka α1a, nka α1b, and nka α1c, were identified from gills of the freshwater climbing perch Anabas testudineus. The cDNA sequences of nka α1a and nka α1b consisted of 3,069 bp, coding for 1,023 amino acids, whereas nka α1c was shorter by 22 nucleotides at the 5' end. In freshwater, the quantity of nka α1c mRNA transcripts present in the gills was the highest followed by nka α1a and nka α1b that was almost undetectable. The mRNA expression of nka α1a was downregulated in the gills of fish acclimated to seawater, indicating that it could be involved in branchial Na(+) absorption in a hypoosmotic environment. By contrast, seawater acclimation led to an upregulation of the mRNA expression of nka α1b and to a lesser extent nka α1c, indicating that they could be essential for ion secretion in a hyperosmotic environment. More importantly, ammonia exposure led to a significant upregulation of the mRNA expression of nka α1c, which might be involved in active ammonia excretion. Both seawater acclimation and ammonia exposure led to significant increases in the protein abundance and changes in the kinetic properties of branchial Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase (Nka), but they involved two different types of Nka-immunoreactive cells. Since there was a decrease in the effectiveness of NH(4)(+) to substitute for K(+) to activate branchial Nka from fish exposed to ammonia, Nka probably functioned to remove excess Na(+) and to transport K(+) instead of NH(4)(+) into the cell to maintain intracellular Na(+) and K(+) homeostasis during active ammonia excretion.

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, excretes urea mainly through the mouth instead of the kidney.

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, is well adapted to aquatic environments, including brackish swamps and marshes. It is ureotelic, and occasionally submerges its head into puddles of water during emersion, presumably for buccopharyngeal respiration. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the buccophyaryngeal cavity constitutes an important excretory route for urea in P. sinensis. Results indicate that a major portion of urea was excreted through the mouth instead of the kidney during immersion. When restrained on land, P. sinensis occasionally submerged their head into water (20-100 min), during which urea excretion and oxygen extraction occurred simultaneously. These results indicate for the first time that buccopharyngeal villiform processes (BVP) and rhythmic pharyngeal movements were involved in urea excretion in P. sinensis. Urea excretion through the mouth was sensitive to phloretin inhibition, indicating the involvement of urea transporters (UTs). In addition, saliva samples collected from the buccopharyngeal surfaces of P. sinensis injected intraperitoneally with saline contained ~36 mmol N l(-1) urea, significantly higher than that (~2.4 mmol N l(-1)) in the plasma. After intraperitoneal injection with 20 µmol urea g(-1) turtle, the concentration of urea in the saliva collected from the BVP increased to an extraordinarily high level of ~614 µmol N ml(-1), but the urea concentration (~45 µmol N ml(-1)) in the plasma was much lower, indicating that the buccopharyngeal epithelium of P. sinensis was capable of active urea transport. Subsequently, we obtained from the buccopharyngeal epithelium of P. sinensis the full cDNA sequence of a putative UT, whose deduced amino acid sequence had ~70% similarity with human and mouse UT-A2. This UT was not expressed in the kidney, corroborating the proposition that the kidney had only a minor role in urea excretion in P. sinensis. As UT-A2 is known to be a facilitative urea transporter, it is logical to deduce that it was localized in the basolateral membrane of the buccopharyngeal epithelium, and that another type of primary or secondary active urea transporter yet to be identified was present in the apical membrane. The ability to excrete urea through the mouth instead of the kidney might have facilitated the ability of P. sinensis and other soft-shelled turtles to successfully invade the brackish and/or marine environment.

The colorful mantle of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa expresses a homolog of electrogenic sodium: Bicarbonate cotransporter 2 that mediates the supply of inorganic carbon to photosynthesizing symbionts.

Giant clams live in symbiosis with phototrophic dinoflagellates, which reside extracellularly inside zooxanthellal tubules located mainly in the colourful and extensible outer mantle. As symbiotic dinoflagellates have no access to the ambient seawater, they need to obtain inorganic carbon (Ci) from the host for photosynthesis during illumination. The outer mantle has a host-mediated and light-dependent carbon-concentrating mechanism to augment the supply of Ci to the symbionts during illumination. Iridocytes can increase the secretion of H+ through vacuolar H+-ATPase to dehydrate HCO3- present in the hemolymph to CO2. CO2 can permeate the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cells of the zooxanthellal tubules, and rehydrated back to HCO3- in the cytoplasm catalysed by carbonic anhydrase 2. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism involved in the transport of HCO3- across the apical membrane of these epithelial cells into the luminal fluid surrounding the symbionts. We had obtained the complete cDNA coding sequence of a homolog of electrogenic Na+-HCO3- cotransporter 2 (NBCe2-like gene) from the outer mantle of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa. NBCe2-like gene comprised 3,399 bp, encoding a protein of 1,132 amino acids of 127.3 kDa. NBCe2-like protein had an apical localization in the epithelial cells of zooxanthellal tubules, denoting that it could transport HCO3- between the epithelial cells and the luminal fluid. Furthermore, illumination augmented the transcript level and protein abundance of NBCe2-like gene/NBCe2-like protein in the outer mantle, indicating that it could mediate the increased transport of HCO3- into the luminal fluid to support photosynthesis in the symbionts.

The influence of feeding and fasting on plasma metabolites in the dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias).

Dogfish sharks are opportunistic predators, eating large meals at irregular intervals. Here we present a synthesis of data from several previous studies on responses in plasma metabolites after natural feeding and during prolonged fasting (up to 56days), together with new data on changes in plasma concentrations of amino acids and non-esterified fatty acids. Post-prandial and long-term fasting responses were compared to control sharks fasted for 7days, a typical inter-meal interval. A feeding frenzy was created in which dogfish were allowed to feed naturally on dead teleosts at two consumed ration levels, 2.6% and 5.5% of body weight. Most responses were more pronounced at the higher ration level. These included increases in urea and TMAO concentrations at 20h, followed by stability through to 56days of fasting. Ammonia levels were low and exhibited little short-term response to feeding, but declined to very low values during the extended fast. Glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate both fell after feeding, the latter to a greater and more prolonged extent (up to 60h), whereas acetoacetate did not change. During prolonged fasting, glucose concentrations were well regulated, but beta-hydroxybutyrate increased to 2-3-fold control levels. Total plasma amino acid concentrations increased in a biphasic fashion, with peaks at 6-20h, and 48-60h after the meal, followed by homeostasis during the extended fast. Essential and non-essential amino acids generally followed this same pattern, though some exhibited different trends after feeding: taurine, beta-alanine, and glycine (decreases or stability), alanine and glutamine (modest prolonged increases), and threonine, serine, asparagine, and valine (much larger short-term increases). Plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations declined markedly through 48h after the 2.6% meal. These data are interpreted in light of companion studies showing elevations in aerobic metabolic rate, urea production, rectal gland function, metabolic base excretion, and activation of ornithine-urea cycle and aerobic enzymes after the meal, and muscle N-depletion but maintenance of osmolality and urea production during long-term fasting.

Nitrogen metabolism and branchial osmoregulatory acclimation in the juvenile marble goby, Oxyeleotris marmorata, exposed to seawater.

The marble goby, Oxyeleotris marmorata, considered a freshwater fish, was able to hypoosmoregulate successfully during 14 days of acclimation to seawater (30 per thousand) following 6 days of progressive increase in salinity. In seawater, there were slight perturbations in plasma osmolality and ionic concentrations, and significant increases in contents of some free amino acids, which presumably acted as osmolytes, in tissues. The muscle glutamine content increased significantly during seawater acclimation, and the activity and the protein abundance of glutamine synthetase increased significantly in the liver of fish exposed to seawater for 14 days. Exposure to seawater for 14 days also resulted in branchial osmoregulatory acclimation. There were significant increases in the activity and the protein abundance of gill Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, and protein abundance of gill Na(+):K(+):2Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC). Immunofluorescence microscopy of branchial Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase-immunoreactive cells revealed that exposure to seawater led to increases in protein expression of apical cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor-like chloride channel and basolateral NKCC. Overall, our results indicate that juvenile marble goby can acclimate to brackish water and subsequently to seawater, and prompt future studies on the effects of salinity on its growth and development which may have important application to the Asian marble goby aquaculture industry.