title: HIF-1alpha and iNOS levels in crucian carp gills during hypoxia-induced transformation.
abstract: Hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) initiates expression of a wide variety of genes, some of which are involved in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. We have previously shown that crucian carp increases its respiratory surface area 7.5-fold in response to hypoxia. This change is due to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in specific parts of its gills. Here we have characterized crucian carp HIF-1alpha, and measured mRNA, protein and DNA binding levels during hypoxia exposure in crucian carp gills. We have also measured an HIF-1alpha-induced gene, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which has the ability to initiate apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Crucian carp HIF-1alpha was found to have all critical domains known to be important for function. Comparison of the peptide sequence with other species indicated high similarity with other cyprinid fish, but a pronounced variation compared to the salmonid, rainbow trout. Further, we found HIF-1alpha protein to be stabilized during hypoxia. Further, HIF-1alpha was often present in normoxia, and showed marked individual weight-dependent variation. We found no alteration of iNOS mRNA levels during hypoxia exposure. These findings suggest HIF-1alpha involvement in hypoxia-induced change of respiratory surface area in crucian carp gills. However, its activity does not seem to be mediated through iNOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, 1041, 0316, Oslo, Norway. jorund.sollid@imbv.uio.no
authors.forename: Jørund
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sollid
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rissanen
authors.forename: Hanna K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Tranberg
authors.forename: Tage
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thorstensen
authors.forename: Kristina A M
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Vuori
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikinmaa
authors.forename: Göran E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005880:Gills / Q000378:metabolism*; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II