HSP70 expression in the Copper butterfly Lycaena tityrus across altitudes and temperatures.
The ability to express heat-shock proteins (HSP) under thermal stress is an essential mechanism for ectotherms to cope with unfavourable conditions. In this study, we investigate if Copper butterflies originating from different altitudes and/or being exposed to different rearing and induction temperatures show differences in HSP70 expression. HSP70 expression increased substantially at the higher rearing temperature in low-altitude butterflies, which might represent an adaptation to occasionally occurring heat spells. On the other hand, high-altitude butterflies showed much less plasticity in response to rearing temperatures, and overall seem to rely more on genetically fixed thermal stress resistance. Whether the latter indicates a higher vulnerability of high-altitude populations to global warming needs further investigation. HSP70 expression increased with both colder and warmer induction temperatures.
Karl
I
I
Department of Animal Ecology I, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany. isabell.karl@uni-bayreuth.de
Sørensen
J G
JG
Loeschcke
V
V
Fischer
K
K
D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D002080:Butterflies / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013696:Temperature
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins