Stress-related proteins compared in diapause and in activated, anoxic encysted embryos of the animal extremophile, Artemia franciscana

Previous work indicated similarities between diapause and anoxic quiescence in encysted embryos (cysts) of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. That possibility was examined further in the present study through an immunochemical study of the following stress-related proteins in low speed supernatants and pellets: hsc70, artemin, p26, hsp21, LEA Group 1 protein and p8. Changes in the amounts and locations of these proteins occurred during the initial period after release of diapause cysts from females, and after activated (diapause-terminated) cysts were made anoxic. However, with the passage of incubation time the patterns seen in both kinds of cysts were more similar than different, lending further support to the possibility that activated anoxic embryos retain many of the mechanisms operative in the previous diapause condition.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ Diapause and quiescent anoxic Artemia cysts were compared by western blotting. ▶ Six stress proteins were examined in low speed supernatants (S) and pellets (P). ▶ The ratio S/P for the protein amounts was similar for both kinds of cysts. ▶ The results support the possibility that diapause and anoxic cysts have mechanisms in common.