Variations in mitochondrial DNA and gene transcription in freezing‐tolerant larvae of <i>Eurosta solidaginis</i> (Diptera: Tephritidae) and <i>Gynaephora groenlandica</i> (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Levin, D. B.; Danks, H. V.; Barber, Sarah

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2583.2003.00413.x

Cited by 60 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…A more recent study used molecular techniques (densitometry of dots blots and Northern blots) to analyse mitochondrial copy number and gene transcription in larvae of E. solidaginis and G. groenlandica to assess whether mitochondrial degradation is an adaptive physiological response to cold (Levin et al 2003). This study concluded that although mitochondrial (mt) DNA content was reduced in cold adapted larvae, stable mitochondrial-specific mRNAs were preserved over winter in fat body cells of both E. solidaginis and G. groenlandica.…”

Section: Mitochondrial Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

How insects survive the cold: molecular mechanisms—a review

2008

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Insects vary considerably in their ability to survive low temperatures. The tractability of these organisms to experimentation has lead to considerable physiology-based work investigating both the variability between species and the actual mechanisms themselves. This has highlighted a range of strategies including freeze tolerance, freeze avoidance, protective dehydration and rapid cold hardening, which are often associated with the production of specific chemicals such as antifreezes and polyol cryoprotectants. But we are still far from identifying the critical elements behind overwintering success and how some species can regularly survive temperatures below -20°C. Molecular biology is the most recent tool to be added to the insect physiologist's armoury. With the public availability of the genome sequence of model insects such as Drosophila and the production of custom-made molecular resources, such as EST libraries and microarrays, we are now in a position to start dissecting the molecular mechanisms behind some of these well-characterised physiological responses. This review aims to provide a state of the art snapshot of the molecular work currently being conducted into insect cold tolerance and the very interesting preliminary results from such studies, which provide great promise for the future.

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Section: Mitochondrial Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

How insects survive the cold: molecular mechanisms—a review

2008

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“…Cold acclimation Mammals Transcriptional activation by PGC-1 and NRFs (45) Increased mitochondrial biogenesis Uncoupling to increase proton leak by UCP1 (53) Generation of heat Fish Translational activation or enhanced protein stability (46) Increased mitochondrial enzyme levels Remodeling membrane composition and increased proton leak (48)(49)(50)52) Enhanced enzyme activity Insects Reduction of mtDNA (47) Reduced mitochondrial respiration…”

Section: Regulatory Mechanisms Mitochondrial Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

The role of mitochondrial respiration in physiological and evolutionary adaptation

Das

2006

BioEssays

131

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Aerobic mitochondria serve as the power sources of eukaryotes by producing ATP through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The enzymes involved in OXPHOS are multisubunit complexes encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Thus, regulation of respiration is necessarily a highly coordinated process that must organize production, assembly and function of mitochondria to meet an organism's energetic needs. Here I review the role of OXPHOS in metabolic adaptation and diversification of higher animals. On a physiological timescale, endocrine-initiated signaling pathways allow organisms to modulate respiratory enzyme concentration and function under changing environmental conditions. On an evolutionary timescale, mitochondrial enzymes are targets of natural selection, balancing cytonuclear coevolutionary constraints against physiological innovation. By synthesizing our knowledge of biochemistry, physiology and evolution of respiratory regulation, I propose that we can now explore questions at the interface of these fields, from molecular translation of environmental cues to selection on mitochondrial haplotype variation.

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“…Work on this species and on the gall fly Eurosta solidaginis, using molecular assays for mitochondrial nucleic acids, confirmed the winter losses and suggested that mitochondrial proteins can be regenerated rapidly in spring from stable RNAs that are stored during the winter (Levin et al, 2003).…”

Section: Seasonal Changes In Mitochondriamentioning

confidence: 79%

Key themes in the study of seasonal adaptations in insects I. Patterns of cold hardiness

Danks

2005

Appl. Entomol. Zool.

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Recent work on selected topics of particular interest for understanding insect cold hardiness is reviewed. Themes considered include the dynamic nature of cold hardiness, ice nucleation, connections between cold hardiness and desiccation, rapid cold hardening, seasonal changes in mitochondria, survival in nature, and selection for types of cold hardiness. Such seasonal adaptations have a wider range of components than has often been appreciated, including independently evolved elements. Some specific conclusions are drawn and suggestions are made for future work. Several adaptations, such as rapid cold-hardening and mitochondrial degradation, will probably prove to be much more widespread than has yet been realized. From a general perspective, understanding such diverse components and their differences requires an ecological approach that places the biochemical and timing adaptations in context with habitat conditions and demands related to the stresses of the adverse season, seasons favorable for development and reproduction, and the signals that are available in each habitat to predict future environments. Further understanding therefore depends especially on efforts to analyse the adaptations of individual species in the context of their natural environments.

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Variations in mitochondrial DNA and gene transcription in freezing‐tolerant larvae of Eurosta solidaginis (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Gynaephora groenlandica (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Cited by 60 publications

References 41 publications

How insects survive the cold: molecular mechanisms—a review

How insects survive the cold: molecular mechanisms—a review

The role of mitochondrial respiration in physiological and evolutionary adaptation

Key themes in the study of seasonal adaptations in insects I. Patterns of cold hardiness

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