Rapid enzymatic response to compensate UV radiation in Copepods.

M. S. SOUZA,; HANSSON, L-A; HYLANDER, S.,; MODENUTTI, B.; BALSEIRO, E.,

PLOS ONE

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Lugar: San Francisco; Año: 2012 vol. 7 p. 1 - 6

1932-6203

AbstractUltraviolet radiation (UVR) causes physical damage to DNA, carboxylation of proteins and peroxidation of lipids in copepodcrustaceans, ubiquitous and abundant secondary producers in most aquatic ecosystems. Copepod adaptations for longduration exposures include changes in behaviour, changes in pigmentation and ultimately changes in morphology.Adaptations to short-term exposures are little studied. Here we show that short-duration exposure to UVR causes thefreshwater calanoid copepod, Eudiaptomus gracilis, to rapidly activate production of enzymes that prevent widespreadcollateral peroxidation (glutathione S-transferase, GST), that regulate apoptosis cell death (Caspase-3, Casp-3), and thatfacilitate neurotransmissions (cholinesterase-ChE). None of these enzyme systems is alone sufficient, but they act in concertto reduce the stress level of the organism. The interplay among enzymatic responses provides useful information on howorganisms respond to environmental stressors acting on short time scales.