TY - JOUR
T1 - Functional roles of globin proteins in hypoxia-tolerant ectothermic vertebrates
AU - Fago, Angela
PY - 2017/10
Y1 - 2017/10
N2 - Globins are heme-containing proteins ubiquitously expressed in vertebrates, where they serve a broad range of biological functions, directly or indirectly related to the tight control of oxygen levels and its toxic products in vivo. Perhaps the most investigated of all proteins, hemoglobin and myoglobin are primarily involved in oxygen transport and storage, but also in facilitating arterial vasodilation, suppressing mitochondrial respiration, and preventing tissue oxidative damage via accessory redox enzymatic activities during hypoxia. By contrast, the more recently discovered neuroglobin and cytoglobin do not seem to function as reversible oxygen carriers and are instead involved in redox activities, although their exact biological roles remain to be clarified. In this context, hypoxia-tolerant ectotherms, such as freshwater turtles and members of the carp family that survive winter in extreme hypoxia, have proven as excellent models to appreciate the diversity of biological functions of globin proteins. Unraveling physiological roles of globin proteins in these extreme animals will clarify an important part of the adaptive mechanisms for surviving extreme fluctuations of oxygen availability that are prohibitive to mammals.
AB - Globins are heme-containing proteins ubiquitously expressed in vertebrates, where they serve a broad range of biological functions, directly or indirectly related to the tight control of oxygen levels and its toxic products in vivo. Perhaps the most investigated of all proteins, hemoglobin and myoglobin are primarily involved in oxygen transport and storage, but also in facilitating arterial vasodilation, suppressing mitochondrial respiration, and preventing tissue oxidative damage via accessory redox enzymatic activities during hypoxia. By contrast, the more recently discovered neuroglobin and cytoglobin do not seem to function as reversible oxygen carriers and are instead involved in redox activities, although their exact biological roles remain to be clarified. In this context, hypoxia-tolerant ectotherms, such as freshwater turtles and members of the carp family that survive winter in extreme hypoxia, have proven as excellent models to appreciate the diversity of biological functions of globin proteins. Unraveling physiological roles of globin proteins in these extreme animals will clarify an important part of the adaptive mechanisms for surviving extreme fluctuations of oxygen availability that are prohibitive to mammals.
KW - ALLOSTERIC REGULATION
KW - CARASSIUS-AURATUS
KW - HEMOGLOBIN-OXYGEN AFFINITY
KW - HIGH-ALTITUDE
KW - MITOCHONDRIAL RESPIRATION
KW - MYOGLOBIN ISOFORMS
KW - NITRIC-OXIDE METABOLITES
KW - ORGANIC-PHOSPHATES
KW - RAINBOW-TROUT
KW - TURTLE TRACHEMYS-SCRIPTA
KW - adaptation
KW - hemoglobin
KW - myoglobin
KW - oxidative stress
KW - oxygen
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85032449176&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1152/japplphysiol.00104.2017
DO - 10.1152/japplphysiol.00104.2017
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28428250
SN - 8750-7587
VL - 123
SP - 926
EP - 934
JO - Journal of Applied Physiology
JF - Journal of Applied Physiology
IS - 4
T2 - 20th International Hypoxia Symposium
Y2 - 1 February 2017
ER -