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Hand 2012 Abstract Bioblast

From Bioblast
Patil Y, Gnaiger E, Hand SC (2012) Respiration in embryo lysates reveals diminished Complex I activity and inhibition of the phosphorylation system during diapause in Artemia franciscana. Mitochondr Physiol Network 17.12.

Link: MiPNet17.12 Bioblast 2012 - Open Access

Patil Y, Gnaiger E, Hand SC (2012)

Event: Bioblast 2012

Steven Hand

Encysted embryos of Artemia franciscana undergo a dramatic respiratory depression upon release from the adult female as they enter a state of hypometabolism termed diapause [1]. Strategic enzymes involved in trehalose catabolism are inhibited during diapause, namely trehalase, hexokinase, pyruvate kinase and pyruvate dehydrogenase [2]. Trehalose is the sole source of fuel in the embryos, and hence downregulation of trehalose catabolism results in severe limitation of metabolic fuel available to the mitochondrion. We now report that such metabolic depression is heightened by inhibitions within the mitochondrion. Respiration studies of embryo lysates document a depression of oxidative phosphorylation during diapause (compared to post-diapause) in the case where substrates for respiratory Complex I (pyruvate&malate) are used as the fuel source in the OXPHOS state (Fig. 1). Reduced respiration through Complex I is supported by Western blot analysis that demonstrates pyruvate dehydrogenase becomes phosphorylated during entrance into diapause [2]. When substrates for Complexes I&II (pyruvate&malate&succinate) are added simultaneously, the increased electron flow through the Electron transfer-pathway (E, non-coupled) allows the detection of respiratory inhibition by the phosphorylation system during diapause, as judged by the lower OXPHOS capacity (P, coupled) and correspondingly lower P/E coupling control ratios. The inhibition is eliminated as the diapause extract is diluted, a result consistent with the presence of a diffusible inhibitor. Similar patterns are seen with Complex II substrate alone (succinate), which supports a much higher OXPHOS capacity than that observed through Complex I alone. The nature of the potential inhibitor is unknown at present, but one candidate could be long-chain acyl CoA esters that are known to inhibit the ANT [3] from either side of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Taken together, restriction of glycolytic carbon to the mitochondrion appears to be the primary mechanism for metabolic arrest in A. franciscana embryos during diapause, which is accentuated by inhibition of Complex I and the phosphorylation system.

  1. Hand S, Menze M, Borcar A, Patil Y, Covi J, Reynolds J, Toner M (2011) Metabolic restructuring during energy-limited states: Insights from Artemia franciscana embryos and other animals. J Insect Physiol 57: 584-594. Open Access
  2. Patil Y, Marden B, Brand M, Hand S (2013) Metabolic downregulation and inhibition of carbohydrate catabolism during diapause in embryos of Artemia franciscana. Physiol Biochem Zool 86: 000-000 (in press).
  3. Lerner E, Shug AL, Elson C, Shrago E (1972) Reversible inhibition of adenine nucleotide translocation by long chain fatty acyl coenzyme A esters in liver mitochondria of diabetic and hibernating animals. J Biol Chem 247: 1513-1519. Open Access

β€’ Keywords: Diapause, Metabolic inhibition, Artemia franciscana, Complex I, Phosphorylation system

β€’ O2k-Network Lab: US LA Baton Rouge Hand SC


Labels: MiParea: Respiration 


Organism: Artemia, Crustaceans 

Preparation: Homogenate 


Coupling state: OXPHOS, ET  Pathway: N, S, NS  HRR: Oxygraph-2k 



Affiliations and author contributions

Yuvraj Patil1, Erich Gnaiger2, Steven Hand1


(1) Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA; Email: [email protected]

(2) D. Swarovski Research Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.


Figure 1

Oxygen flux

Oxygen flux stimulated by saturating ADP with endogenous substrates alone (eP) and by ADP with exogenous pyruvate+malate (ePMP) as a function of dilution of lysates prepared from diapause (D) and post-diapause (PD) embryos. Values are expressed as means Β± standard deviation, N=4 (post-diapause), N=5 (diapause). Values for ePMP and eP measured in diapause lysates were significantly lower (as indicated by β€˜a’ and β€˜b’ respectively) at all dilutions when compared to corresponding oxygen fluxes in post-diapause lysates (P ≀ 0.0001).


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