Adaptational and Phenotypic Differences in Capacity for Intracellular pH Regulation in Molluscan Cardiac Myocytes

海洋双壳类软体动物，如牡蛎、蛤和贻贝， 在氧气供应可能变化的栖息地中发现 戏剧性地随着时间。 例如，生活在 在低气压下，潮间带可能每天都经历空气暴露的循环， 潮汐 大多数物种关闭他们的外壳，以避免干燥。 然而，这会导致内部氧气的严重耗尽 由于有机体有效地与呼吸道隔离， 环境 令人惊讶的是，这些物种中有许多在没有 由于细胞的能力， 在没有氧气的情况下产生能量 一个主要的缺点是， 在没有氧气的情况下产生能量的原因是代谢酸积累， 废物。 这项研究将探讨这些细胞是如何 动物处理代谢期间产生的酸， 缺氧 实验将进行，看看细胞是否从高 潮间带物种（经常暴露于缺氧环境）显示， 比细胞处理这些代谢酸的能力更强 来自低潮间带物种（不经常暴露于氧气 剥夺）。 更多的研究将调查是否 细胞科普酸负荷的能力增强， 受到慢性氧应激的影响 这些研究将提供 关于这些动物的独特机制的信息 适应了它们的栖息地，也产生了对一般 适用于高等生物的机制。

Marine bivalve molluscs such as oysters, clams and mussels often are found in habitats where oxygen availability may vary dramatically with time. For instance, species which live in the intertidal zone may go through daily cycles of air exposure at low tides. Most species close their shells to avoid desiccation. However, this results in a severe depletion of internal oxygen since the organism is effectively sealed from the respiratory environment. Surprisingly, many of these species survive without oxygen for extended periods due to the ability of their cells to produce energy in the absence of oxygen. One major drawback in making energy without oxygen is that metabolic acids accumulate as waste products. This study will investigate how the cells of these animals deal with the metabolic acids produced during period of hypoxia. Experiments will be conducted to see if cells from high intertidal species (frequent exposure to oxygen deprivation) show a higher capacity for dealing with these metabolic acids than cells from low intertidal species (infrequent exposure to oxygen deprivation). Additional studies will investigate whether the capacity for cells to cope with acid loads is enhanced when animals are subjected to chronic oxygen stress. These studies will provide information on the unique mechanisms by which these animals are adapted to their habitats and also yield insights into general mechanisms applicable to higher organisms.//