Project description:The experiment aimed to investigate seasonal and regional differences in gene expression in Antarctic krill in three different latitudinal regions of the Southern Ocean with variable photoperiodic conditions: South Georgia (54°S), South Orkneys/Bransfield Strait (60°S-63°S) and Lazarev Sea (62°S -66°S). An RNAseq approach was used to test for (1) seasonal differences in gene expression between summer and winter krill from each region, and (2) regional differences in gene expression between the three different regional krill samples from each season. The RNAseq data was analysed with the goal to identify potential seasonal target genes with regulatory functions in the seasonal life cycle of Antarctic krill, focussing on genes related to regulation, reproduction, development and visual perception.
Project description:To generate differential gene expression profiles across the moult cycle of Antarctic krill, relative to an early intermoult stage.
Project description:The effect of krill powder, a mixed source of protein and n-3 PUFAs from Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba), on hepatic gene expression was analyzed in CBA/J mice. Mice were fed a low-fat control diet or a 3% (w/w) krill powder low-fat diet for three months. Gene expression profiling on liver samples revealed that the krill powder supplemented diet modulated a large number of pathways compared to the control diet, and we focused on the genes involved in metabolic processes. Pathways involved β-oxidation, glucose metabolism, and amino acid catabolism were downregulated. In contrast, genes involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain were upregulated. Thus, a krill powder supplemented diet had potent and specific effects on energy metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation at the gene level. This indicates that krill powder supplementation could be an approach to prevent age-related decline in mitochondrial respiratory chain function and weight loss.
Project description:Using RNAseq of small RNA libraries isolated from the gill tissue of the Antarctic fish Trematomus bernacchii we have characterized the termal sensitivity of miRNA homologues in these highly stenothermic fish.
Project description:Dietary supplementation with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), specifically the fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 ω-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 ω-3), is known to have beneficial health effects including improvements in glucose and lipid homeostasis and modulation of inflammation. To evaluate the efficacy of two different sources of ω-3 PUFAs, we performed gene expression profiling in the liver of mice fed diets supplemented with either fish oil or krill oil. We found that ω-3 PUFA supplements derived from a phospholipid krill fraction (krill oil) downregulated the activity of pathways involved in hepatic glucose production as well as lipid and cholesterol synthesis. The data also suggested that krill oil-supplementation increases the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Surprisingly, an equimolar dose of EPA and DHA derived from fish oil modulated fewer pathways than a krill oil-supplemented diet and did not modulate key metabolic pathways regulated by krill oil, including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Moreover, fish oil upregulated the cholesterol synthesis pathway, which was the opposite effect of krill supplementation. Neither diet elicited changes in plasma levels of lipids, glucose or insulin, probably because the mice used in this study were young and were fed a low fat diet. Further studies of krill oil supplementation using animal models of metabolic disorders and/or diets with a higher level of fat may be required to observe these effects.
Project description:The Antarctic krill provides central ecosystems services to the Southern Ocean grazing on autotroph and heterotoph diet and constituting the dominant food source for higher trophic levels. Moreover, E. superba's extensive equipment with biomacromolecule hydrolysing enzymes represents a largely untapped resource for applied purposes. The proteome compendium of krill provides a valuable basis for future studies on krill biology (e.g., metabolism, development, migration behaviour), for krill's contribution to organic matter turnover in the Southern Ocean, as well as for multilevel biotechnological prospecting.
Project description:The Antarctic krill provides central ecosystems services to the Southern Ocean grazing on autotroph and heterotoph diet and constituting the dominant food source for higher trophic levels. Moreover, E. superba's extensive equipment with biomacromolecule hydrolysing enzymes represents a largely untapped resource for applied purposes. The proteome compendium of krill provides a valuable basis for future studies on krill biology (e.g., metabolism, development, migration behaviour), for krill's contribution to organic matter turnover in the Southern Ocean, as well as for multilevel biotechnological prospecting
Project description:The Antarctic krill provides central ecosystems services to the Southern Ocean grazing on autotroph and heterotoph diet and constituting the dominant food source for higher trophic levels. Moreover, E. superba's extensive equipment with biomacromolecule hydrolysing enzymes represents a largely untapped resource for applied purposes. The proteome compendium of krill provides a valuable basis for future studies on krill biology (e.g., metabolism, development, migration behaviour), for krill's contribution to organic matter turnover in the Southern Ocean, as well as for multilevel biotechnological prospecting.
Project description:The Antarctic krill provides central ecosystems services to the Southern Ocean grazing on autotroph and heterotoph diet and constituting the dominant food source for higher trophic levels. Moreover, E. superba's extensive equipment with biomacromolecule hydrolysing enzymes represents a largely untapped resource for applied purposes. The proteome compendium of krill provides a valuable basis for future studies on krill biology (e.g., metabolism, development, migration behaviour), for krill's contribution to organic matter turnover in the Southern Ocean, as well as for multilevel biotechnological prospecting.