engleski

Role of GLUT2 in amphibian freeze tolerance

Freeze tolerance supports the winter survival of many poikilothermic animals. Freeze tolerant animals can survive freezing of minimal 50 % of total body fluids and have developed specific adaptations to control the rate and redistribution of body fluids prior to freezing. Osmotic loss of cellular fluids due to freezing of extracellular fluids is fatal because of excessive cell shrinkage, membrane failure and oxidative stress to cellular components and macromolecules. Formation and storage of specific cryoprotectants, molecules which minimize the freezing damage, are crucial in winter survival in poikilothermic animals. Cryoprotectants minimize cell shrinkage and stabilize membrane structures. One of the most important cryoprotectants is glucose. Large amounts of glycogen stored in hepatic cells can be broken down into molecules of glucose. The very success of glucose in cryoprotection depends not only on the degree of glycogenolysis in the liver, but also on the rate at which glucose is transferred from hepatic cells into the circulation. The glucose transporter most responsible for the transfer of glucose from hepatic cells to the circulation is glucose transporter 2, GLUT2.

freeze tolerance ; cryoprotectants ; glucose ; GLUT2 ; amphibian

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