Analysis of subcellular energy metabolism in five Lacertidae lizards across varied environmental conditions

Žagar, Anamarija (author), Dajčman, Urban (author), Megía-Palma, Rodrigo (author), Simčič, Tatjana (author), Barroso, Frederico M. (author), Baškiera, Senka (author), Carretero, Miguel A. (author)

Aerobic respiration is the main energy source for most eukaryotes, and efficient mitochondrial energy transfer greatly influences organismal fitness. To survive environmental changes, cells have evolved to adjust their biochemistry. Thus, measuring energy metabolism at the subcellular level can enhance our understanding of individual performance, population dynamics, and species distribution ranges. We investigated three important metabolic traits at the subcellular level in five lacertid lizard species sampled from different elevations, from sea level up to 2000 m. We examined hemoglobin concentration, two markers of oxidative stress (catalase activity and carbonyl concentration) and maximum rate of metabolic respiration at the subcellular level (potential metabolic activity at the electron transport system). The traits were analysed in laboratory acclimated adult male lizards to investigate the adaptive metabolic responses to the variable environmental conditions at the local sampling sites. Potential metabolic activity at the cellular level was measured at four temperatures – 28 °C, 30 °C, 32 °C and 34 °C – covering the range of preferred body temperatures of the species studied. Hemoglobin content, carbonyl concentration and potential metabolic activity did not differ significantly among species. Interspecific differences were found in the catalase activity, Potential metabolic activity increased with temperature in parallel in all five species. The highest response of the metabolic rate with temperature (Q$_{10}$) and Arrhenius activation energy (E$_a$) was recorded in the high-mountain species Iberolacerta monticola.

• Language: English
• Keywords: physiology, lacertids, aerobic respiration, interspecific variability, hemoglobin, zoology
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 10 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 297, art. 111729
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-160683
• UDC: 591
• ISSN on article: 1095-6433
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111729
• COBISS.SI-ID: 206128131
• Publication date in RUL: 03.09.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology
• Shortened title: Comp. biochem. physiol., Part A Mol. integr. physiol.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1095-6433
• COBISS.SI-ID: 43809025

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: fiziologija, kuščarice, aerobna respiracija, medvrstna variabilnost, hemoglobin, zoologija, Lacertidae