Expression of Disease-relevant Thermal Adaptation Genes in Response to Thermal Stress in a Vertebrate Ectotherm

Undergraduate #94
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Genetics

Amber Pinnock - Bethune-Cookman University
Co-Author(s): Tia Rusciano, Florida Antoinette DeStefano, New Jersey Tyrese Taylor, Tiana Weeks, and Katharina C. Wollenberg Valero, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL

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The influence of the environment on disease-relevant gene expression is still understudied. A functional genetic network has previously been predicted to adapt to different climates in vertebrate ectotherms. In a previous study, thirty of these genes were verified to adaptively diverge depending on altitude related climate in natural populations of Anolis lizards, a vertebrate ectotherm. These include genes involved in human osteoporosis and aging. In this study, we test the hypothesis that a subset of these genes changes expression in response to thermal stress (hot versus cold). We exposed embryos of the zebrafish Danio rerio to twelve-hour fluctuating heat and cold stress. Proteins were extracted and western blot and ELISA were performed. We found increased gene expression in treatment versus control groups.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF HBCU-UP program; B-CU Office of Academic Affairs (CURE)

Faculty Advisor: Katharina Valero,