Embryonic development and occurrence of p26 and artemin-like protein in the cryptobiotic cysts of freshwater fairy shrimp, Streptocephalus dichotomus Baird

N. Munuswamy, S. Sathyanarayanan, A. Priyadarshini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Embryonic development as well as stress resistance exhibited by the encysted embryo of the fairy shrimp, Streptocephalus dichotomus were studied. Embryonic development took place in a rapid phase and the nauplii hatched in about 8 h following hydration. The morphology and developmental features of the embryo, at different timescales, have been recorded. Despite undergoing interrupted development, encysting embryos synthesized large amounts of two proteins, namely p26 and artemin in the cysts. Western blot analyses of the desiccated and non-desiccated cysts showed the presence of p26 and artemin-like proteins with similar electrophoretic pattern and cross reactivity with polyclonal antibodies raised against Artemia p26 and artemin. Thus, the presence of p26 and artemin-like proteins has been documented in the cysts of the freshwater fairy shrimp other than Artemia. Levels of selected sugars are also reported in the desiccated and non-desiccated cysts, of which cysts containing more trehalose were capable of protecting the encysted embryos. The functional significance of sugars found in the encysted embryo is discussed in relation to cryptobiosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)103-110
Number of pages8
JournalCurrent Science
Volume96
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jan 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Artemin
  • Diapause
  • Fairy shrimp
  • Trehalose
  • p26

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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