Shared iodine uptake mechanisms in marine zooplankton and phytoplankton
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1
University of Guelph, Integrative Biology, Canada
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2
2Centro de Investigación y Formación Acuicola El Toruño, Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA), Spain
Iodine is an essential trace element in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It occurs at much higher concentrations in marine compared to terrestrial environments1, and little is known about the adaptations of marine organisms to the relative abundance of this important element. In contrast to vertebrates, where iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones (THs), we lack fundamental insights into the mechanisms of iodine function, metabolism and uptake for the majority of marine life, i.e. zooplankton and phytoplankton. Our data provide evidence for peroxide facilitated diffusion (PFD) of iodine in two planktonic marine organisms, the unicellular algal species Isochrisis sp. (phytoplankton) and sea urchin larvae (zooplankton). PFD has only been documented for bacteria and the seaweed Laminaria. This is in contrast to sodium iodine symporter (NIS) mechanisms that are essential for iodine uptake in the vertebrate thyroid gland. Hence, PFD is used for iodine uptake in representative organisms of three kingdoms and therefore appears to be much more widespread and evolutionary ancient than NIS mechanisms. Our results also support recent reports suggesting iodine accumulation in kelp as an ancient antioxidant mechanism. These findings raise interesting new questions about the function and evolution of iodine in marine ecosystems.
Acknowledgements
NSERC Discovery Grant to AH
CFI Grant to AH
Keywords:
evolution,
hormone,
Iodine,
Oxidative Stress,
Peroxide Facilitated Diffusion,
thyroid
Conference:
NASCE 2011: The inaugural meeting of the North American Society for Comparative Endocrinology, Ann Arbor, United States, 13 Jul - 16 Jul, 2011.
Presentation Type:
Invited Symposium
Topic:
Developmental endocrinology
Citation:
Miller
AE,
Lautens
B,
Van Bergeijk
S and
Heyland
A
(2011). Shared iodine uptake mechanisms in marine zooplankton and phytoplankton.
Front. Endocrinol.
Conference Abstract:
NASCE 2011: The inaugural meeting of the North American Society for Comparative Endocrinology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fendo.2011.04.00032
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Received:
18 Jul 2011;
Published Online:
09 Aug 2011.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Andreas Heyland, University of Guelph, Integrative Biology, Guelph, ON, N1H1N3, Canada, aheyland@uoguelph.ca