Modulating role of lipids and their fatty acids in adaptation of the White Sea mussels Mytilus edulis L. to environmental salinity change.

N. Fokina; Z. Nefedova; N. Nemova; V. Khalaman

Abstract  Role of lipids and fatty acids (FA) in littoral and sublittoral White Sea mussels Mytilus edulis L. was studied at various stages of reproductive cycle in the phenotypic adaptation (acclimation) to changes of the sea water salinity. The obtained data indicate differences in the mussel lipid and fatty acid spectra, which are connected both with their location (littoral or sublittoral) and with the spawning period stage (3b—release of gametes or 3c—resorption of residual sex products). Lipids and FA of both mussel groups respond to the salinity changes to the greater degree at the 3b than at the 3c stage. In the littoral mussels at the 3b and 3c stages there were revealed differently directed changes in the content of membrane lipid—cholesterol—and in the cholesterol: phospholipids ratio. In the sublittoral mussels that are less adapted to extreme action of abiotic factors, more significant changes were found in the lipid and FA compositions.

LIPIDS; FATTY acids; BIOLOGICAL adaptation; MUSSELS

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry & Physiology, 2007, Vol 43, Issue 4, p379

0022-0930

Academic Journal

10.1134/S0022093007030023