Electron transfer and ROS production in brain mitochondria of intertidal and subtidal triplefin fish (Tripterygiidae)

While oxygen is essential for oxidative phosphorylation, O-2 can form reactive species (ROS) when interacting with electrons of mitochondrial electron transport system. ROS is dependent on O-2 pressure (PO2) and has traditionally been assessed in O-2 saturated media, PO2 at which mitochondria do not typically function in vivo. Mitochondrial ROS can be significantly elevated by the respiratory complex II substrate succinate, which can accumulate within hypoxic tissues, and this is exacerbated further with reoxygenation. Intertidal species are repetitively exposed to extreme O-2 fluctuations, and have likely evolved strategies to avoid excess ROS production. We evaluated mitochondrial electron leakage and ROS production in permeabilized brain of intertidal and subtidal triplefin fish species from hyperoxia to anoxia, and assessed the effect of anoxia reoxygenation and the influence of increasing succinate concentrations. At typical intracellular PO2, net ROS production was similar among all species; however at elevated PO2, brain tissues of the intertidal triplefin fish released less ROS than subtidal species. In addition, following in vitro anoxia reoxygenation, electron transfer mediated by succinate titration was better directed to respiration, and not to ROS production for intertidal species. Overall, these data indicate that intertidal triplefin fish species better manage electrons within the ETS, from hypoxic-hyperoxic transitions.

Automated summary

This study shows that intertidal triplefin fish species are able to better manage electron transfer within the ETS, resulting in reduced ROS production during hypoxic-hyperoxic transitions. This is likely due to their repeated exposure to extreme O2 fluctuations and the evolution of adaptive strategies.