Is the deep-sea crab Chaceon affinis able to induce a thermal stress response?

Mestre, N.C., Cottin, D., Bettencourt, R., Colaco, A., Correira, S.P.C., Shillito, B., Thatje, Sven and Ravaux, J. (2015) Is the deep-sea crab Chaceon affinis able to induce a thermal stress response? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 181, 54-61. (doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.11.015).

Abstract

Fluctuations in the stress level of an organism are expressed in behavioural and molecular changes that can affect its ecology and survival. Our knowledge of thermal adaptations in deep-sea organisms is very limited, and this study investigates the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and the HSR in the deep-sea crab Chaceon affinis commonly found in waters of the North East Atlantic. A mild but significant HSR in Chaceon affinis was noted and one of the lowest CTmax known amongst Crustacea was revealed (27.5°C at 0.1 MPa; 28.5ºC at 10 MPa). The thermal sensitivity of this species appears to be reduced at in situ pressure (10 MPa), given the slightly higher CTmax and the significant 3-fold induction of stress genes hsp70 form 1 and hsp70 form 2. Although C. affinis deep-sea habitat is characterized by overall low temperature this species appears to have retained its ability to induce a HSR. This capability may be linked with C. affinis’ occasional exploitation of warmer and thermally instable hydrothermal vent fields, where it has been found foraging for food.

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