The 70-kDa family of heat shock proteins plays an important role as molecular chaperones in unstressed and stressed cells. The constitutive member of the 70 family (hsc70) is crucial for the chaperoning function of unstressed cells, whereas the inducible form (hsp70) is important for allowing cells to cope with acute stressor insult, especially those affecting the protein machinery. In fish, th...

We have studied the comparative rheology of individual red blood cells from humans and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at their natural body temperatures. Trout red blood cells were large ellipsoids (about 16 microns x 11.5 microns x 2.5 microns) with a mean volume of 250 fl, a surface area of approximately 350 microns 2 and an elongated nucleus of about 9 microns x 5 microns. Although much...

Transbranchial ammonia gradients and blood acid-base status have been examined in rainbow trout acclimated to fresh water (FW), 33% sea water (33% SW) and sea water (SW) and exposed to 1.0 mmol l-1 total ammonia (TAmm) at pH 7.9 for 24 h. At all three salinities trout maintained large negative (inwardly directed) NH3 and NH4+ gradients throughout the exposure, presumably by active excretion of ...

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) display longitudinal and developmental shifts in muscle relaxation rate. This study aimed to determine the role of variations in parvalbumin content in modulating muscle relaxation. Parvalbumin is a low molecular weight protein that buffers myoplasmic Ca2+ and enhances muscle relaxation. In some fish, longitudinal variations in muscle relaxation have been lin...

IL-15 is a member of the common gamma-chain family of cytokines that possess a heterogeneous repertoire of activities on various cells of the immune system. We report here the first functional characterization of a fish IL-15 in rainbow trout. The trout IL-15 gene is 6-kb long and contains six exons and five introns that transcribe into a 1.2-kb mRNA containing seven out-of-frame AUG initiation...

UNLABELLED Yersinia ruckeri is the etiological agent of enteric redmouth (ERM) disease of farmed salmonids. Enteric redmouth disease is traditionally associated with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum), but its incidence in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is increasing. Yersinia ruckeri isolates recovered from diseased Atlantic salmon have been poorly characterized, and very little is kn...

Marine Scotland is the directorate of the Scottish Government responsible for the integrated management of Scotland's seas. Marine Scotland Science (formerly Fisheries Research Services) provides expert scientific and technical advice on marine and fisheries issues. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science is a series of reports that publish results of research and monitoring carried out by Marin...

Of the 30 distinct complement proteins recognized to date, C3 is probably the most versatile and multifunctional molecule known, interacting with at least 20 different proteins. It plays a critical role in both pathways of complement activation and participates in phagocytic and immunoregulatory processes. Structural and functional analysis of C3 from different species, in addition to phylogene...

BACKGROUND: DT diaphorase (DTD; NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase; EC 1.6.99.2) catalyses the two electron reduction of quinones, thus preventing redox cycling and consequently quinone dependent production of reactive oxygen species. In rat and mouse, a wide range of chemicals including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, azo dyes and quinones induces DTD. Bifunctional compounds, such as beta-naphthoflavon...

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Mistassini, Quebec, were investigated to determine whether they resembled the lean and siscowet morphotypes of Lake Superior and Great Slave Lake. Lake trout caught in deep water were predicted to resemble the siscowet morphotype and to be better adapted for vertical migration (i.e., low percent buoyancy) than those caught in shallow water. The research...