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HAVBRUKS-Havbruk - en næring i vekst

Environmental impact and molecular regulation of the osmoregulatory gill during parr-smolt transformation in Atlantic salmon

Awarded: NOK 2.6 mill.

High quality salmon smolts are critical for aquaculture, enhancement programmes and wild populations. Intensification of aquaculture smolt production and changes in natural habitats can cause degradation of environmental conditions, which may severely red uce smolt quality. The gill is critical in the adaptation to the environment, with the mitochondria rich chloride cells (MR/CCs) playing a key role in ion transport processes. However, the gill is also especially sensitive to environmental conditions, in particular poor water quality. Perhaps the single most critical element of parr-smolt transformation is the development of hypo-osmoregulatory ability, functionally linked to increases in transport proteins of the MRC/CC. The proposed project seeks to 1) determine the endocrine mechanisms through which environmental factors (water quality, salinity, photoperiod) control development and function of ion-transport proteins (NKA, H+-ATPase, CFTR, NKCC) and cellular development, and 2) use newly developed appr oaches of zebrafish screening to identify novel genes associated with gill development and function, and ultimately seek to determine their functional role in salmon ion-regulation and adaptation to changes in water quality. We propose to use molecular to ols to further characterize the regulation of genes coding for proteins in the CCs known to be central in the control of Atlantic salmon smolt ion-regulatory capacity. Our scientific approach includes studies of ion regulatory mechanisms on several levels of biological organisation, with the strategy of integrating information at the very basic level (gene expression) with changes in protein abundance, enzyme function, cell distribution and how such changes are manifested in whole animal performance. Iden tification of factors and basic mechanisms controlling gill development and CC function will ultimately lead to improved methods for smolt production, ensuring normal development in intensive systems.

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HAVBRUKS-Havbruk - en næring i vekst