Living with little or no oxygen: from molecules to physiological biodiversity

While most vertebrates die within minutes of anoxia (no oxygen), a few species can tolerate anoxia about 1000 times longer. These include the crucian carp (Carassius carassius, No: karuss), a common fish in Norway, and some turtles. Anoxia and ischemia r elated diseases are the major killers in the industrialized world, and a main motivator for our research is to find out how evolution repeatedly has solved the problem of anoxic survival -- something medical science has failed to do. Our studies range fro m neural and cardiovascular physiology to gene expression. In particular, we now aim to follow up on two particularly hot trails that have recently emerged from our research. In the first project we will examine functional and adaptive changes in gene exp ression in anoxic crucian carp brain. Anoxia tolerant vertebrates are in this respect unique study organisms as they survive anoxia long enough for considerable and adaptive changes in gene expression to take place. These genomics studies will be parallel ed by a characterization of the proteome. In the second project, we are on the lookout for new examples of vertebrates showing exceptional hypoxia tolerance. We have data suggesting that coral reefs, the most biodiverse of any marine habitat, may hold a w ealth of such organisms. To these projects we connect a PhD student and a researcher that will interact with colleagues at the department and from around the world.