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Temperature Effects on Hemocyanin Oxygen Binding in an Antarctic Cephalopod

Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Marine and Polar Research, Ecophysiology and Ecotoxicology, Columbusstrasse, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hpoertner{at}awi-bremerhaven.de

The functional relevance of oxygen transport by hemocyanin of the Antarctic octopod Megaleledone senoi and of the eurythermal cuttlefish Sepia officinalis was analyzed by continuous and simultaneous recordings of changes in pH and hemocyanin oxygen saturation in whole blood at various temperatures. These data were compared to literature data on other temperate and cold-water cephalopods (octopods and giant squid).

In S. officinalis, the oxygen affinity of hemocyanin changed at P₅₀/°C = 0.12 kPa (pH 7.4) with increasing temperatures; this is similar to observations in temperate octopods. In M. senoi, thermal sensitivity was much smaller (<0.01 kPa, pH 7.2). Furthermore, M. senoi hemocyanin displayed one of the highest levels of oxygen affinity (P₅₀ < 1 kPa, pH 7.6, 0 °C) found so far in cephalopods and a rather low cooperativity (n₅₀ = 1.4 at 0 °C). The pH sensitivity of oxygen binding ( log P₅₀/ pH) increased with increasing temperature in both the cuttlefish and the Antarctic octopod. At low PO₂ (1.0 kPa) and pH (7.2), the presence of a large venous oxygen reserve (43% saturation) insensitive to pH reflects reduced pH sensitivity and high oxygen affinity in M. senoi hemocyanin at 0 °C. In S. officinalis, this reserve was 19% at pH 7.4, 20 °C, and 1.7 kPa O₂, a level still higher than in squid.

These findings suggest that the lower metabolic rate of octopods and cuttlefish compared to squid is reflected in less pH-dependent oxygen transport. Results of the hemocyanin analysis for the Antarctic octopod were similar to those reported for Vampyroteuthis—an extremely high oxygen affinity supporting a very low metabolic rate. In contrast to findings in cold-adapted giant squid, the minimized thermal sensitivity of oxygen transport in Antarctic octopods will reduce metabolic scope and thereby contribute to their stenothermality.

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