Predictors of telomere content in dragon lizards
Författare
Summary, in English
Telomeres shorten as a consequence of DNA
replication, in particular in cells with low production of
telomerase and perhaps in response to physiological stress
from exposure to reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide.
This process of telomere attrition is countered by innate
antioxidation, such as via the production of superoxide
dismutase. We studied the inheritance of telomere length
in the Australian painted dragon lizard (Ctenophorus pictus)
and the extent to which telomere length covaries with masscorrected
maternal reproductive investment, which reflects
the level of circulating yolk precursor and antioxidant,
vitellogenin. Our predictors of offspring telomere length
explained 72 % of telomere variation (including interstitial
telomeres if such are present). Maternal telomere length and
reproductive investment were positively influencing offspring
telomere length in our analyses, whereas flow
cytometry-estimated superoxide level was negatively
impacting offspring telomere length. We suggest that the
effects of superoxide on hatchling telomere shortening may
be partly balanced by transgenerational effects of vitellogenin
antioxidation.
replication, in particular in cells with low production of
telomerase and perhaps in response to physiological stress
from exposure to reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide.
This process of telomere attrition is countered by innate
antioxidation, such as via the production of superoxide
dismutase. We studied the inheritance of telomere length
in the Australian painted dragon lizard (Ctenophorus pictus)
and the extent to which telomere length covaries with masscorrected
maternal reproductive investment, which reflects
the level of circulating yolk precursor and antioxidant,
vitellogenin. Our predictors of offspring telomere length
explained 72 % of telomere variation (including interstitial
telomeres if such are present). Maternal telomere length and
reproductive investment were positively influencing offspring
telomere length in our analyses, whereas flow
cytometry-estimated superoxide level was negatively
impacting offspring telomere length. We suggest that the
effects of superoxide on hatchling telomere shortening may
be partly balanced by transgenerational effects of vitellogenin
antioxidation.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2012
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
661-664
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Naturwissenschaften
Volym
99
Issue
8
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Springer
Ämne
- Biological Sciences
Nyckelord
- Lizard
- Reactive oxygen species
- Superoxide
- Telomere
- Vitellogenin
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1432-1904