2. Behavioral Biology TALKS - Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft

In the current project we are looking at the influence of this hormone on the regular
spiking patterns occurring in RA, an important nucleus of the song control system,
involved in learning as well as in producing song. Additionally we investigate the
influence of Melatonin on the temporal pattern of birdsong itself.
Telemetric devices developed in our institute are used to gain insight into both
temporal patterns of song and learning related brain activity. So far our work shows
changes due to Melatonin treatment in the temporal pattern of song and its neuronal
correlates. Melatonin seems to have the same effect on song and neuronal activity in
RA as sleep.
14. Physiology TALKS
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Invited speaker 1: Chair – Thorsten Burmester A 701 / 12:00
Miriam Götting (Hamburg)
Stress tolerance in fish and the role of globins
Author: Miriam Götting
Affiliation: 1 Biocenter Grindel and Zoological Museum, University of Hamburg
Aquatic ecosystems experience daily and seasonal changes of abiotic and biotic
variables. Physiological adaptation to a changing environment is an essential feature
of aquatic organisms. Most of the threats to aquatic ecosystems (e.g., eutrophication,
pollution, global warming) affect the level of dissolved oxygen and induce hypoxic
periods of variable lengths.
In the first part of this talk, I will present data from our studies investigating the
mechanisms of hypoxia tolerance in the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus
aculeatus L.). Just as critical as the need to survive periods of oxygen limitation is the
ability to cope with subsequent rapid restorage of tissue oxygen levels
(reoxygenation). We anticipated that adaptive molecular responses to oxygen
limitation and reoxygenation might occur in pathways related to energy metabolism,
ROS neutralization and redox balance. The responses were studied on the transcript
and protein level in different stickleback tissues. In particular, we were interested in
the specific role of globins in the acclimatization to adverse environmental
conditions.
The second part of the talk will focus on the function of globins. Globins are small
heme-proteins that reversibly bind oxygen, and are instrumental in various aspects of
oxygen supply and hypoxia adaptation. Our in vitro studies mainly focused on globin
X which is restricted to lower vertebrates and is acylated at its N-terminal extension.
This addition of fatty acids results in an association with the cellular membranes,
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