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Ubiquitous increase in taurine transporter mRNA in tissues of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) during high-salinity adaptation

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry volume 23, pages 173–182 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

We have isolated a cDNA encoding the taurine transporter from a tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) gill cDNA library. Transient expression of the cDNA in COS-7 cell indicates that the clone encodes a Na+- and Cl−-dependent and β-amino acid-specific taurine transporter. By the transfer of tilapia cultured in freshwater to 70% artificial seawater, plasma osmolality increased by up to 100–135 mOsm/kgH2O along with the marked increase in the taurine transporter mRNA level in all the tissues examined i.e., kidney, stomach, intestine, gill, eye, liver, fin, muscle and brain. In most tissues, time-dependent change in the taurine transporter mRNA level corresponds to that in plasma osmolality. However, fin showed an acute and muscle showed a delayed increase in taurine transporter mRNA compared to changes in plasma osmolality. The taurine transporter mRNA level in tilapia embryos also increased after transfer from freshwater to 100% artificial seawater. Increase in taurine transporter expression leads to the activation of cellular uptake of taurine from plasma and the accumulation of taurine in the cell. Thus the results in the present study suggest that taurine plays an important role as an osmolyte in the ubiquitous tissues of tilapia during high-salinity adaptation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    K. Takeuchi, H. Toyohara, M. Kinoshita & M. Sakaguchi

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  1. K. Takeuchi
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  2. H. Toyohara
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  3. M. Kinoshita
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  4. M. Sakaguchi
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Takeuchi, K., Toyohara, H., Kinoshita, M. et al. Ubiquitous increase in taurine transporter mRNA in tissues of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) during high-salinity adaptation. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 23, 173–182 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007889725718

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007889725718

  • hyperosmolarity
  • mRNA level
  • organic osmolyte
  • osmotic stress
  • plasma osmolality

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