Differential expression and hypoxia-mediated regulation of the N-myc downstream regulated gene family

Many organisms rely on oxygen to generate cellular energy (adenosine triphosphate or ATP). During severe hypoxia, the production of ATP decreases, leading to cell damage or death. Conversely, excessive oxygen causes oxidative stress that is equally damaging to cells. To mitigate pathological outcomes, organisms have evolved mechanisms to adapt to fluctuations in oxygen levels. Zebrafish embryos are remarkably hypoxia-tolerant, surviving anoxia (zero oxygen) for hours in a hypometabolic, energy-conserving state. To begin to unravel underlying mechanisms, we analyze here the distribution of the N-myc Downstream Regulated Gene (ndrg) family, ndrg1-4, and their transcriptional response to hypoxia. These genes have been primarily studied in cancer cells and hence little is understood about their normal function and regulation. We show here using in situ hybridization that ndrgs are expressed in metabolically demanding organs of the zebrafish embryo, such as the brain, kidney, and heart. To investigate whether ndrgs are hypoxia-responsive, we exposed embryos to different durations and severity of hypoxia and analyzed transcript levels. We observed that ndrgs are differentially regulated by hypoxia and that ndrg1a has the most robust response, with a ninefold increase following prolonged anoxia. We further show that this treatment resulted in de novo expression of ndrg1a in tissues where the transcript is not observed under normoxic conditions and changes in Ndrg1a protein expression post-reoxygenation. These findings provide an entry point into understanding the role of this conserved gene family in the adaptation of normal cells to hypoxia and reoxygenation.