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Fall-like acclimation alters mitochondrial function and substrate use in freeze-tolerant crickets.
Nicolas Pichaud1, Hichem A Menail1, Kenechukwu C Ojukwu2
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Av Antonine Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada; New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine, Moncton, NB, E1C 8X3, Canada.
Journal of Thermal Biology
|August 28, 2025
Summary
Insect cold acclimation involves metabolic shifts. Gryllus veletis crickets increase glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) utilization for mitochondrial respiration, aiding freeze tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Insect physiology
- Metabolic biochemistry
- Cryobiology
Background:
- Insects acclimate to cold via metabolic changes.
- Cryoprotectants like glycerol accumulate for freeze tolerance.
- Metabolites can fuel mitochondrial ATP production.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate metabolic shifts in Gryllus veletis during cold acclimation.
- Focus on mitochondrial function and cryoprotectant links.
- Test if acclimation shifts substrate use towards glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P).
Main Methods:
- Analyzed fat body tissue from acclimated crickets.
- Measured glycogen content and enzyme activities (pyruvate kinase, cytochrome c oxidase, G3P dehydrogenase).
- Assessed mitochondrial oxygen consumption.
Main Results:
- Acclimation reduced glycogen and cytochrome c oxidase activity.
- Pyruvate kinase activity increased, indicating higher glycolytic flux.
- Mitochondrial G3P dehydrogenase activity rose, increasing G3P's role in respiration.
- Overall mitochondrial respiration decreased, but G3P's relative contribution grew.
Conclusions:
- Fall-like acclimation shifts cricket metabolism.
- Metabolites are redirected towards G3P production.
- G3P sustains mitochondrial respiration, contributing to freeze tolerance.
- This mechanism may apply to other cold-tolerant insects.
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