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Early Developmental Decline in HSP Expression Affects Subsequent Response to Transient Heat Exposure
C R Warren1, M B Wilken1, J M Rollins1
1School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA.
Integrative Organismal Biology (Oxford, England)
|January 2, 2026
Summary
Embryonic turtle development shows heat-shock protein (HSP) gene expression naturally declines and repeated heat waves reduce HSP induction, impacting thermotolerance and development.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Transient temperature changes, like heat waves, are increasing in frequency and severity.
- Physiological responses to heat during embryonic development are crucial for survival but can be costly.
- Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) protect cellular homeostasis but their overexpression can harm ectotherm embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate natural developmental patterns of HSP gene expression and heat inducibility in turtle embryos.
- To understand how repeated heat wave exposures affect HSP responses during embryonic development.
- To explore the implications of incubation temperature on HSP expression and subsequent heat stress response.
Main Methods:
- Studied the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta) during embryonic development.
- Exposed embryos to repeated 3-day transient heat wave simulations.
- Quantified the expression of five HSP genes in embryonic trunks.
Main Results:
- Most HSP gene expression naturally declined during early development, a decline amplified by warmer temperatures.
- Warmer temperatures accelerated embryonic developmental rate.
- Heat wave exposures showed limited HSP gene induction, which was reduced after prior heat exposures, indicating attenuated responses.
Conclusions:
- Ontogenetic changes in HSP expression and inducibility are critical during embryonic development.
- Embryos must balance thermotolerance with developmental demands, influenced by incubation temperature.
- Findings suggest repeated heat exposures may decrease an embryo's ability to respond to subsequent heat stress, with implications for other ectotherms.
