Anaerobic metabolic strategy of the glacial relict isopod Saduria (Mesidotea) entomon

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Abstract
The glacial relict isopod Saduria (Mesidotea) entomon (L.) was kept under anoxia for up to 300 h (S, 7 .permill.; T, 8 .degree.C). Glycogen was found in normoxic concentration of 20 to 30 .mu.mol g-1 dry wt; it decreased rapidly in anoxia for the first 100 h, after which the decrease slowed. The glycolytic flux decreased after 100 h by a factor of 10. Blood glucose increased during the period of high glycolytic flux, but, corresponding to the decrease in glycolytic flux after 100 h, it decreased again, remaining however above normoxic values. S. entomon forced to be active under anoxia accumulated lactate, but when quiescent showed practically no increase in lactate. Quiescent S. entomon showed a steady accumulation of alanine, which inhibits the activity of pyruvate kinase and is thus responsible for the reduction in glycolytic flux. This anaerobic strategy, which makes it possible to survive extended periods of anoxia, is unique among crustaceans.