The effect of temperature and body size on electron transport system activity in freshwater zooplankton

Abstract

Electron transport system (ETS) activity in Mysis relicta, Limnocalanus macrurus, and surface zooplankton was measured by following the rate of reduction of cytochrome c in the presence of NADH, succinate, or NADPH. The steady-state kinetics indicate that NADPH is oxidized by a different ETS from NADH and succinate, and more than one system may exist for the oxidation of NADH and succinate in surface zooplankton. The NADPH requiring ETS which, because of its higher Km, presumably does not reduce cytochrome c in vivo, is probably equivalent to the microsomal NADPH requiring ETS from vertebrates and insects used in the detoxification of organic compounds. ETS activity is affected by both environmental temperature and size of the organism, with environmental temperature affecting both the total activity of the enthalpy of activation of the system. Larger organisms have a lower activity per unit weight compared with smaller animals. Because the effects of temperature and size are roughly similar for NADPH oxidation and NADH or succinate oxidation, the ratio of NADPH to either NADH or succinate oxidation may be a useful indicator of exposure to toxic organic compounds.