Impact of environmental challenges on physiology and biochemistry of fish: W. Driedzic.
Experiments are designed to close the information gap between “what animals do” and the biochemistry that underwrites performance. There are currently two major research themes: 1) Activation of metabolic pathway at low temperature. Under this conceptual umbrella mechanisms that lead to preferential growth of “red” type muscle are being investigated. Also under investigation is the activation of glycerol production as an antifreeze agent in smelt. 2) Hypoxia adaptation in fish hearts. Studies involve the role of myoglobin as an intracellular carrier of oxygen and the role of KATP channels in defending against oxygen deprivation.