Research on the cryobiology of the Beyşehir frog (Pelophylax caralitanus)

In this study, the survival of plain frogs and Pelophylax caralitanus, which is endemic in Turkey, in freezing temperatures during winter and their survival strategy against this low temperature exposure were investigated. In this study, when individuals belonging to the P. caralitanus species encountered dehydration, freezing, and anoxia conditions, the levels of glucose acting as a cryoprotectant in the blood, liver, and skeletal muscle tissues, and the amount of water in the liver and skeletal muscle tissues, before cold exposure of individuals Changes in body weights and transcript expression levels of amphibian-specific antifreeze proteins (AFPs; FR10, Fr47, and Li16) were examined. During cold stress, the glucose level in the blood of P. caralitanus increased by a factor of 2.32 (from 2.01 mL-1 to 4.66 mol mL-1). It was determined that the glucose level in the blood increased under anaerobic stress (1.98 mol mL1) and under dehydration stress (1.28 mol mL1) and responded to stress conditions. The glucose level in the liver tissue increased 6.2 times after freezing stress, 5.01 times after dehydration stress, and 2.9 times after anoxia stress. It was determined that the expression of the fr47 gene was upregulated in blood samples taken from individuals in all stress and re-normalization groups. Expression of the fr47 gene in individuals in the freezing group is 1.52 times, in individuals in the thawing group 1.71 times, in individuals in the dehydration group 1.37 times, in individuals in the rehydration group 1.19 times, in individuals in the anoxia group 0.773 times, in individuals in the reoxia group the expression of the fr47 gene It increased 0.381 times upwards.As a result of our study, it was found that the endemic Pelophylax caralitanus, which was caught in Afyonkarahisar Eber Lake and its surroundings, can survive in winter conditions below 0 °C, which can be considered harsh, and that the biggest factors that ensure this survival are glucose, a cryoprotectant, and amphibian-specificIt has been determined that antifreeze proteins (AFP) are present in individuals.Concentrating on the bioinformatics of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic research of AFPs will help elucidate the mechanisms by which AFPs bind to ice crystals and test them. In this way, beneficial developments will be achieved in the fields of today's biotechnology and space technology.