Differences in Hematological Traits between High- and Low-Altitude Lizards (Genus Phrynocephalus)

PLoS One. 2015 May 8;10(5):e0125751. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125751. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Phrynocephalus erythrurus (Lacertilia: Agamidae) is considered to be the highest living reptile in the world (about 4500-5000 m above sea level), whereas Phrynocephalus przewalskii inhabits low altitudes (about 1000-1500 m above sea level). Here, we report the differences in hematological traits between these two different Phrynocephalus species. Compared with P. przewalskii, the results indicated that P. erythrurus own higher oxygen carrying capacity by increasing red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) and hematocrit (Hct) and these elevations could promote oxygen carrying capacity without disadvantage of high viscosity. The lower partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) of P. erythrurus did not cause the secondary alkalosis, which may be attributed to an efficient pulmonary system for oxygen (O2) loading. The elevated blood-O2 affinity in P. erythrurus may be achieved by increasing intrinsic O2 affinity of isoHbs and balancing the independent effects of potential heterotropic ligands. We detected one α-globin gene and three β-globin genes with 1 and 33 amino acid substitutions between these two species, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation results showed that amino acids substitutions in β-globin chains could lead to the elimination of hydrogen bonds in T-state Hb models of P. erythrurus. Based on the present data, we suggest that P. erythrurus have evolved an efficient oxygen transport system under the unremitting hypobaric hypoxia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / blood
  • Altitude
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Arteries / physiology
  • Blood Gas Analysis
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Reverse-Phase
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Hemodynamics*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Lizards / blood*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • alpha-Globins / chemistry
  • alpha-Globins / metabolism
  • beta-Globins / chemistry
  • beta-Globins / metabolism

Substances

  • Protein Subunits
  • alpha-Globins
  • beta-Globins
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Oxygen

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KP019961
  • GENBANK/KP019962
  • GENBANK/KP019963
  • GENBANK/KP019964
  • GENBANK/KP019965
  • GENBANK/KP019966
  • GENBANK/KP019967
  • GENBANK/KP019968

Grants and funding

Research funding was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31272313 and No. 31472005 to Q Chen). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.