Unravelling Stress Granules in the Deep Cold: Characterisation of Tia-1 Gene Sequence in Antarctic Fish Species

Abstract

Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic foci lacking membranes, comprising non-translating messenger ribonucleoproteins, translational initiation factors, and additional proteins. Their formation is crucial for rapidly modulating gene expression in response to adverse environmental conditions, such as pollution and infections. Limited research has focused on investigating the molecular components of SGs in fish, with minimal exploration in Antarctic fish. This study characterises for the first time the transcript sequences of one key protein component of SGs, TIA-1 (T-cell intracellular antigen 1), in two Antarctic endemic fish species, i.e. Trematomus bernacchii and Chionodraco hamatus. The mRNA-binding protein TIA-1 acts as a post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression and its aggregation leads to the formation of SGs in response to cellular damage. The in vitro analysis of these gene sequences highlighted interesting new features of TIA-1 in Antarctic fish, potentially unlocking further insights into their unique adaptations to extreme environmental conditions. This is the first study investigating tia-1 expression levels in both species’ liver, heart, spleen, kidney, and white muscle.

Keywords: TIA-1, Stress Granules, Antarctic Fish, Trematomus bernacchii, Chionodraco hamatus, Post-transcriptional Regulation.