Molecular nature of the cryotolerant lake amphipod Gammarus lacustris

Gammarus lacustris were studied in an attempt to identify the mechanism of subzero temperature adaptation, which enables this species to survive in winter under natural conditions. G. lacustris hemolymph contained a high concentration of glucose (42.4 mg/ml of hemolymph). In addition, galactose, mannose, xylose, zellobiose, and unidentifiable disaccharides and oligosaccharides were found, though at much lower concentrations (0.94-3.26 mg/ml). The glycerol concentration in the gammarus hemolymph was about 5-20 times as low as in many other animals surviving at subzero temperatures (16.2 mg/ml). Other sugars and polyhydric alcohols were discovered only in traces amounts in the hemolymph. Antifreeze proteins were not found in the gammarus.