Migratory disposition alters lean mass dynamics and protein metabolism in migratory white-throated sparrows ( Zonotrichia albicollis )

Migratory birds seasonally increase fat stores and the capacity to use fat to fuel long-distance migratory flights. However, lean mass loss also occurs during migratory flights and, if adaptive, should exhibit seasonal changes in the capacity for protein metabolism. We conducted a photoperiod manipu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology integrative and comparative physiology, 2022-07, Vol.323 (1), p.R98-R109
Main Authors: Elowe, Cory R, Gerson, Alexander R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Migration - physiology
Animals
Body fat
Ca2+-transporting ATPase
Calcium (reticular)
Calcium ions
Calcium transport
Catabolism
Endoplasmic reticulum
Enzymes
Metabolism
Migratory birds
Muscles
Photoperiod
Protein metabolism
Protein turnover
Proteins
Sarcolipin
Seasonal variations
Seasons
Songbirds
Sparrows - physiology
Water - metabolism
Water loss
Zonotrichia albicollis
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Summary:Migratory birds seasonally increase fat stores and the capacity to use fat to fuel long-distance migratory flights. However, lean mass loss also occurs during migratory flights and, if adaptive, should exhibit seasonal changes in the capacity for protein metabolism. We conducted a photoperiod manipulation using captive white-throated sparrows ( ) to investigate seasonal changes in protein metabolism between the nonmigratory "winter" condition and after exposure to a long-day "spring" photoperiod to stimulate the migratory condition. After photostimulation, birds in the migratory condition rapidly increased fat mass and activity of fat catabolism enzymes. Meanwhile, total lean mass did not change, but birds increased the activity of protein catabolism enzymes and lost more water and lean mass during water-restricted metabolic testing. These data suggest that more protein may be catabolized during migratory seasons, corresponding with more water loss. Counter to predictions, birds in the migratory condition also showed an approximately 30-fold increase in muscle expression of , which binds to sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca -ATPase (SERCA) and uncouples Ca transport from ATP hydrolysis. Our documented changes to protein catabolism enzymes and whole animal lean mass dynamics may indicate that protein breakdown or increased protein turnover is adaptive during migration in songbirds.
ISSN:0363-6119
1522-1490
DOI:10.1152/ajpregu.00295.2021