Research

My research focuses on the regulation of metabolism in animals. Lower vertebrates, especially fish, are the model used to study how animals cope with metabolic disequilibrium that results from different physiological states (exercise and stress) or changing environments (oxygen, temperature, ammonia, and anthropogenic pollutants).

The maintenance of a delicate energy balance is a constant challenge any organism must face in order to survive. This intricate metabolic regulation allows organisms to maintain an equilibrium between energy demand and supply. In higher organisms, such as those in the animal kingdom, the fine tuning of the various functions over the course of evolution has been partially achieved through the compartmentalization of the system. In essence, it is vital to maintain an efficient energy distribution and re-distribution system among different tissues, cells, and sub-cellular organelles. Glycolysis is an ancient metabolic pathway present in essentially all organisms. Lactate, the end-product of anaerobic glycolysis, is formed when tissues must function under oxygen limiting conditions. Some tissues, such as muscle, red blood cells and tumor cells, rely heavily on this pathway to generate ATP even under normal physiological conditions. Lactate can also be taken up and utilized by a wide variety of tissues and is thus considered to be an important metabolic intermediate substrate rather than just an anaerobic end-product. In fish, lactate metabolism and transport are handled differently in comparison to mammals. My research will shed light on the molecular and physiological regulation of the transmembrane lactate transport system and its links to other metabolites.

My research falls broadly into 4 general themes:

1) Metabolic, ionic and acid-base regulation in fish facing extreme environments ;

2) Nitrogen metabolism and ammonia toxicity in fish;

3) Mechanisms of metabolite transports regulation such as monocarboxylate and glucose transporter in fish;

4) Assessment of rearing conditions for aquaculture fish production using novel molecular, biochemical and physiological tools.

Publications

Brauner, C.J., T. Wang, R. Gonzalez, Y.X. Wang, R.G. Richards, N.J. Bernier, W. Xu, M. Patrick and A.L. Val. (2004) Limited extracellular but complete intracellular acid-base regulation during environmental hypercapnia in the armoured catfish, Liposarcus pardalis. J. Exp. Biol. (Submitted)

Wilkie M.P., S. Turnbull, J. Bird, Y.X. Wang, J.F. Claude and J.H. Youson (2004) Sea lamprey parasitism of basking sharks: evidence that ancestral lampreys parasitized their chondrichthian counterparts. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (Submitted)

Wang, Y.X., R.J. Gonzalez, M.L. Patrick, M. Grosell, C.G. Zhang,  J.Z. Du,  P.J. Walsh, C.M. Wood (2003) Unusual physiology of Lake Qinghai scaleless carp, Gymnocypris przewalskii. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A. 134:409-421.

Furimsky, M., S.J. Cooke, C.D. Suski, Y.X. Wang and B.L. Tufts (2003). Respiratory and circulatory effects of hypoxia in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and small mouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu): an application to “live-release” fishing tournament. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 132:1065-1075.

Veauvy, C., Y.X. Wang, Perez-Pinzon G.P., P.J. Walsh (2001) Comparison of ammonia effect on brain metabolism in rat and toadfish. Am. J. Physiol. 283: R598-R603.

Walsh, P.J., Y.X. Wang, C.E. Campbell, G. DeBoeck and Chris M. Wood (2001). Patterns of nitrogenous waste excretion and gill urea transporter mRNA expression in various species of marine fish. Mar. Biol. 139:839-844.

Hatta, H., M. Tounuchi, D. Miskovic, Y.X. Wang, J. Heikkila and A. Bonen (2001). Tissue specific and isoform specific change in MCT1 and MCT4 in heart and soleus muscle during a 1 year period. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 281:E749-E756.

Wood, C.M., D.M. McDonald, J. Warne, R. Balment, Y.X. Wang, and P.J. Walsh (2001). Do circulating plasma AVT and/or control pulsatile urea excretion in the gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta)? Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A. 129:859-872

Laurent, P., C.M. Wood, Y.X. Wang, S.F. Perry, K.M. Gilmour, P. Pärt and P.J. Walsh (2001) Intracellular vesicular trafficking in the gill epithelium of urea excreting fish. Cell & Tissue Res. 303:197-210.

McDonald, M.D., C.M. Wood, Y.X. Wang and P.J. Walsh (2000) Differential branchial and renal handling of urea, acetamide and thiourea in the gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta: evidence for two transporters. J. exp. Biol. 203:1027-1037.

Walsh, P.J., M.Hertz, M. Medina, G.G. Goss, V. Vincek, Y.X. Wang, C. E. Campell, G.J. Cooper, C.M. Wood and C.P. Smith (2000) Molecular characterisation of a urea transporter in the gills of the gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta. J. exp. Biol. 203:2357-2364.

Kong,H., N.Kahatapitiya, K. Kingsley, W.L. Salo, P.M. Anderson, Y.X. Wang and P. J. Walsh (2000) Induction of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase III and glutamine synthetase mRNA during confinement stress in gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta). J. exp. Biol. 203:311-317.

Wilkie, M.P., Y.X. Wang, P.J. Walsh and J.H. Youson (1999) Nitrogen waste excretion by the larvae of a phylogenetically ancient vertebrate: the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus).  Can. J. Zool. 77:707-715.

C.M. Wood and Y.X. Wang (1999)  Lactate, H⁺ and ammonia transport and distribution in rainbow trout white muscle after exhaustive exercise.  In: S.E.B. Seminar Series: Regulation of Tissue pH in Plants and Animals: a reappraisal of current techniques, pp. 99-124 (Ed. E.W. Taylor, S. Egginton, and J.A. Raven), London, Cambridge Univ. Press.

Walsh, P.J. and Y.X. Wang (1998) Re-examination of nitrogenous waste excretion in several marine teleost fishes.  Bull. Mt. Desert Island Biological Lab.

Wang, Y.X., R.P. Henry, P.W. Wright, G.J.F. Heigenhauser and C.M. Wood (1998) Respiratory and metabolic roles of carbonic anhydrase in post-exercise trout skeletal muscle. Am. J. Physiol. 275:R1766-R1779.

Henry, R.P., Y.X. Wang and C.M. Wood (1997) Carbonic anhydrase facilitates CO₂ and NH₃ transport across the sarcolemma of trout white muscle. Am. J. Physiol. 272: R1754-R1761.

Wang, Y.X., P.W. Wright, G.J.F. Heigenhauser and C.M. Wood (1997) Lactate transport by perfused rainbow trout white muscle: kinetic characteristics and sensitivity to inhibitors. Am. J. Physiol. 272: R1577-R1587.

Wang, Y.X., G. Heigenhauser and C.M. Wood (1994) Integrated responses to exhaustive exercise and recovery in vivo in rainbow trout white muscle: acid-base, phosphagen, carbohydrate, lipid, and electrolyte metabolism. J. Exp. Biol. 195:227-258

Wang, Y.X., M.P. Wilkie, G. Heigenhauser and C.M. Wood (1994) The analysis of metabolites in rainbow trout white muscle: a comparison of different sampling and processing methods. J. Fish Biol. 45:855-873.

PUBLICATIONS IN PREPARATION:

Madison, B.N., R.S. Dhillon, B.L. Tufts and Y.X. Wang (2004) Haematological consequences of acute sub-lethal nitrite exposure in walleye (stizostedion vitreum).

Madison, B.N., R.S. Dhillon, B.L. Tufts and Y.X. Wang (2004) Moderate ammonia stimulates growth in walleye (stizostedion vitreum).

Wang, Y.X., D. Miskovic, M. Tounuchi, and A. Bonen. Thyroid hormone (T3) regulates monocarboxylate transporter isoforms (MCT2) and mRNA expression in rat skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Wang, Y.X., A.A. Dowker A. Bonen, and P.M. Schulte. Clonimng of monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) mRNA in hypoxic tolerant teleost fish.

Department of Biology, Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6 - Telephone: (613) 533-6160, Fax: (613) 533-6617