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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.01.08.698424

Intrinsic sodium regulation by Na,K-ATPase: The blue crab's salinity adaptation described by a single negative feedback loop

Ruoff, P.
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Abstract

The term enantiostasis was introduced by Mangum and Towle to describe a functional relationship between environmental changes and an organisms adaptation, and furthermore, to distinguish this kind of adaptation from homeostatic control. The defining example of enantiostasis is the blue crabs blood salinity adaptation when the animal is exposed to different environmental salinities during its move between the ocean and upriver locations. In this paper a model for osmoregulation is suggested based on one of two identified negative feedbacks in the mechanism of Na,K-ATPase. Using a scheme suggested by Towle in 1997 the effect of the feedback is tested with respect to the blue crabs salinity adaptation. Not only does this single feedback model give a practically quantitative description of the blue crabs adaptation data, the model is also able to show other observed patterns of osmoregulation. In view of these results the relationship between enantiostasis and homeostasis is discussed. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=173 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/698424v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (31K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d76ba5org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1dc341forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e20621org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@94c8_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HighlightsO_LITwo sodium-regulating feedbacks are identified in the operation of Na,K-ATPase. C_LIO_LIOne of these feedbacks is able to describe hypo- and hyperosmotic regulations. C_LIO_LIThe relationship between enantiostasis and homeostasis is discussed. C_LI

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Ruoff, P.. 2026-01-09. Intrinsic sodium regulation by Na,K-ATPase: The blue crab's salinity adaptation described by a single negative feedback loop. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.08.698424

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