Abstract
Due to their exploitation of different ecological niches by spatially distinct populations, sessile marine invertebrates provide a model for studying adaptive responses to changes in environmental conditions. One adaptive response is the induction of heat-shock proteins (HSPs). HSPs regulate cell protein homeostasis and their levels rise following various stresses, e.g., elevated temperature. We studied the influence of changes in seawater temperature (SWT) on the expression of HSP60 in the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata by using a monoclonal antibody. Anemonia sulcata displays high levels of HSP60 expression when extreme or unexpected temperature conditions prevail in the intertidal pools. Furthermore, subtidal specimens exhibit a seasonal pattern of the expression of this protein following changes in SWT. The level of HSP60 was higher during summer (SWT = 31 °C), compared with other seasons. This study indicates that expression of specific stress proteins in marine organisms might be used as an early-warning biomonitor of disturbed marine environments.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 160 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Israel Journal of Zoology |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 2000 |