scholarly journals Antioxidant and stress-related genes in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the vicinity of natural CO2 vents at different nutrient conditions

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Lauritano ◽  
Fabio Bulleri ◽  
Chiara Ravaglioli ◽  
Laura Tamburello ◽  
Maria Cristina Buia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Co2 Enrichment ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Over Expression ◽  
Stress Genes ◽  
Nutrient Conditions

Studies on stress genes are fundamental to understand how marine organisms maintain or re-estabilish a normal metabolism in face of physical or chemical disturbances. Aquatic organisms are in fact constantly exposed to environmental stimuli and natural and/or dissolved anthropogenic variables/compounds, including both physical (e.g. cold, heat, salinity and pH) and chemical (e.g. heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants) stressors. Human activities have intensified in coastal area, increasing the number of stressors that act simultaneously over natural systems (e.g. ocean acidification and eutrophication). In this study, Reverse Transcription-Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to characterize metabolic processes at the cellular level in response to natural CO2-enrichment and artificial nutrient-enrichment in proximity of a volcanic vent located in the Ischia island (Gulf of Naples, Tyrrhenian Sea). We evaluated the differential expression of selected stress genes in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica collected in a control site and in the vicinity of the CO2 vents. In each location, plants experienced three different nutrient concentrations: natural (without adding any nutrient), low- and high- enrichments. Results show that nutrient addition mainly induced an over-expression of genes codifying for antioxidant proteins, in sites not influenced by CO2-enrichment. In particular, we observed an increase in the activity of glutathione synthase, responsible of the synthesis of the antioxidant protein glutathione. In addition, we also observed the up-regulation of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate reductase and cythocrome P450. When analysing the effects of nutrients in the acidified site, trends in expression changes were similar, but expression levels were notably lower. Interestingly, the over-expression of the above mentioned genes was always higher at low nutrient exposure, while other antioxidant enzymes (i.e. glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase) were more activated in high nutrient conditions. The difference in response between acidified and control site and in different nutrient conditions seems to derive from the combined affect of multiple stressors, in a way that still remains obscure. Effects of different stressors should be disentangled in order to identify stress-specific genes as early indicators of stressful conditions at sea and during laboratory experiments.

scholarly journals Antioxidant and stress-related genes in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the vicinity of natural CO2 vents at different nutrient conditions

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Lauritano ◽  
Fabio Bulleri ◽  
Chiara Ravaglioli ◽  
Laura Tamburello ◽  
Maria Cristina Buia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Co2 Enrichment ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Over Expression ◽  
Stress Genes ◽  
Nutrient Conditions

Studies on stress genes are fundamental to understand how marine organisms maintain or re-estabilish a normal metabolism in face of physical or chemical disturbances. Aquatic organisms are in fact constantly exposed to environmental stimuli and natural and/or dissolved anthropogenic variables/compounds, including both physical (e.g. cold, heat, salinity and pH) and chemical (e.g. heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants) stressors. Human activities have intensified in coastal area, increasing the number of stressors that act simultaneously over natural systems (e.g. ocean acidification and eutrophication). In this study, Reverse Transcription-Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to characterize metabolic processes at the cellular level in response to natural CO2-enrichment and artificial nutrient-enrichment in proximity of a volcanic vent located in the Ischia island (Gulf of Naples, Tyrrhenian Sea). We evaluated the differential expression of selected stress genes in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica collected in a control site and in the vicinity of the CO2 vents. In each location, plants experienced three different nutrient concentrations: natural (without adding any nutrient), low- and high- enrichments. Results show that nutrient addition mainly induced an over-expression of genes codifying for antioxidant proteins, in sites not influenced by CO2-enrichment. In particular, we observed an increase in the activity of glutathione synthase, responsible of the synthesis of the antioxidant protein glutathione. In addition, we also observed the up-regulation of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate reductase and cythocrome P450. When analysing the effects of nutrients in the acidified site, trends in expression changes were similar, but expression levels were notably lower. Interestingly, the over-expression of the above mentioned genes was always higher at low nutrient exposure, while other antioxidant enzymes (i.e. glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase) were more activated in high nutrient conditions. The difference in response between acidified and control site and in different nutrient conditions seems to derive from the combined affect of multiple stressors, in a way that still remains obscure. Effects of different stressors should be disentangled in order to identify stress-specific genes as early indicators of stressful conditions at sea and during laboratory experiments.

scholarly journals Does Warming Enhance the Effects of Eutrophication in the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica?

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Pazzaglia ◽  
Alex Santillán-Sarmiento ◽  
Stephanie B. Helber ◽  
Miriam Ruocco ◽  
Antonio Terlizzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
Cultural Eutrophication ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Increased Temperature ◽  
The Impact

Seagrass meadows are disappearing at rates comparable to those reported for mangroves, coral reefs, and tropical rainforests. One of the main causes of their decline is the so-called cultural eutrophication, i.e., the input of abnormal amounts of nutrients derived from human activities. Besides the impact of eutrophication at a local scale, the occurrence of additional stress factors such as global sea warming may create synergisms in detriment of seagrass meadows’ health. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate if plants undergoing chronic cultural eutrophication and plants growing in relatively pristine waters are more (or less) sensitive to heat stress, nutrient load and the combination of both stressors. To address this question, a mesocosm experiment was conducted using Posidonia oceanica collected from two environments with different nutrients load history. Plants were exposed in controlled conditions to high nutrient concentrations, increased temperature and their combination for 5 weeks, to assess the effect of the single stressors and their interaction. Our results revealed that plants experiencing chronic cultural eutrophication (EU) are more sensitive to further exposure to multiple stressors than plants growing in oligotrophic habitats (OL). OL and EU plants showed different morphological traits and physiological performances, which corroborates the role of local pressures in activating different strategies in response to global environmental changes. EU-plants appeared to be weaker during the treatments, showing the greatest percentage of mortality, particularly under increased temperature. Temperature and nutrient treatments showed opposite effects when tested individually and an offset response when combined. The activation of physiological strategies with high energetic expenses to cope with excess of nutrients and other stressors, could affect plants present and future persistence, particularly under eutrophic conditions. Our results represent a step forward in understanding the complex interactions that occur in natural environments. Moreover, unraveling intraspecific strategies and the role of local acclimation/adaptation in response to multiple stressors could be crucial for seagrass conservation strategies under a climate change scenario.

scholarly journals Response of key stress-related genes of the seagrass <i>Posidonia oceanica</i> in the vicinity of submarine volcanic vents

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 4185-4194 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lauritano ◽  
M. Ruocco ◽  
E. Dattolo ◽  
M. C. Buia ◽  
J. Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Co2 Enrichment ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
High Co2 ◽  
Metal Detoxification ◽  
Stress Related Genes

Abstract. Submarine volcanic vents are being used as natural laboratories to assess the effects of increased ocean acidity and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration on marine organisms and communities. However, in the vicinity of volcanic vents other factors in addition to CO2, which is the main gaseous component of the emissions, may directly or indirectly confound the biota responses to high CO2. Here we used for the first time the expression of antioxidant and stress-related genes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to assess the stress levels of the species. Our hypothesis is that unknown factors are causing metabolic stress that may confound the putative effects attributed to CO2 enrichment only. We analyzed the expression of 35 antioxidant and stress-related genes of P. oceanica in the vicinity of submerged volcanic vents located in the islands of Ischia and Panarea, Italy, and compared them with those from control sites away from the influence of vents. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to characterize gene expression patterns. Fifty-one percent of genes analyzed showed significant expression changes. Metal detoxification genes were mostly down-regulated in relation to controls at both Ischia and Panarea, indicating that P. oceanica does not increase the synthesis of heavy metal detoxification proteins in response to the environmental conditions present at the two vents. The up-regulation of genes involved in the free radical detoxification response (e.g., CAPX, SODCP and GR) indicates that, in contrast with Ischia, P. oceanica at the Panarea site faces stressors that result in the production of reactive oxygen species, triggering antioxidant responses. In addition, heat shock proteins were also activated at Panarea and not at Ischia. These proteins are activated to adjust stress-accumulated misfolded proteins and prevent their aggregation as a response to some stressors, not necessarily high temperature. This is the first study analyzing the expression of target genes in marine plants living near natural CO2 vents. Our results call for contention to the general claim of seagrasses as "winners" in a high-CO2 world, based on observations near volcanic vents. Careful consideration of factors that are at play in natural vents sites other than CO2 and acidification is required. This study also constitutes a first step for using stress-related genes as indicators of environmental pressures in a changing ocean.

Effects of CO2 enrichment and nutrition on growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient concentration of Alaskan tundra plant species

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (12) ◽  
pp. 2993-2998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven F. Oberbauer ◽  
Nasser Sionit ◽  
Steven J. Hastings ◽  
Walter C. Oechel
Keyword(s):  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Co2 Enrichment ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Ledum Palustre ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Concentrations ◽  
Alaskan Tundra

Three Alaskan tundra species, Carex bigelowii Torr., Betula nana L., and Ledum palustre L., were grown in controlled-environment chambers at two nutrition levels with two concentrations of atmospheric CO2 to assess the interactive effects of these factors on growth, photosynthesis, and tissue nutrient content. Carbon dioxide concentrations were maintained at 350 and 675 μL L−1 under photosynthetic photon flux densities of 450 μmol m−2 s−1 and temperatures of 20:15 °C (light:dark). Nutrient treatments were obtained by watering daily with 1/60- or 1/8- strength Hoagland's solution. Leaf, root, and total biomass were strongly enhanced by nutrient enrichment regardless of the CO2 concentration. In contrast, enriched atmospheric CO2 did not significantly affect plant biomass and there was no interaction between nutrition and CO2 concentration during growth. Leaf photosynthesis was increased by better nutrition in two species but was unchanged by CO2 enrichment during growth in all three species. The effects of nutrient addition and CO2 enrichment on tissue nutrient concentrations were complex and differed among the three species. The data suggest that CO2 enrichment with or without nutrient limitation has little effect on the biomass production of these three tundra species.

Immune and Antioxidant Enzyme Response of Longfin Yellowtail (Seriola rivoliana) Juveniles to Ultra-diluted Substances Derived from Phosphorus, Silica and Pathogenic Vibrio

Homeopathy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (01) ◽  
pp. 043-053 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Mazón-Suástegui ◽  
Joan Salas-Leiva ◽  
Andressa Teles ◽  
Dariel Tovar-Ramírez
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis ◽  
Antioxidant Response ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sod Activity ◽  
Over Expression ◽  
Pathogenic Vibrio ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Mother Tincture

Background This research aimed to observe the effect of homeopathic treatments prepared from Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus (H1) and commercial homeopathic medication Phosphoricum acidum and Silicea terra (H2) on the immune and antioxidant response in Seriola rivoliana juveniles under usual culture conditions and challenged with V. parahaemolyticus. Materials and Methods Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to study changes in the expression of key genes related to immune response, cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β]), adapter protein for cytokine release (MyD88) and piscidin and spectrophotometric techniques to analyze the activity of antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes in Seriola rivoliana juveniles at 30 (weaning stage [WS]) and 60 (early juveniles [EJ]) days post-hatching. Results The H1 treatment led to over-expression of the IL-1β and MyD88 genes in fish at WS and EJ with respect to control, contrary to the H2 treatment that led to under-expression of the IL-1β, MyD88 and piscidin genes at the EJ stage. In fish challenged with V. parahaemolyticus, both H1 and H2 led to over-expression of IL-1β and MyD88; H2 caused an over-expression of piscidin. The SOD activity was higher in H1 with respect to H2 and the control group. CAT remained relatively stable with both H1 and H2 treatments. Conclusions The results suggest that the overall effect of H1 was due to the presence of unknown antigens in low concentrations, while the response to H2—specifically during challenge—may have been due to a stimulating effect of nano-structures, prevailing from mother tincture after sequential dilution/succussion, in a pathway similar to that attributed to nano-vaccines.

scholarly journals Ophelia roscoffensis Augener, 1910: a new polychaete record in Italian waters

Check List ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-495
Author(s):  
Emanuele Mancini ◽  
Francesco Tiralongo ◽  
Daniele Ventura ◽  
Andrea Bonifazi
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
First Record ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
The Mediterranean

Ophelia roscoffensis Augener, 1910 is an opheliid worm identifiable by the number of anterior abranchiate chaetigers and the number of the gill pairs. Although it was already reported in the Mediterranean Sea, it has never been found in the Italian waters. This study represents the first record of Ophelia roscoffensis in the Italian waters. A total of 18 specimens were collected along the coast of Civitavecchia (Tyrrhenian Sea) in a Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile bed at a depth of 7 m.

scholarly journals Seagrass of Vasiliko Bay, Eastern Mediterranean: Lost Cause or Priority Conservation Habitat?

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 717
Author(s):  
Demetris Kletou ◽  
Periklis Kleitou ◽  
Ioannis Savva ◽  
Martin J. Attrill ◽  
Stephanos Charalambous ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Shoot Density ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
Leaf Surface Area ◽  
Marine Fish Farming

Mediterranean coasts are affected by multiple mounting pressures. In Cyprus, marine fish farming has grown rapidly in the past decade and is concentrated in the west side of Vasiliko Bay. The east coast of this bay has ports, a power station, a desalination unit, a cement factory, a major new oil terminal, and gas storage facilities. The bay is earmarked to create the largest hydrocarbon processing, storing, and transport facility in the region. Here, we assess the status of Posidonia oceanica habitat in an understudied region at the upper thermal, and eastern limit, of this Mediterranean endemic seagrass. An extensive ancient seagrass meadow was revealed, covering about 200 ha across 10 km of coastline, over soft substrata at ca 10–30 m depth, and over hard substrata at ca 0–6 m depth. Seagrass shoot density and leaf surface area decreased, both with increasing depth and with proximity to industrial developments; part of the meadow had been destroyed by dredging to build a jetty. Close to fish farms the seagrass had higher epiphytic biomass as well as lower leaf number, mass, and surface area, all of which indicate adverse effects of eutrophication and increased turbidity. Despite these multiple stressors, most of the meadow was in good ecological status, with some of the highest shoot densities ever reported. Furthermore, iconic species like sea turtles, monk seals, and dolphins were seen during sampling. Posidonia oceanica meadows off Cyprus are among the most valuable in the Mediterranean due to their tolerance of high seawater temperatures. Managers of future coastal developments in the region will need to adhere to European legislation and international conventions designed to secure the socioeconomic benefits of seagrass beds.

scholarly journals MicroRNA-101 inhibits growth and metastasis of human ovarian cancer cells by targeting PI3K/AKT

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-134
Author(s):  
Min Wei ◽  
Hongjuan Jin ◽  
ShuLi Yang ◽  
Zhuo Li ◽  
Xinlei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Pten Expression ◽  
Cell Cycle Analysis ◽  
Ovarian Cancer Cells ◽  
G1 Arrest ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Over Expression

IntroductionOvarian cancer is the most frequent cause of gynecological cancer related mortality in woman. This study was designed to investigate the role and therapeutic potential of miRNA-101 in ovarian cancer.Material and methodsExpression analysis was carried out by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Transfections were performed with the help of Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. AO/EB and annexin V/PI staining was used to detect apoptosis and flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis. Western blotting was employed for cell cycle analysis.ResultsIt was found that miRNA-101 was significantly down-regulated in ovarian cancer cells. The over-expression of miRNA-101 causes a significant decrease in the viability of ovarian cancer cells via the initiation of apoptosis and sub-G1 arrest of OVACAR-3 cells. It was indicated that PTEN was the potential target of miRNA-101 in OVACAR-3 cells. There was 4.5-fold up-regulation of PTEN expression in ovarian cancer cell lines and the over-expression of miRNA-101 in OVACAR-3 cells resulted in the down-regulation of PTEN expression. The inhibition of PTEN in the OVACAR-3 cells arrested the proliferation of these cells. The over-expression of miRNA-101 causes significant down-regulation in PI3K and AKT expression of OVACAR-3 cells.ConclusionsIt can be concluded that miRNA-101 acts as a tumor suppressor which may be beneficial in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Seasonal Variations in Inorganic Phytoplankton Nutrients in the Inshore Waters of Cardigan Bay

1970 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Sykes ◽  
A. D. Boney
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Seasonal Occurrence ◽  
Irish Sea ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Isle Of Man ◽  
Inshore Waters ◽  
The Irish Sea ◽  
Formed Part ◽  
Nutrient Conditions

Until recently there has been very little information on the quantities of phytoplankton nutrients in the Irish Sea. Slinn (1958–1966) has reported the weekly variations in the nutrient concentrations at a station off Port Erin, Isle of Man, and studies on the nutrient conditions in the Menai Straits have been carried out by Jones (unpublished) and Ewins & Spencer (1967). Liss (1969) has reported on the results of winter surveys of reactive silicate near the Irish coast, and from three stations near the Welsh coast (Anglesey, the Lleyn Peninsula and Fishguard). The present paper describes studies carried out in the inshore waters near Aberystwyth in Cardigan Bay during 1967 and 1968. This investigation formed part of a study of the seasonal occurrence of the phytoplankton and the growth conditions in this shallow, inshore region.

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