Untitled - CNR

Echinoderms: Model Organisms for Marine EnvironmentalMonitoring and Development of NewEmerging TechnologiesR. Bonaventura, C. Costa, A. Pinsino, R. Russo, F. Zito, V. MatrangaInstitute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology “A. Monroy”, CNR, Palermo, Italybonaventura@ibim.cnr.itAbstractTraditionally, our research group has been mainly involved in basic research,studying the molecular mechanisms underlying sea urchin embryo development,with particular interest in cell adhesion. Recently, the group interest moved towardslaboratory and field studies for the assessment of cellular responses to physical andchemical stresses and for the validation of molecular markers using the sea urchinas a suitable model system. In addition, during the last 10 years we learnt how toproduce sea urchin juveniles, thus beginning our exciting experience in aquaculture.Such interest has many implications for studies on: the biology of larval growthand metamorphosis, the use of larvae in ecotoxicology and the development of suitableconditions for the commercial exploitation of the Mediterranean sea urchinspecies Paracentrotus lividus. Current research lines include: the understanding ofbasic mechanisms involved in biomineralization processes of sea urchin embryos andadults, stem cells in marine invertebrates, identification/purification of biologicallyactive molecules from echinoderms. In the following, we will describe the “state-ofthe-art”of our research projects aimed to test the cellular and molecular effects ofdifferent environmental hazards on echinoderms as model systems and to the establishmentof sea urchin aquaculture technology. For brevity and appropriateness wewill omit basic research studies which still attract our interest.1 IntroductionIn recent years growing attention has beengiven to climate changes and environmentalpollution and, in particular, to the marineenvironment, which is subjected to increasingand significant impacts, includingphysical and chemical transformation,habitat destruction and changes in biodiversity[1]. Thus, numerous studies havebeen undertaken to assess the health ofthe marine environment using multidisciplinaryapproaches. In fact, from the environmentalviewpoint, experts emphasizethat integrated methodologies can providemore significant and realistic profiles ofpolluted habitats [2].2 Choice of a model systemfor marine environmentOne of the first steps to approach studies onenvironmental monitoring is to identify anappropriate model organism. This should