Untitled - CNR

Marine research at CNRFigure 3: Scheme showing all the hazards taken into consideration for studies on seaurchin and/or sea star (embryos or adult immune cells) and markers evaluated. In boldpublished data; in italic text, unpublished data. Met, metallothionein; SM30, spicule matrix;Msp130, matrix spicule protein; NFkB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancerof activated B cells; XPB/ERCC, xeroderma pigmentosum B/excision repair crosscomplementing;TNF alfa, tumor necrosis factor α; AChE, acetylcholinesterase.4.1 Effects of UV-B and cadmiumexposure on seaurchin cells, embryos andlarvaeFrom 2000 to 2003 we participated as partnerin an EU 5th FP Project named UV-TOX whose main goal was: “to introducenovel cellular biosensor (marine invertebratecell culture) and molecular biosensor(optical grating-coupler sensor chips)techniques for the estimate of the healthstate of marine invertebrates in their naturalhabits (sponges and sea urchins) or in aquaculture(bivalves).” Our task was to determinethe effects of ionising radiations (solarand UV-B) and heavy metals (Cd) exposure,and their combined effects, on seaurchin cells and embryos. In particular, wevalidated sea urchin coelomocytes as cellularbiosensors by exposing them to thestressors in the laboratory and by monitoringthe expression of stress genes and proteins(Nothern blot/RT-PCR/Western blotting)or analysing DNA damage (Fast Micromethod).In parallel, we studied the impacton the development of the sea urchinembryos at the morphological and molecularlevels, including statistical analyses, detectionof stress proteins and induction ofstress genes. Results obtained were manifold.First, we developed a new methodfor maintaining coelomocytes in short termcultures. Under proper conditions, cells attachedto the substrate and survived for fewhours-days, thus allowing monitoring and1973