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Increased expression of Hsp70 and Hsp90 mRNA as biomarkers of thermal stress in loggerhead turtle embryos (Caretta Caretta)

Tedeschi, Jamie N., Kennington, W. J., Berry, Oliver, Whiting, Scott D., Meekan, Mark G. and Mitchell, Nicola (2015). Increased expression of Hsp70 and Hsp90 mRNA as biomarkers of thermal stress in loggerhead turtle embryos (Caretta Caretta). Journal of Thermal Biology,47(January):42-50.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: Altmetric Score Altmetric Score is 10
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IRMA ID 84550754xPUB3
Title Increased expression of Hsp70 and Hsp90 mRNA as biomarkers of thermal stress in loggerhead turtle embryos (Caretta Caretta)
Author Tedeschi, Jamie N.
Kennington, W. J.
Berry, Oliver
Whiting, Scott D.
Meekan, Mark G.
Mitchell, Nicola
Journal Name Journal of Thermal Biology
Publication Date 2015
Volume Number 47
Issue Number January
ISSN 0306-4565   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-84911874216
Start Page 42
End Page 50
Total Pages 9
Place of Publication United Kingdom
Publisher Pergamon Press
Field of Research ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
0608 - Zoology
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DIISR)
Abstract The survival and viability of sea turtle embryos is dependent upon favourable nest temperatures throughout the incubation period. Consequently, future generations of sea turtles may be at risk from increasing nest temperatures due to climate change, but little is known about how embryos respond to heat stress. Heat shock genes are likely to be important in this process because they code for proteins that prevent cellular damage in response to environmental stressors. This study provides the first evidence of an expression response in the heat shock genes of embryos of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) exposed to realistic and near-lethal temperatures (34 °C and 36 °C) for 1 or 3 hours. We investigated changes in Heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60), Hsp70, and Hsp90 mRNA in heart (n=24) and brain tissue (n=29) in response to heat stress. Under the most extreme treatment (36 °C, 3 h), Hsp70 increased mRNA expression by a factor of 38.8 in heart tissue and 15.7 in brain tissue, while Hsp90 mRNA expression increased by a factor of 98.3 in heart tissue and 14.7 in brain tissue. Hence, both Hsp70 and Hsp90 are useful biomarkers for assessing heat stress in the late-stage embryos of sea turtles. The method we developed can be used as a platform for future studies on variation in the thermotolerance response from the clutch to population scale, and can help us anticipate the resilience of reptile embryos to extreme heating events.
Keywords Sea turtles
Heat stress
Climate change
Hsp60
Hsp70
Hsp90
Biomarkers
Gene expression
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2014.11.006   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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