title: Physiological plasticity related to zonation affects hsp70 expression in the reef-building coral Pocillopora verrucosa.
abstract: This study investigates for the first time the transcriptional regulation of a stress-inducible 70-kDa heat shock protein (hsp70) in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora verrucosa sampled at three locations and two depths (3 m and 12 m) in Bangka Island waters (North Sulawesi, Indonesia). Percentage of coral cover indicated reduced habitat suitability with depth and at the Tanjung Husi (TA) site, which also displayed relatively higher seawater temperatures. Expression of the P. verrucosa hsp70 transcript evaluated under field conditions followed a depth-related profile, with relatively higher expression levels in 3-m collected nubbins compared to the 12-m ones. Expression levels of metabolism-related transcripts ATP synthase and NADH dehydrogenase indicated metabolic activation of nubbins to cope with habitat conditions of the TA site at 3 m. After a 14-day acclimatization to common and fixed temperature conditions in the laboratory, corals were subjected for 7 days to an altered thermal regime, where temperature was elevated at 31°C during the light phase and returned to 28°C during the dark phase. Nubbins collected at 12 m were relatively more sensitive to thermal stress, as they significantly over-expressed the selected transcripts. Corals collected at 3 m appeared more resilient, as they showed unaffected mRNA expressions. The results indicated that local habitat conditions may influence transcription of stress-related genes in P. verrucosa. Corals exhibiting higher basal hsp70 levels may display enhanced tolerance towards environmental stressors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via S. Alberto, Ravenna, Italy.|Interdepartment Centre for Environmental Sciences Research, University of Bologna, via S. Alberto, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via S. Alberto, Ravenna, Italy.|Interdepartment Centre for Environmental Sciences Research, University of Bologna, via S. Alberto, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.affiliation: Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via F. Selmi 3, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goffredo
authors.affiliation: Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via F. Selmi 3, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Airi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via S. Alberto, Ravenna, Italy.|Interdepartment Centre for Environmental Sciences Research, University of Bologna, via S. Alberto, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6104-7812
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franzellitti
mesh_terms: D025181:ATP Synthetase Complexes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000064:Acclimatization; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D057894:Coral Reefs; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013696:Temperature; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase; D025181:ATP Synthetase Complexes