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2C - Biomarkers (TUP/99) Biomarkers applied to different mussels species correlated with sediment conditions. Cella, Arianna1, Mao, Andrea1, Perin, Guido1, 1 University Ca' Foscari, Venice, VE, Italy ABSTRACT- A lagoon locate in the north part of Adriatic sea, known as a fishing and mussels farming wetland results an heavy metals polluted area because of the industrial region of Ausa-Corno. For this reason a specific exposition biomarker for heavy metals has been used: metallothioneins (MTs), in order to evaluate the response of biota to the impact of metal pollution. Determination of MTs has been done with a method, that evaluates sulphidrilic groups residue content using Ellman's reagent, since this protein is characterised by high quantity of cystein groups. MTs determination is usually applied as a specific method for Mytilus galloprovincialis in hepatopancreas, being the target organ of metal accumulation and syntesis of MTs. This method has been applied to Crassostrea angulata, chosen because of its wide distribution in the lagoon and the large human consumption in the region around. Moreover, bioavailability of metals has been analysed in sediments collected in the same sites of oysters and mussels, so it has been possible to examine organisms exposed to the same conditions (salinity, tide excursions, temperature, etc.), and verify the different responses, minimizing variability. Key words: bivalve, metallothioneins, biomarker, sediment |
