| Abstract: | Organisms have evolved a highly conserved cellular response called the heat-shock or stress proteins response (SPR) that increases their tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. We have tested the hypothesis that the tissues of two molluscs, Mytilus edulis and Collisella pelta, respond to stressful situations by eliciting this response. We found that both heat-shock and Cd can induce the SPR in both species and are presently carrying out experiments to correlate the induction of stress proteins with an increased capacity to tolerate subsequent stressful conditions. These experiments should help us determine if the SPR plays an important role in the physiological adaptation of these species to their environment. |
