Changes in gene expression in the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar (Laminariales, Pheophyceae) between natural populations

Genes involved in defense mechanisms can be used as efficient biomarkers of physiological changes in organisms caused by both endogenous and exogenous stress. Thus, the expression levels of such genes serve as a critical 'early warning system' for the environmental assessment and health of biological organisms. In this study, the transcription levels of Hsp70 and vBPO in Undaria pinnatifida sporophytes were quantitatively compared between two distinct natural populations collected from uncontaminated Mijo (Namhae, Korea) and industrially-polluted Myodo Is. (Yeosu, Korea) in order to verify their potential as biomarker genes and the applicability of this macroalga for assessing the health status of a local marine ecosystem. The results found that the two tested genes were highly expressed in the Myodo population. The results suggest that U. pinnatifida itself and the selected two genes could be applicable to monitoring of marine environments in coastal regions.