@article{LENCIONI_BOSCHINI_REBECCHI_2009, title={Expression of the 70 kDa Heat shock protein family in Alpine freshwater chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) under natural conditions}, volume={68}, url={https://www.jlimnol.it/jlimnol/article/view/jlimnol.2009.251}, DOI={10.4081/jlimnol.2009.251}, abstractNote={Chironomidae represent up to 100% of the fauna of Alpine streams. Because they survive stress conditions such as extremely low<br />temperature (annual mean <4 °C), these animals represent a good organism model to analyze the relationship between adaptation to<br />cold and expression of stress proteins such as the 70 kDa Heat shock protein family. Fourth instar larvae of ten species of coldstenothermal<br />chironomids (Pseudodiamesa branickii, Diamesa latitarsis, D. laticauda, D. cinerella, D. insignipes, D. zernyi, D.<br />vaillanti, Orthocladius (O.) frigidus, O. (Euorthocladius) thienemanni and Paratrichocladius nivalis) were collected in a glacier-fed<br />stream in NE Italy at two stations (1300 and 2600 m a.s.l.) and in two seasons (summer 2005 and spring 2006). Immunodetection<br />and quantification of the relative levels of Hsp70 family were performed via Western blot analysis. Significantly different levels of<br />Hsp70 were detected among species. The highest amounts were recorded in P. nivalis and D. insignipes, the lowest in P. branickii.<br />Within the genus Diamesa, lower levels of Hsp70 were observed in the most cold-stenothermal species than in the less coldstenothermal<br />ones. These differences may be explained by different species autoecology. The results provide information on<br />biochemical strategies of alpine midges to face cold temperatures under natural conditions and new insights into their possible<br />response to global warming.}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Limnology}, author={LENCIONI, Valeria and BOSCHINI, Deborah and REBECCHI, Lorena}, year={2009}, month={Aug.}, pages={251–256} }