Transcriptional variations in biomarkers of Mytilus galloprovincialis sampled from Central Adriatic coastal waters (Marche region, Italy).

Objective: this work evaluates the expression of several biomarker genes (i.e. CAT, HSPs, MT10, p53, GSTpi, ER1/2) in Mytilus galloprovincialis native specimens to identify pollution related transcriptional changes. Methods: gene expression levels were analysed in the gills of mussels from five sites along a coastal area of the central Adriatic Sea, using qPCR. Results: we observed higher expression levels of biomarker genes in mussels from the local harbour or river mouths than in mussels from the reference site and offshore platform. Conclusions: the variations in gene expression observed indicated high sensitivity to pollutants, and showed differences among the sampling sites.