LiverwortLunulariacrusiata,以能够在城市地区定居的耐污染物种而闻名,收集在意大利南部的Acerra镇,以调查所谓的意大利死亡三角的三个顶点之一的空气污染的生物影响。将在Acerra收集的标本中通过透射电子显微镜观察到的超微结构损伤与在那不勒斯市中心和远离空气污染源的小农村地区收集的样品进行了比较(Riccia,莫利塞,意大利南部)。考虑到生命力,研究了对空气污染的生物反应链,光合效率,热休克蛋白70(Hsp70)的诱导和基因表达水平,以及叶绿素降解和相关的超微结构改变。特别是,Hsp70表达和发生的显着增加,叶绿体超微结构的改变可能与这三个地点的环境污染条件严格相关。可以将这些参数用作环境污染的生物标志物来解释结果。
The liverwort Lunularia cruciata, known for being a species tolerant to pollution able to colonize urban areas, was collected in the town of Acerra (South Italy) to investigate the biological effects of air pollution in one of the three vertices of the so-called Italian Triangle of Death. The ultrastructural damages observed by transmission electron microscopy in specimens collected in Acerra were compared with samples collected in the city center of Naples and in a small rural site far from sources of air pollution (Riccia, Molise, Southern Italy). The biological response chain to air pollution was investigated considering vitality, photosynthetic efficiency, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) induction and gene expression levels, and chlorophyll degradation and related ultrastructural alterations. Particularly, a significant increment in Hsp70 expression and occurrence, and modifications in the chloroplasts\' ultrastructure can be strictly related to the environmental pollution conditions in the three sites. The results could be interpreted in relation to the use of these parameters as biomarkers for environmental pollution.