Hsp 70 in the soft shell clam (Mya arenaria): Potential as a biomarker of field contamination

Soft shell clams (Mya arenaria) were collected from 2 contaminated and 2 control sites in Massachusetts at 4 time periods, extending over a 30 degree C temperature range. Populations at New Bedford Harbor were exposed to PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals and populations at the Cotuit Bay Shores Beach Club were exposed to an unknown quantity and composition of petroleum hydrocarbons. Heat shock protein (hsp) 70 was measured in the gill of 20 clams per site by ELISA, using a commercially available monoclonal antibody. Expression of hsp 70 was variable between individual clams collected from the same site. Significance of the variables site and month was tested by one-way and two-way ANOVA; site, month, and site by month interaction were all significant. The significant interaction term meant that it was necessary to hold the month variable constant in order to test the hypothesis that clams from the contaminated sites contained more heat shock proteins than clams from the corresponding control sites. In general, the contaminated clams contained a higher concentration of hsp 70 than clams from the control sites, with New Bedford Harbor exhibiting the highest levels. Seasonal differences which could be responsible for the month effect include heat shock, food availability, and reproductive condition. In order to use heat shock protein expression as a biomarker of exposure to contaminants in the field, it is necessary to compare clams from contaminated sites to clams from control sites sampled at the same time