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Expression of heat shock proteins in aging bivalve mollusks

The mechanisms of aging are not well understood in animals with infinite growth such as fish, reptiles, amphibians and numerous invertebrates, including mollusks. Aging in aerobes is accompanied by a progressive cellular oxidative damage counterbalanced by antioxidant protection and repair systems. An important aspect of aging process involves functional changes in the molecular chaperones responsible for folding/refolding of newly synthesized and damaged proteins and for sequestering and degradation of proteins that are damaged beyond repair. The aim of our study was to detect the effects of age on heat shock proteins (HSPs) in two mollusks – oysters Crassostrea virginica and clams Mercenaria mercenaria. Oysters of five age classes (7 mo, 10 mo, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 4 years old), and clams of three age classes (1, 2 and 4 years old) were studied. Expression of HSPs in gill tissue was detected using standard immunoblotting methods with monoclonal antibodies against HSP70, HSP90 and HSP60. Mitochondrial heat shock protein (HSP60) decreased with age in mollusks suggesting an age‐related decline in mitochondrial chaperone protection. In contrast, changes in cytosolic chaperones were species‐specific. HSP90 and HSP70 increased with age in oysters and clams, respectively. HSP70 expression in oysters did not change, and HSP90 declined in clams with aging. Supported by UNC Charlotte and NSF CAREER award (IBN‐0347238).