The influence of copper and heatshock on the physiology and cellular stress response of Enteromorpha intestinalis

Enteromorpha intestinalis was exposed to a range of copper concentrations (0-500 μg−1) for 5 days, to assess the effect of copper exposure on stress proteins (Stress-70 levels) and physiology of the seaweed. A second experiment investigated the combined effects of copper and heatshock on Stress-70. Stress-70 was induced by copper exposure, but is no better an indicator of copper exposure, in E. intestinalis, than measurement of growth. Copper and heatshock were additive inducers of Stress-70 expression. Both copper exposed and control groups exhibited the same relative increase in Stress-70 when heatshocked, indicating that copper has no effect on the ability of E. intestinalis to raise a heatshock response.