| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The endemic seagrass <it>Posidonia oceanica </it>(L.) Delile colonizes soft bottoms producing highly productive meadows that play a crucial role in coastal ecosystems dynamics. Human activities and natural events are responsible for a widespread meadows regression; to date the identification of "diagnostic" tools to monitor conservation status is a critical issue. In this study the feasibility of a novel tool to evaluate ecological impacts on <it>Posidonia </it>meadows has been tested. Quantification of a putative stress indicator, <it>i.e</it>. phenols content, has been coupled to 2-D electrophoretic protein analysis of rhizome samples.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall expression pattern from <it>Posidonia </it>rhizome was determined using a preliminary proteomic approach, 437 protein spots were characterized by p<it>I </it>and molecular weight. We found that protein expression differs in samples belonging to sites with high or low phenols: 22 unique protein spots are peculiar of "low phenols" and 27 other spots characterize "high phenols" samples.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Posidonia </it>showed phenols variations within the meadow, that probably reflect the heterogeneity of environmental pressures. In addition, comparison of the 2-D electrophoresis patterns allowed to highlight qualitative protein expression differences in response to these pressures. These differences may account for changes in metabolic/physiological pathways as adaptation to stress. A combined approach, based on phenols content determination and 2-D electrophoresis protein pattern, seems a promising tool to monitor <it>Posidonia </it>meadows health state.</p>
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