Cell line studies of environmental stress response genes in aquatic model organisms

Cell line experiments are a convenient and effective means of investigating environmental stress response (ESR) genes using aquatic model organisms. They offer the advantage of eliminating confounding factors that might appear in whole-organism studies (e.g., history of prior exposure, sex, age), allowing for tight control over conditions during an experiment, and reducing the number of animals used, thereby suppressing ethical concerns. Cell lines offer the potential for examination of targeted cellular and molecular processes of stress reactions, e.g., gene expression, protein biosynthesis, and signal transduction pathways. They are reproducible and efficient and thus can be used in high-throughput screening and comparison analysis. The value of cell lines in the assessment of impacts of different environmental stressors on aquatic animals is addressed in this review. We outline the methodology used, key findings relevant to ESR genes and function, and implications of the research on adaptation, identification of biomarkers of stress, conservation, and environmental protection strategy development. This review illustrates ultimately how the studies in cell lines have aided in uncovering the complex dynamics of water animals responding to an evolving environment.