The grounds between the Southern Coasts of Sicily and the Northern Coasts of Africa; the area is over-imposed with the geographical zones considered in the present contribute: South Sicily (GSA 16), Malta Islands (GSA 15) and transitional midline (zone B).

<p>The overall extension is 100000 km² and the dotted line denotes the 200 m depth level.</p

Spatial distribution of <i>Chimaera</i><i>monstrosa</i>, <i>Squalus</i><i>blainville</i>, <i>Centrophorus</i><i>granulosus</i> and <i>Etmopterus</i><i>spinax</i> in South Sicily (SS, yellow), Malta Island (MI, light red) and Intermediate Zone (BZ, cyan).

<p>Total number of hauls conducted by MEDITS survey from 1994 to 2009 (blue symbols) and GRUND survey from 1994-2008 (red symbols) between the bathymetric of 200 and 800 m are reported.</p

Spatial distribution of <i>Dalatias</i><i>licha</i>, <i>Galeus</i><i>melastomus</i>, <i>Scyliorhinus</i><i>canicula</i> and <i>Mustelus</i><i>mustelus</i> in South Sicily (SS, yellow), Malta Island (MI, light red) and Intermediate Zone (BZ, cyan).

<p>Total number of hauls conducted by MEDITS survey from 1994 to 2009 (blue symbols) and GRUND survey from 1994-2008 (red symbols) between the bathymetric of 200 and 800 m are reported.</p

Density Index N/km² (DI) of <i>Chimaera</i><i>monstrosa</i>, <i>Squalus</i><i>blainville</i>, <i>Centrophorus</i><i>granulosus</i> and <i>Etmopterus</i><i>spinax</i> by depth stratum (10-200 m, shelf; 200-800 m, slope; 10-800 m, overall) and survey’s typology (MEDITS-GRUND); SS, South Sicily and MI, Malta Island (spring-summer) investigated zones between 1994-2009 (MEDITS), and SS, South Sicily, MI, Malta Island and BZ, Intermediate Zone (autumn) investigated zones between 1994-2008 (GRUND).

<p>Density Index N/km² (DI) of <i>Chimaera</i><i>monstrosa</i>, <i>Squalus</i><i>blainville</i>, <i>Centrophorus</i><i>granulosus</i> and <i>Etmopterus</i><i>spinax</i> by depth stratum (10-200 m, shelf; 200-800 m, slope; 10-800 m, overall) and survey’s typology (MEDITS-GRUND); SS, South Sicily and MI, Malta Island (spring-summer) investigated zones between 1994-2009 (MEDITS), and SS, South Sicily, MI, Malta Island and BZ, Intermediate Zone (autumn) investigated zones between 1994-2008 (GRUND).</p

Full-length cDNA and protein sequences of sea anemone <i>AvHSP28.6</i>.

<p>The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the ORF, 5′- and 3′-UTRs were numbered on the right. The amino acids that constitute the alpha-crystallin domain (ACD) were shaded in violet. A schematic representation of HSP28.6 indicating the predicted domains is also provided.</p

Multiple protein sequence alignment of <i>A. viridis</i> HSP28.6 and HSP27 with other cnidarians sHSPs.

<p>Only the ACD from different cnidarians sHSPs were used. Accession numbers and species are listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0105908#pone-0105908-t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>.</p

Expression profiles of <i>AvHSP28.6</i> in response to extreme temperature stress.

<p>Sea anemones were challenged by heat shock stress at 28°C and cold shock stress at 4°C. The tentacles were sampled at different time points post-challenge (0.5H, 2H and 6H). The expression level of <i>AvHSP28.6</i> was analyzed by qRT-PCR with 18S rRNA as reference. The results are represented as means ± S.D. (n = 3). Statistical analysis by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-test. Data with different letters are statistically different: a = <i>p</i><0.0001, b = <i>p</i><0.001, c<0.01.</p

Oligonucleotide primers used in this study.

<p>*qHSP-F and qHSP28.6-R were used for the selective amplification of HSP28.6;</p><p>qHSP-F and qHSP27-R were used for the selective amplification of HSP27.</p><p>Oligonucleotide primers used in this study.</p

Gene structure for cnidarians <i>sHSPs</i>.

<p>The white boxes represent 3′- and 5′-untranslated regions of the mRNA, and protein coding exons are shown in black. The sequences encoding the ACD are shown in violet. <b>A:</b> exon-intron structures of <i>AvHSP28.6</i> and <i>AvHSP27</i>, the translation start sites are within exon 1 and the alpha-crystallin domain is coded within exon 2. Downward arrows specify the 264 bp deletion in <i>AvHSP27</i>. <b>B:</b> Representative exon-intron structure of two <i>sHSPs</i> from <i>N. vectensis</i>. <b>C:</b> Representative exon-intron structure of two <i>sHSPs</i> from <i>H. magnipapillata</i>.</p

Expression profiles of <i>AvHSP28.6</i> in response immune stinulation.

<p>Sea anemones were exposed LPS (1 µg/ml) for 18H. The expression level of <i>AvHSP28.6</i> was analyzed by qRT-PCR with 18S rRNA as reference. The results are represented as means ± S.D. (n = 3). Statistical analysis by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-test: a = <i>p</i><0.0001.</p