excavatum, had brightly species-specifically Elphidium bartletti) colored cytoplasm implying they did not starve but had access to algal food. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that all specimens had well-developed mitochondria, Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum, therefore being metabolically active throughout the winter season. These results strongly indicate that high Arctic benthic foraminifera are not dormant during the polar night, and they access algal diet. Supported by Research Council of Norway grant 226417/E10 and RFBR grant 14-04-93083. Protein extraction and analysis of heat shock proteins (Hsp70) in living foraminifera Kulaksiz M.1, Oertel A. 2, Heinz P. 1 1University of Vienna, Department of Palaeontology, UZA II, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria 2'Haus der Natur' - Nature Museum and Competence Centre Salzburg, Museumsplatz 5, 5020 Salzburg, Austria Unicellular and higher organisms have developed several mechanism to deal with different environmental stress, such as anoxia, ultraviolet radiation, heavy metals or other chemicals. A family of highly conserved proteins called heat shock proteins (= stress proteins) play crucial role in these stressful situations. They are chaperone proteins and are evolutionary strongly conserved and ubiquitous. Stress proteins are associated with denatured or partially unfolded proteins in order to protect them from further denaturation and aid their refolding. They are located in the cytosol, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleus. The Hsp70 is the most temperature sensitive group of the heat shock protein family, which comprise two main forms: a) constitutive: present all the time (heat shock cognates e.g. Hsc70) b) inducible: expressed in response to external stimuli (heat shock proteins e.g. Hsp70). Foraminifera are part of the marine benthos and exposed to all of above-mentioned stress factors in see water. The Hsp70 level in living foraminifera can be used as an indicator of natural and anthropogenic stress. To analyse the physiological response of different foraminifera (Ammonia tepida, Haynesina germanica,
excavatum, Elphidium bartletti) had brightly species-specifically colored cytoplasm implying they did not starve but had access to algal food. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that all specimens had well-developed mitochondria, Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum, therefore being metabolically active throughout the winter season. These results strongly indicate that high Arctic benthic foraminifera are not dormant during the polar night, and they access algal diet. Supported by Research Council of Norway grant 226417/E10 and RFBR grant 14-04-93083. Protein extraction and analysis of heat shock proteins (Hsp70) in living foraminifera Kulaksiz M.1, Oertel A. 2, Heinz P. 1 1University of Vienna, Department of Palaeontology, UZA II, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria 2'Haus der Natur' - Nature Museum and Competence Centre Salzburg, Museumsplatz 5, 5020 Salzburg, Austria Unicellular and higher organisms have developed several mechanism to deal with different environmental stress, such as anoxia, ultraviolet radiation, heavy metals or other chemicals. A family of highly conserved proteins called heat shock proteins (= stress proteins) play crucial role in these stressful situations. They are chaperone proteins and are evolutionary strongly conserved and ubiquitous. Stress proteins are associated with denatured or partially unfolded proteins in order to protect them from further denaturation and aid their refolding. They are located in the cytosol, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleus. The Hsp70 is the most temperature sensitive group of the heat shock protein family, which comprise two main forms: a) constitutive: present all the time (heat shock cognates e.g. Hsc70) b) inducible: expressed in response to external stimuli (heat shock proteins e.g. Hsp70). Foraminifera are part of the marine benthos and exposed to all of above-mentioned stress factors in see water. The Hsp70 level in living foraminifera can be used as an indicator of natural and anthropogenic stress. To analyse the physiological response of different foraminifera (Ammonia tepida, Haynesina germanica,