Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of a chitosanase from Microbacterium sp.

A gene encoding a chitosanase (mschito) was cloned from Microbacterium, sp. OU01. The ORF consists of 801 bp which encoded a polypeptide of 266 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 98% identity to that of the chitosanase reported in Pseudomonas sp. A-01. In addition, the fusion protein containing MSCHITO was expressed in E. coli and purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The purified rMSCHITO protein degraded the chitosan (the degree of deacetylation of 99%) and produced a mixture of chitooligosaccharides. The MSCHITO is thus an endo-chitosanase.

5,7-Dihydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-azocin-2-one from a marine-derived Streptomyces sp.

In the course of a screening program, we have isolated the new natural product, 5,7-dihydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroazocin-2(IH)-one (1), from the staurosporine producing marine-derived Streptomyces sp. strain QD518. Here we report the isolation and structure elucidation of 1 and the artifacts 3 and 4 resulting from I by acid catalyzed intra- and inter-molecular reactions.

Heterologous expression and purification of recombinant allophycocyanin in marine Streptomyces sp isolate M097

Allophycocyanin is one of the most important marine active peptides. Previous studies suggested that recombinant allophycocyanin (rAPC) could remarkably inhibit the S-180 carcinoma in mice, indicating its potential pharmaceutical uses. Based on intergeneric conjugal transfer, heterologous expression of rAPC was first achieved in marine Streptomyces sp. isolate M097 through inserting the apc gene into the thiostrepton-induced vector pIJ8600. The transformation frequency for this system was approximately 10(-4) exconjugants/recipient. In the transformed Streptomyces sp. isolate M097, the yield of purified rAPC could amount to about 38 mg/l using a simple purification protocol, and HPLC analysis showed that the purity of the protein reached about 91.5%. In vitro activity tests also revealed that the purified rAPC had effective scavenging abilities on superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. This would widen the usefulness of the marine Streptomyces as a host to express the rAPC and to offer industrial strain for the production of rAPC.

Purification and characterization of two types of chitosanase from a Microbacterium sp.

Two extracellular chitosanases (ChiX and ChiN) were extracted from Microbacterium sp. OU01 with Mr values of 81 kDa (ChiX) and 30 kDa (ChiN). ChiN was optimally active at pH 6.2 and 50 degrees C and ChiX at pH 6.6 and 60 degrees C (assayed over 15 min). Both the activities increased with the degree of deacetylation (DDA) of chitosan. ChiN hydrolyzed oligomers of glucosamine (GlcN) larger than chitopentaose, and chitosan with 62-100% DDA; but ChiX acted on chitosan and released GlcN. Hydrolysis of chitosan with 99% DDA by ChiN released chitobiose, chitotriose and chitotetraose as the major products.

Effects of various algal diets and starvation on larval growth and survival of Meretrix meretrix

Effects of food availability on larval growth and survival of Meretrix meretrix were studied in two experiments by feeding the larvae with different algae diets and by starving the larvae for different periods of time. Newly hatched larvae of M meretrix were fed with five different marine microalgae species, singly and in various mixtures. Best growth was with Isochrysis galbana as a single species diet. Nutritional value of the other single species diets was in the order of Dunaliella sp.> Phaeodactylum tricornutum > Platymonas subcordiformis > Pavlova viridis. Of the mixtures tested, 50% I. galbana/50% Dunaliella sp., 50% I. galbana/50% P tricornutum, and 50% 1 galbana/50% P subcordiformis, supported growth and metamorphosis equivalent to those of the I. galbana control. At 25 degrees C, larvae of M meretrix were deprived of food for various days to study the growth compensation from the outset of development. The results showed that M meretrix larvae could survive long feeding delays, and even reach metamorphosis without food added, although starvation had significant effects on growth. These results suggested that M meretrix larvae had the capacity to survive 'starvation' using alternative sources of energy. It also showed that growth, survival and metamorphosis of M meretrix were affected by many factors besides food quality and quantity. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel antifouling and antimicrobial compound from a marine-derived fungus Ampelomyces sp.

In this study, using a bioassay-guided isolation and purification procedure, we obtained 3-chloro-2,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol from a marine-derived Ampelomyces species that effectively inhibited larval settlement of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans and of cyprids of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite. The inhibitive effect on larval settlement was nontoxic and the EC50 of 3-chloro-2,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol ranged from 3.19 mu g ml(-1) to 3.81 mu g ml(-1) while the LC50 was 266.68 lambda g ml(-1) for B. amphitrite cyprids; EC50 ranged from 0.67 mu g ml(-1) to 0.78 mu g ml(-1), and LC50 was 2.64 mu g ml(-1) for competent larvae of H. elegans, indicating that inhibitive effect of this compound was nontoxic. At a concentration of 50 mu g per disc, this compound showed strong inhibitive effects on the growth of 13 out of 15 marine bacterial species tested in disc diffusion bioassay. Overall, the high inhibitory activities against bacteria and larval settlement as well as the non- or low-toxic nature of this compound to the barnacle and polychaete larvae suggest this compound could be a potent antifoulant and/or antibiotic.

attB site disruption in marine Actinomyces sp M048 via DNA transformation of a site-specific integration vector

An efficient conjugation method has been developed for the marine Actinomyces sp. isolate M048 to facilitate the genetic manipulation of the chandrananimycin biosynthesis gene cluster. A phi C31-derived integration vector pIJ8600 containing oriT and attP fragments was introduced into strain M048 by bi-parental conjugation from Escherichia coli ET12567 to strain M048. Transformation efficiency was (6.38 +/- 0.41) x 10(-5) exconjugants per recipient spore. Analysis of eight exconjugants showed that the plasmid pIJ8600 was stably integrated at a single chromosomal site (attB) of the Actinomyces genome. The DNA sequence of the attB was cloned and shown to be conserved. The results of antimicrobial activity analysis indicated that the insertion of plasmid pIJ8600 seemed to affect the biosynthesis of antibiotics that could strongly inhibit the growth of E. coli and Mucor miehei (Tu284). HPLC-MS analysis of the extracts indicated that disruption of the attB site resulted in the complete abolition of chandrananimycin A-C production, proving the identity of the gene cluster. Instead of chandrananimycins, two bafilomycins were produced through disruption of the attB site from the chromosomal DNA of marine Actinomyces sp. M048.

Wangia profunda gen. nov., sp nov., a novel marine bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from southern Okinawa Trough deep-sea sediment

An orange-pigmented, Gram-negative, nonmotile, strictly aerobic and oxidase- and catalase-positive bacterium (SM-A87(T)) was isolated from the deep-sea sediment of the southern Okinawa Trough area. The main fatty acids were i15 : 0, i17 : 0 3OH, i15 : 1 G, i17 : 1 omega 9c, 15 : 0, i15 : 0 3OH and summed feature 3 (comprising i-15 : 0 2OH and/or 16 : 1 omega 7c). MK-6 was the predominant respiratory quinone. DNA G+C content was 35.8 mol%. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM-A87(T) formed a distinct lineage within the family Flavobacteriaceae, with < 93% sequence similarity to the nearest strain of genus Salegentibacter. Moreover, strain SM-A87(T) could be distinguished from the nearest phylogenetic neighbors by a number of chemotaxonomic and phenotypic properties. On the basis of polyphasic analyses, it is proposed that strain SM-A87(T) be classified in a novel genus and a new species in the family Flavobacteriaceae, designated Wangia profunda gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is SM-A87(T) (CCTCC AB 206139(T)=DSM 18752).

Myroides profundi sp nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment of the southern Okinawa Trough

A Gram-negative, nonmotile, aerobic and oxidase- and catalase-positive bacterium,, designated D25(T), was isolated from the deep-sea sediments of the southern Okinawa Trough area. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain D25(T), fell within the genus Myroides, with 99.2%, 96.0% and 93.4% sequence similarities to the only three recognized species of Myroides. However, the DNA-DNA similarity Value between strain D25(T) and its nearest neighbour Myroides odoratimimus JCM 7460(T) was only 49.9% ( < 70%). Several phenotypic properties could be used to distinguish strain D25(T) from other Myroides species. The main cellular fatty acids of strain D25(T) were iso-C-15:0, iso-C-17:1 omega 9C, iso-C(17:0)3-OH and Summed Feature 3 (comprising C-16:1 omega 7c and/or iso-C(15:0)2-OH). The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content was 33.0 mol%. The results of the polyphasic taxonomy analysis suggested that strain D251(T) represents a novel species of the genus Myroides, for which the name Myroides profundi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D25(T) (=CCTCC M 208030(T) = DSM 19823(T)).

Two different proteases produced by a deep-sea psychrotrophic bacterial strain, Pseudoaltermonas sp SM9913

A psychrotrophic bacterial strain, Pseudoaltermonas sp. SM9913, was isolated from deep-sea sediment collected at 1,855 m depth. Two proteases produced by Pseudoaltermonas sp. SM9913 were purified, MPC-01 and MCP-02. MCP-01 is a serine protease with a molecular weight of 60.7 kDa. It is cold-adapted with an optimum temperature of 30-35degreesC. Its K-m and E-a for the hydrolysis of casein were 0.18% and 39.1 kJ mol(-1), respectively. It had low thermostability, and its activity was reduced by 73% after incubation at 40degreesC for 10 min. MCP-02 is a mesophilic metalloprotease with a molecular weight of 36 kDa. Its optimum temperature for the hydrolysis of casein was 50-55degreesC. The K-m and E-a of MCP-02 for the hydrolysis of casein were 0.36% and 59.3 kJ mol(-1), respectively. MCP-02 had high thermostability, and its activity was reduced by only 30.5% after incubation at 60degreesC for 10 min. At low temperatures, Pseudoaltermonas sp. SM9913 mainly produced the psychrophilic protease MCP-01.

BFJ-21诱变小轮虫品系在不同饵料培养下的增殖、营养及其对黑鲷（Sparus macrocephalus）仔鱼的饵料效果

BFJ-21是从褶皱臂尾轮虫(Brachionus plicatilis)中人工诱变产生的一个小型品系。本文从“饵料—轮虫—仔鱼”的食生链角度研究了该轮虫品系在三种海洋微藻及面包酵母培养下的增殖、营养及其对黑鲷 (Sparus macrocephalus)仔鱼的饵料效果。结果表明：在单一饵料培养下，轮虫摄食球等鞭金藻(Isochrysis galbana)增殖最快(r = 0.6297)，摄食三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)次之(r = 0.5976)，摄食小球藻(chlorella sp.)再次(r = 0.5096)，摄食面包酵母增殖最慢(r = 0.2041)。各饵料所培养的轮虫，其营养质量及饵料效果由优至劣依次为，小球藻轮虫，褐指藻轮虫，金藻轮虫和酵母轮虫。但酵母轮虫经小球藻营养强化12小时后，营养质量及饵料效果则明显改善。另外，轮虫在小球藻及金藻的混合饵培养下比单用小球藻或金藻培养有更高的种群增长率(r = 0.6492)。对各饵料及轮虫的营养成分含量及其相互关系进行了考查，结果表明酵母中不含w3HUFA，而小球藻中含量很丰富(24.7%)。w3HUFA含量在饵料与轮虫之间有明显的正相关关系。蛋白质及糖含量在饵料及轮虫之间则不相关。脂肪含量在藻类饵料及其培养的轮虫之间亦有正相关性。对不同饵料下轮虫个体培养的生长繁殖亦作了研究。同时，通过与非诱变轮虫作对照，进一步证实了该诱变轮虫系的某些优良特性。最后，对如何在大量培养中使BFJ-21轮虫品系既可快速增殖又具高营养质量的培养方法进行了探讨。

环境因子对养殖生物白斑综合症传播和分子生物标志物系统的影响研究

本文研究了海洋微藻在白斑综合症(white spot syndrome)暴发中的可能作用，以及阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)和十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)长期暴露对紫贻贝(Mytilus galloprovincialis)生物标志物系统的影响(72 d)。 1．海洋微藻在养殖对虾白斑综合症传播中的作用研究 为了证实海洋微藻是否是养殖对虾白斑综合症的传播途径，我们首先将六种海洋微藻：球定边金藻(Isochrysis galbana)、中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)、小球藻(Chlorella sp. )、赤潮异湾藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)、锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)和盐藻(Dunaliella salina)，与人工注射感染白斑病毒(white spot syndrome virus)的成体日本囊对虾共同培养，用套氏PCR方法检测共培养的微藻能否携带白斑病毒。在此基础上，进一步研究了共培养后的海洋微藻是否能感染幼体日本囊对虾。研究结果表明，除了H. akashiwo，实验海洋微藻均可携带白斑病毒，但它们携带病毒的能力有明显差异，Chlorella sp.和S. trochoidea携带白斑病毒的能力较强；但是，与白斑病毒的其他携带者（如桡足类等）不同，携带病毒的海洋微藻10天后病毒检测结果均呈阴性。共培养后小球藻组可感染幼体日本囊对虾，但幼体携带病毒的量只能通过二步PCR方法才能检测到。上述结果表明，海洋微藻在WSSV的水平传播途径中具有一定的作用。 2．表面活性剂对紫贻贝生物标志物系统的影响研究 以青岛胶州湾现场调查数据为依据，选择阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)和十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)作为污染物、以近海底栖生物紫贻贝为受试生物，研究了长期暴露后紫贻贝生化指标(SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx, GST, iNOS, AKP)和遗传毒理指标(AFLP指纹图谱)的变化。实验结果发现: 经过72d不同浓度暴露后，SDBS实验组紫贻贝体内的SOD、CAT和iNOS活性均有显著下降（除CAT 0.1mg/L组外），GSH、GST和GPx在3.0mg /L SDS、SDBS组较各自对照组均有显著升高。SDBS对紫贻贝生化指标影响的显著性水平大于SDS。统计分析显示，SDBS暴露组下GST与GPx呈显著正相关关系，iNOS与SOD也表现出一定正相关,但GSH与CAT、GSH与SOD呈现显著负相关关系。SDS浓度与GST呈显著正相关，而SDBS浓度与CAT呈显著负相关。另外，实验结果发现后闭壳肌中iNOS是一个具有应用前景的阴离子表面活性剂暴露生物标志物。AFLP标记结果统计显示，在实验给定的污染物浓度下，SDBS基因毒性要大于SDS；不同的DNA指纹图谱以及遗传距离图显示不同的污染物造成的DNA损伤是不同的。结果表明，在长期暴露条件(72 d)下，一定浓度的阴离子表面活性剂可以对岗哨生物紫贻贝的SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx, GST, iNOS和AFLP指纹图谱一组指标产生显著影响。

双刺纺锤水蚤（Acartia bifilosa）基础生物学与生态学研究

20世纪90年代以来，为了确保日益增长的人口对蛋白质的需求，海洋鱼类养殖在全球范围内日趋发展。然而，许多养殖鱼类的品质如抗病力、口味等与野生种类相比大为降低。饵料对于鱼类品质的好坏起着至关重要的作用。在海洋的自然环境中，浮游动物，特别是数量庞大、种类繁多的桡足类是野生鱼类的天然活饵料。哪些桡足类适于作养殖饵料，如何获得、从何处获得桡足类，人工培养是否可行，能否通过加入桡足类来改善养殖鱼类的品质是长期以来业内人士一直关注的问题，需要大量的基础性探索研究工作。 开展有潜在开发价值种的生物学特性及室内培养的基础研究，进而开展大量生产技术的研究与应用，不仅是开发利用桡足类的一个重要途径，而且可以获得一些重要的生态学参数。 本论文自2003年10月－2004年9月之间，在胶州湾采集不同的桡足类种类，通过室内比较培养实验，选定双刺纺锤水蚤作为具有开发潜力的研究培养对象，对其展开一系列培养条件及生物学特性研究，在此基础上进行了小水体增殖培养，结合现场调查资料对与其生活策略相关的生态学问题进行了初步研究探索。结果如下： 筛选：2003年10月－2004年9月全年不同季节共采集11 种桡足类，在室内自然温度、自然海水（盐度30－32）下长时间培养，粗略筛选出能够经受实验室人工养殖水体生活的种类有：强额拟哲水蚤（Paracalanus. crassirostris）、汤氏长足水蚤（Calanopia thompson）、太平洋真宽水蚤（Eurytemora pacifica）、双刺纺锤水蚤（Acartia bifilosa）。对上述种类的成体和子代幼体分别测定其对不同盐度、温度的耐受能力。培养结果表明：18℃室温下，强额拟哲水蚤幼体在盐度20以上的环境中，存活时间不超过11天；汤氏长足水蚤雌体在培养温度低于20℃时，只能存活10天；25℃室温下，当盐度低于20时，汤氏长足水蚤雌体存活时间不超过9天，子代的存活时间不超过7天；太平洋真宽水蚤不适宜在温度较高的夏秋季培养，幼体在不同盐度的实验条件下存活时间不超过5天，不适宜长期培养；双刺纺锤水蚤在全年8－24℃的室内培养温度范围内保持了24－85％的存活率，雌体和子代在盐度10－35的范围内都能存活，最终结果表明双刺纺锤水蚤是其中最适宜进行人工培养的种类。 繁殖：对双刺纺锤水蚤雌体的培养条件和繁殖生物学的研究结果表明：在本实验所使用的6种微藻饵料：微绿球藻（Nannochloropsis oculata）、小球藻（Chlorella.sp���、等鞭金藻（Isochrysis galbana）、三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)、亚心型扁藻(Platymonas subordiformis)、中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)中，亚心型扁藻和中肋骨条藻适宜成体培养，亚心型扁藻对雌体存活有利，排粪率也要比中肋骨条藻低得多，亚心型扁藻在高温条件下的饵料利用效率要高于中肋骨条藻，中肋骨条藻对产卵有利，二者混合优势互补；预饥饿处理的双刺纺锤水蚤恢复到最高产卵率需要较长的时间，并且一直保持较低的产卵率；该种繁殖的最适温度范围15－20℃；在10－25℃温度范围内的平均产卵率差异并不显著。 生长及发育：对双刺纺锤水蚤幼体培养条件及发育生物学研究结果表明：在本实验所使用的6种微藻饵料中，微绿球藻是比较理想的开口饵料；粒径小（ 4 m）的微藻——微绿球藻和小球藻不能保证双刺纺锤水蚤后期无节幼体发育至桡足阶段，22℃以下采用微绿球藻 + 亚心型扁藻 + 中肋骨条藻的食物搭配，22℃以上需加入粒径在4m左右的等鞭金藻。 世代时间：通过一系列的温度梯度实验，证明在相同饵料的情况下，温度对双刺纺锤水蚤的发育具有显著的影响，在15－25℃的范围内，随着温度的升高，生长速度加快、世代周期缩短；在温度条件为15、18、20、22、25℃下的世代时间分别为25.5, 18.5, 13, 11.5, 9.5天。 群体培养：研究了适宜的微藻饵料种类搭配比例以及总饵料浓度对种群日均增值率的影响。结果表明：20℃下培养宜采用亚心型扁藻：中肋骨条藻：微绿球藻按含碳量2:1:1的比例组成混合饵料，达到最高增殖率的混合饵料浓度范围在1.0－4.0 μg C ml-1之间；25℃下培养宜采用亚心型扁藻：中肋骨条藻：微绿球藻：等鞭金藻按含碳量2:1:1:2的比例组成混合饵料，日均增殖率在混合饵料总浓度为1.0 μg C ml-1 时最高，低于和高于此浓度都会降低日增值率。 度夏机制：针对野外大面调查发现双刺纺锤水蚤在高温季节的胶州湾内仍然存在的事实（传统观点认为该种在夏季从水体中消失，通过休眠卵度夏），本论文从基础生态学研究出发，根据胶州湾夏季的温度和叶绿素浓度资料，设计实验研究了高温和饵料浓度对成体繁殖和幼体生长发育的影响。实验发现，饵料浓度对高温下雌体的繁殖有着明显的影响，15g Chla l-1浓度下的雌体在28℃都可以保持产卵状态，而且卵的孵化率也在50％以上；各处理中的卵都很快孵化，并保持了60％以上的孵化率；高浓度组15 g Chla l-1和10 g Chla l-1，无节幼体都能发育至成体，低浓度5 g Chla l-1处理组中，28℃下，不能发育至桡足阶段，而25℃下也只能发育至C4期。在本实验中没有发现双刺纺锤水蚤产生休眠卵。在胶州湾自然环境中发现该种全年存在。胶州湾中的双刺纺锤水蚤在夏季能够在不产生休眠卵的情况下安全度夏。

Holosticha hamulata n. sp and Holosticha heterofoissneri Hu and Song, 2001, two urostylid ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) from intertidal sediments of the Yellow Sea

Two marine urostylid ciliates, Holosticha hamulata n. sp. and Holosticha heterofoissneri Hu and Song, 2001, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. Both species were isolated from Korean intertidal sediments of the Yellow Sea. Holosticha hamulata measures about 150 x 25 pro in vivo, and is characterized by a tripartite body shape with a narrow head, an inflated trunk, and a tail that distally projects ventrally forming a hook-like structure. It is the characteristic body shape that distinguishes H. hamulata distinctly from congeners. Holosticha hamulata differs from H. heterofoissneri, possibly the nearest relative, also by the location of the contractile vacuole (ahead of mid-body versus near posterior body third) and the configuration of the macronucleus (on average, 33 scattered nodules assuming a Y-shape versus 17 nodules that may form a U shape). The average number of the macronuclear nodules is a pronounced feature showing great consistency in populations of each species. However, their arrangement is variable in H. heterofoissneri where the nodules are basically scattered or connected by fine fibers forming an elongate U-shape. The location of the contractile vacuole as a taxonomic feature is discussed and a dichotomous key to the species of Holosticha sensu stricto is provided.

Morphology and infraciliature of three species of Metaurostylopsis (Ciliophora, Stichotrichia): M. songi n. sp., M. salina n. sp., and M. marina (Kahl 1932) from sediments, saline ponds, and coastal waters.

Two new urostylid ciliates, Metaurostylopsis songi n. sp. and Metaurostylopsis salina n. sp. and Metaurostylopsis marina (Kahl 1932) are investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. These species were isolated in Korea from intertidal sediments, saline ponds, and coastal waters. Metaurostylopsis songi is in vivo about 120 pm x 25 mu m, has a slenderly ellipsoidal body, colorless cortical granules in rows on ventral and dorsal body sides, about 54 macronuclear nodules, 28-47 adoral membranelles, five frontal, two or three frontoterminal and six or seven transverse cirri, and 9-12 midventral cirral pairs followed posteriorly by 1-3 single cirri. In vivo M. salina is about 60 pin x 25 mu m, has a pyriform body, colorless cortical granules irregularly arranged, about 45 macronuclear nodules, 18-23 adoral membranelles, three frontal, three to five frontoterminal and two to five transverse cirri, and four or five midventral cirral pairs followed posteriorly by five to seven single cirri. Both species have three marginal cirral rows on each body side and 3 long dorsal kineties. The Korean specimens of M. marina match the Chinese population in all main features. Metaurostylopsis songi differs from M. marina by the more slender body, the number of frontal cirri (invariably five vs. four), and the arrangement of cortical granules (in rows on dorsal and ventral cortex vs. only along dorsal kinetics and anterior body margin). Metaurostylopsis salina differs from its congeners by the distinctly smaller size, the pyriform body shape, the scattered cortical granules (vs. in rows), and number of frontal cirri. It differs from M. marina also by the number of midventral cirral pairs (four or five vs. seven to 11).