QTL Mapping for Frond Length and Width in Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminarales, Phaeophyta) Using AFLP and SSR Markers

In Laminaria japonica Aresch breeding practice, two quantitative traits, frond length (FL) and frond width (FW), are the most important phenotypic selection index. In order to increase the breeding efficiency by integrating phenotypic selection and marker-assisted selection, the first set of QTL controlling the two traits were determined in F-2 family using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Two prominent L. japonicas inbred lines, one with "broad and thin blade" characteristics and another with "long and narrow blade" characteristics, were applied in the hybridization to yield the F-2 mapping population with 92 individuals. A total of 287 AFLP markers and 11 SSR markers were used to construct a L. japonica genetic map. The yielded map was consisted of 28 linkage groups (LG) named LG1 to LG28, spanning 1,811.1 cM with an average interval of 6.7 cM and covering the 82.8% of the estimated genome 2,186.7 cM. While three genome-wide significant QTL were detected on LG1 (two QTL) and LG4 for "FL," explaining in total 42.36% of the phenotypic variance, two QTL were identified on LG3 and LG5 for the trait "FW," accounting for the total of 36.39% of the phenotypic variance. The gene action of these QTL was additive and partially dominant. The yielded linkage map and the detected QTL can provide a tool for further genetic analysis of two traits and be potential for maker-assisted selection in L. japonica breeding.

Comparative growth and viability of hybrids between two populations of Chinese shrimp (Fennropenaeus chinensis)

Fenneropenaeus chinensis is confined to the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea in China and the West Coast of the Korean Peninsula. Intra- and intercross populations were produced between Rushany (YP) and Korean (KN) populations. Seven traits were recorded. The heterosis of hybrids was computed and comparison between treatments was performed by ANOVA. At the fourth month after post-larvae, six indexes of growth trait and viability showed a range of heterosis, ranging from 0.514% to 14.950%. At the fifth month after post-larvae, six indexes of growth trait and viability ranged from -9.000% to 19.090%. The negative heterosis was observed in CL, HST and viability. The heterosis of KN female xYP male tended generally to increase as the age of the Chinese shrimp increased while the heterosis of YP female xKN male tended to decrease. The results indicated that the viability of reciprocal hybrids were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from their parents during the experiment. The result of ANOVA indicated that the F1 hybrids were significantly different (P < 0.05) in WST and TW at the fourth month. The multiple comparisons of LSD test indicated that the hybrids of YP female xKN male were significantly different (P < 0.05) from their parents in TW. The hybrids of YP female xKN male were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the other three combinations in WST. At the fifth months, the F1 hybrids had significant difference (P < 0.05) in body weight while other traits showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) from their parents. The multiple comparisons of LSD test indicated that the hybrids of KN female xYP male were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the KN parents in TW. The results indicate that in experimental conditions, the F-1 hybrids created from two populations of Chinese shrimp showed a certain level of heterosis for growth performance and viability. The crossing scheme may improve growth performance and viability in Chinese shrimp, but the improvement may be limited because effective crossbreeding requires the maintenance of pure, preferably inbred, lines and possibly involves specialized sire and dam lines. Therefore, the exploitation of heterosis through single crossbreeding in Chinese shrimp is of limited utility in practical commercial shrimp aquaculture in spite of the potential of significant heterosis. The crossbreeding of different populations can be applied in the establishment of base populations.

Discovery of the genes in response to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in Fenneropenaeus chinensis through cDNA microarray

We used microarray technology to study differentially expressed genes in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)-infected shrimp. A total of 3136 cDNA targets, including 1578 unique genes from a cephalothorax cDNA library and 1536 cDNA clones from reverse and forward suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) libraries of Fenneropenaeus chinensis, plus 14 negative and 8 blank control clones, were spotted onto a 18 x 18 mm area of NH2-modified glass slides. Gene expression patterns in the cephalothorax of shrimp at 6 h after WSSV injection and moribund shrimp naturally infected by WSSV were analyzed. A total of 105 elements on the arrays showed a similar regulation pattern in artificially infected shrimp and naturally infected moribund shrimp; parts of the results were confirmed by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The up-regulated expression of immune-related genes, including heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90), trehalose-phosphate synthase (TPS), ubiquitin C, and so forth, were observed when shrimp were challenged with WSSV. Genes including myosin LC2, ATP synthase A chain, and arginine kinase were found to be down-regulated after WSSV infection. The expression of housekeeping genes such as actin, elongation factor, and tubulin is not stable, and so these genes are not suitable as internal standards for semiquantitative RT-PCR when shrimp are challenged by WSSV. As a substitute, we found that triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) was an ideal candidate of interstandards in this situation.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of Crustin-like gene from Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis

A new member of antimicrobial protein genes of the Crustin family was cloned from haemocytes of the Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis by 3' and 5' RACE. The full-length cDNA of Crustin-like gene contains a 390 bp open reading frame, encoding 130 amino acids. The deduced peptide contains a putative signal peptide of 17 amino acids and mature peptide of 113 amino acids. The molecular mass of the deduced mature peptide is 12.3 ku. It is highly cationic with a theoretical isoelectric point of 8.5. The deduced amino acids sequence of this Crustin showed high homology with those of Penaeus (Litopenaeas) setferus. Northern blotting showed that the cloned Crustin gene was mainly expressed in haemocytes, gill, intestine, and RNA in situ hybridization indicated that the Crustin gene was constitutively expressed exclusively in haemocytes of these tissues. Capillary electrophoresis RT-PCR analysis showed that Crustin was up-regulated dramatically from 12 to 48 h after a brief decrease of mRNA during first 6 h in response to microbe infection. The level of Crustin mRNA began to restore at 72 h post-challenge. This indicated that Crustin gene might play an important role when shrimps are infected by bacterial pathogen.

Expression and localization of a novel phosducin-like protein from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri

A full length amphioxus cDNA, encoding a novel phosducin-like protein (Amphi-PhLP), was identified for the first time from the gut cDNA library of Branchiostoma belcheri. It is comprised of 1 550 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 241 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 28 kDa. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a tissue-specific expression pattern of Amphi-PhLP with the high levels in the ovary, and at a lower level in the hind gut and testis, hepatic caecum, gill, endostyle, and epipharyngeal groove, while it was absent in the muscle, neural tube and notochord. In the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the expression plasmid pEGFP-N1/Amphi-PhLP, the fusion protein was targeted in the cytoplasm of CHO cells, suggesting that Amphi-PhLP is a cytosolic protein. This work may provide a framework for further understanding of the physiological function of Amphi-PhLP in B. belcheri.

Identification, expression, function and localization of a DUF985 domain-containing hypothetical gene from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri

The progress in genome sequencing has led to an increasing submission of uncharacterized hypothetical genes with the domain of unknown function, DUF985, in GenBank, and none of these genes is related to a known protein. We therefore underwent an experimental study to identify the function of a DUF985 domain-containing hypothetical gene BbDUF985 (GenBank Accession No. AY273818) isolated from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri (B. belcheri). BbDUF985 was successfully expressed in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, and its recombinant proteins expressed in both systems definitely exhibited an activity of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI). Both tissue-section in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that BbDUF985 was expressed in a tissue-specific manner, with most abundant levels in the hepatic caecum and ovary. In CHO cells transfected with the expression plasmid pEGFP-N1/BbDUF985, the fusion protein was targeted in the cytoplasm of CHO cells, suggesting that BbDUF985 is a cytosolic protein. In contrast, Western blotting indicated that BbDUF985 was also present in amphioxus humoral fluids, suggesting that it exists as a secreted protein as well. Our study provided a framework for further understanding the biochemical properties and physiological function of DUF985-containing hypothetical proteins in other species. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

利用荧光原位杂交技术（FISH）对中国明对虾和栉孔扇贝若干重要基因定位的研究

本研究将荧光原位杂交（Fluorescence in situ hybridization, FISH）技术引入中国明对虾和栉孔扇贝这两种重要的海水养殖动物的染色体研究中，建立了相关技术平台，在染色体上定位了部分功能基因，详述如下： 1. 在中国明对虾和栉孔扇贝中建立了FISH平台，利用单色和双色FISH技术在中国明对虾和栉孔扇贝染色体上成功定位了多拷贝基因，发现5S rDNA定位于中国明对虾的一对同源染色体上，栉孔扇贝18S rDNA和组蛋白序列也各自定位于一对同源染色体上，它们均可以作为染色体特异性探针来鉴别染色体。 2. 在栉孔扇贝中发展了BAC-FISH技术，定位了包含热休克蛋白70（HSP70）、丝氨酸蛋白酶（Serine Protease）和脂多糖葡聚糖结合蛋白（LGBP）等免疫相关基因的BAC克隆，发现它们均定位于一对同源染色体的长臂上。利用双色BAC-FISH技术，发现6个包含栉孔扇贝LGBP基因的BAC克隆在间期细胞核上共定位。对栉孔扇贝5个探针进行了同时定位，初步鉴别了栉孔扇贝5条染色体。 3. 在栉孔扇贝热休克蛋白70（HSP70）、丝氨酸蛋白酶（Serine Protease）和脂多糖葡聚糖结合蛋白（LGBP）等免疫相关基因内部发掘了数个潜在的SNP位点，展示了栉孔扇贝SNP位点的丰富性。这些SNP位点可以用于图谱整合。

褐牙鲆和夏牙鲆杂交的遗传学研究

在进行褐牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)和夏牙鲆(P. dentatus)的杂交及回交的基础上，利用染色体计数、AFLP、线粒体DNA和核基因部分序列等分析方法对褐牙鲆和夏牙鲆正反交和回交子代进行遗传学研究，探讨了褐牙鲆和夏牙鲆正反交不对称的遗传学基础及其生殖隔离现象，主要结果如下： 1. 褐牙鲆和夏牙鲆正反交的活力是不对称的，褐牙鲆♀×夏牙鲆♂的正交杂种活力正常，能够正常存活、生长和发育，而反交夏牙鲆♀×褐牙鲆♂的杂种体态畸形，孵出后不久死亡。染色体计数发现正交个体的染色体核型与父母本一致，均为48条端部着丝粒染色体；而反交杂种比亲本缺失了两条染色体，仅为46条端部着丝粒染色体，这表明反交杂种为非整倍体。进一步利用AFLP方法对遗传物质从亲本到子代的传递进行了分析，结果显示正反交遗传物质的传承方式存在很大差异。几乎所有亲本的AFLP位点(97.71%)均传递到正交子代。然而，仅有86.64%的AFLP位点从亲本传递到反交子代，反交子代中亲本位点的丢失比例显著高于正交子代和亲本种内交配子代的比例 ( P < 0.05)，这可能与反交杂种染色体丢失有关。进一步分析发现，杂交组中的偏分离标记高于对照组，尽管经2检验发现其差异并不显著 (P > 0.05)。 2. 对于可以成活的正交杂种进行培育达到性成熟后，利用褐牙鲆和夏牙鲆的精液分别与雌性杂交鲆的卵子进行母本回交实验。通过统计受精率、孵化率及杂交适合度值（CFM，受精率和孵化率相乘获得的结果）评估褐牙鲆和夏牙鲆的杂交可适度，结果表明正交及各回交组中的CFM值均显著低于褐牙鲆自交(P < 0.05)。同时，利用AFLP对回交子代基因组的变化进行了分析，发现回交中不仅存在亲本位点的丢失(褐牙鲆回交子代-回交1, 3.96%; 夏牙鲆回交子代-回交2, 6.03%)的现象，也存在非亲位点(回交1, 5.63%; 回交2, 3.28%)的现象。而且，两回交组合分别有27.40%和31.18%的AFLP标记偏离孟德尔遗传。 3. 利用线粒体DNA 16S rDNA、COⅠ基因及核基因rag1的部分序列对正反交及回交子代的线粒体及核DNA的传承进行分析，发现正反交子代的16S rDNA和线粒体DNA片段的同源性和母本一致，各回交组中16S rDNA和COⅠ基因片段与褐牙鲆的同源性较高 (98%)，这表明褐牙鲆和夏牙鲆杂交及回交遵循母性遗传规律。但在回交子代中发现16S rDNA和COⅠ基因具有多种单倍型。褐牙鲆和夏牙鲆的rag1基因具有高度的保守性，但在正交子代中发现rag1多种单倍型。 4. 进一步利用线粒体DNA的16S rDNA、COⅠ基因的部分序列对8种重要海水养殖鱼类的系统进化分析，计算了其种间的遗传距离。根据这几种鲆鲽鱼的杂交是否可行的试验结果，评价种间遗传距离与杂交可适度的关系，结果表明，这8种鲆鲽鱼类的种间遗传距离与杂交可适度呈显著的负相关 (r2 = 0.805，P < 0.01)，即种间遗传分化越大，杂交成功的可能性越小，这表明鲆鲽鱼类中可能存在物种进化的不亲和钟 (Incompatibility clock)。

牡蛎染色体的分子生物学分析

本研究应用显带技术和荧光原位杂交(Fluorescence in situ hybridization，FISH)技术，鉴定了牡蛎的染色体；应用FISH方法定位了一系列的重复序列和大分子的P1克隆DNA；制备了染色体特异性探针。应用FISH特异性探针成功地鉴定了长牡蛎的三体10。结果如下：1．分析了G带和C带在美洲牡蛎染色体上的分布。G带在每一条染色体上的带型不同，某些染色体间(如第1对和第4对染色体，第7对和第9对染色体)的带型差别不是很明显。G带型容易受染色体收缩程度的影响。C带型重复性较好，染色体带型较清楚，分布在染色体的端粒区域和着丝粒区域。G带和C带带型能够用来鉴定牡蛎的染色体，但是重复性低和带型差异不显著，并不适合常规的染色体鉴定。2．早期胚胎和担轮幼虫制备的染色体适合于FISH分析。染色体制备方法重复性好，可适用于其它贝类的染色体制备。3．研究了重复序列基因--rDNA的定位：1)18S-5.8S rDNA在研究的五种巨蛎属Crassostrea牡蛎均只有一个位 点。太平洋种(C.gigas，C. ariakensis和C. plicatula)中，杂交信号位于最短的染色体一第10对染色体长臂的端粒区域，在大西洋种(C. virginica和C. rhizophorae)中，同一序列定位在第2对染色体短臂的端粒区域。2)18S-28S rDNA在两种蛤中有两个位点。rDNA探针定位在侏儒蛤(Mulinis Lateralis)的第15对和第19对染色体的端粒区域，同一序列定位在硬壳蛤(Mercenaria mercenaria)的第10对染色体的长臂和第12对染色体短臂的端粒区域。信号强度在两对染色体之间有差异。 3)5s rDNA位于美洲牡蛎的第5对染色体的短臂上靠近着丝粒区域和第6 对染色体的短臂的中间区域。信号强度在两对染色体之间没有显著差异。5S rDNA探针可以作为鉴定和识别第5对和第6对染色体的特异性探针。4．研究了一些重复序列的定位1)两个短的重复序列1G8，1P2均产生很强的荧光信号分布在美洲牡蛎所有的染色体上。在低严谨条件下，这些序列均产生很强的信号散布在所有的染色体上。在高严谨条件下，信号强度大大减弱，但是信号仍散布在所有的染色体上。这些重复序列散布在美洲牡蛎的整个基因组中。2)高度重复序列Cgl70产生的信号分布在长牡蛎的7对染色体的着丝粒区域，没有发现间区信号。在第1对，第2对，第4对和第7对染色体上的荧光信号强且稳定。在第5对，第8对和第10对染色体上的信号相对弱且不稳定。在剩余的染色体上(第3对，第6对和第9对染色体)没有检测到荧光信号。结果表明此卫星序列是一个着丝粒卫星序列。在美洲牡蛎的染色体上没有检测到荧光信号，表明了这个着丝粒卫星序列在这两种牡蛎中的分布存在着显著的差异。3)脊椎动物端粒序列(TTAGGG)n的FISH信号局限在四种双壳贝类(美洲牡蛎，the mangrove oyster，硬壳蛤，侏儒蛤)所有染色体的端粒区域，没有发现间区信号的存在。研究结果与已报道的研究结果表明脊椎动物端粒序列或许存在于所有双壳贝类的染色体末端。双壳贝类是目前研究过的唯一含有脊椎动物端粒序列DNA的无脊椎动物。4)研究了RAPD探针在美洲牡蛎染色体上的定位。大多数RAPD探针产生了多个信号散布在间期细胞核和所有的染色体上。引物OPX-03，OPX-04，OPX—06，OPG-02，OPM—04，OPM-11，0PS-02制备的探针在适宜的条件下产生特异性荧光 信号，分布在牡蛎的特定的染色体上。PCR特异性带产生的探针OPX—06—310和0PG-02—300产生了特异性的荧光信号：OPX—06—310产生的信号位于第5对染色体的短臂的近端粒区域，0PG—02—300探针定位到第3对染色体的短臂上。这两个探针是鉴定美洲牡蛎单条染色体的特异性探针。5．研究了大分子Pl克隆DNA(插入片断为80～100 kb)在美洲牡蛎染色体上的定位。Pl克隆DNA通过切口平移方法标记digoxigenin—11-dUTP用作FISH的探针。Cot-1 DNA作为竞争剂有效地抑制了Pl克隆序列中的重复序列产生的信号。杂交信号用fluorescein标记的anti—digoxigenin抗体来检测，用两层抗体rabbit-anti-sheep抗体和FITC anti—rabbit抗体来扩增信号。9个P1探针成功地定位在特定的染色体上。46—1探针杂交到第1对染色体的长臂靠近着丝粒区域；47-10探针定位到第2对染色体的长臂近端粒区域；Cvpl和48-13两探针定位到第3对染色体上：Cvpl位于短臂的端粒区域，48-13探针位于长臂的近着丝粒区域；48—10探针杂交到第4对染色体的长臂上；48-1探针杂交到第5对染色体长臂的近着丝粒区域；49-11探针位于第7对染色体长臂上；探针49-10和44-11位于第8对染色体长臂上。同时我们成功地将2个P1探针杂交到同一染色体分裂相中，进一步确定了Pl探针在美洲牡蛎染色体 上的定位。6．应用18S-28S rDNA探针成功地鉴定出长牡蛎非整倍体中的三体10。经鉴定AF-35，AF-39和AF-3三体家系属于三体10家系。rDNA探针分布在三条染色体上，即多出的一条染色体为染色体10。相应地在间期细胞核上有三个信号出现。AF-34和AF-36家系不属于三体10家系。rDNA探针分布在两条染色体上，相应地在间期细胞核上有两个信号出现。FISH和染色体特异性探针为非整倍体的鉴定提供了一个快速准确可靠的方法和途径。

靶向斑马鱼VEGF的shRNA表达载体的构建及其对斑马鱼胚胎血管发育的影响

血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF)是一种多功能的细胞因子，其主要作用是促进血管内皮细胞增殖和增加血管通透性，是肿瘤及正常组织血管生成的中心调控因素，以VEGF为靶点的肿瘤血管靶向性治疗成为近几年肿瘤治疗的新途径。RNAi是近年来新发展的一项反向遗传学技术，是一种研究基因功能的有力工具。斑马鱼作为一种重要的模式生物，被广泛用于胚胎的分子发育机制、疾病模型的构建以及药物筛选等研究中。然而在斑马鱼中运用RNAi技术进行基因功能研究是一个相对较新的领域，研究资料较少，并且目前进行的斑马鱼RNAi实验中，siRNA大都是通过化学方法或体外转录合成的。体外合成的siRNA在进入体内后会被降解而无法达到持久阻抑基因表达的目的。因此本研究旨在探讨VEGF特异性siRNA表达载体对斑马鱼VEGF基因的沉默作用，通过分析表型及相关细胞因子的变化，阐明VEGF对斑马鱼胚胎血管生成的影响及作用机制。 研究通过计算机辅助设计软件，针对斑马鱼VEGF mRNA不同位点设计合成了4段含siRNA特异序列的DNA单链，经退火，克隆入pSilencer 4.1-CMV neo载体CMV启动子下游，构建了重组质粒pS1-VEGF、pS2-VEGF、pS3-VEGF及pS4-VEGF。 通过显微注射的方法将载体导入1-2细胞期斑马鱼体内，于胚胎发育的48 h采用RT-PCR的方法检测VEGF基因的表达量，研究不同干扰序列对VEGF基因表达的干涉作用。结果显示，针对不同位点的表达载体对VEGF基因表达的抑制效率有显著差异。它们对VEGF mRNA的抑制率分别为80.5%，42.8%，12.5%，40.7%。通过筛选我们得到了一条具有高效抑制作用的载体pS1-VEGF，该载体的相应序列靶向斑马鱼两个主要异构体VEGF165和VEGF121的共有外显子序列。 形态学检测结果显示，注射了pS1-VEGF的胚胎出现了心包膜水肿、血流速度减慢、循环红细胞堆积等症状。定量碱性磷酸酶染色显示，注射pS1-VEGF能够抑制斑马鱼胚胎新生血管的形成，当注射剂量为0.4 ng时，血管生成的抑制率为31.8%。NBT/BCIP血管染色显示，注射该载体后72 h，50%的斑马鱼肠下静脉、节间血管以及其它血管的发育受到不同程度的抑制。随着注射剂量的加大，血管发育受抑制的情况也随之加重，当注射剂量为1 ng时，只有心脏、头部及卵黄有血液循环。对干扰效果的特异性进行了研究，结果表明pS1-VEGF对斑马鱼内源基因胸苷酸合成酶（thymidylate synthase, TS）基因的表达没有明显的抑制作用。针对TS基因的shRNA表达载体及与斑马鱼没有同源性的对照载体对VEGF基因表达也没有明显的抑制作用。浓度梯度实验表明在0-1.2 ng的范围内干扰效果具有剂量依赖性。 以胚胎整体原位杂交的方法检测质粒对VEGF基因受体NRP1基因表达的影响，发现VEGF特异性shRNA表达载体能够引起NRP1基因表达的降低，说明斑马鱼中VEGF所介导的血管生成作用至少在部分上是依赖于NRP通路所调节的。 本研究工作为进一步研究斑马鱼基因功能、VEGF调控网络提供了一个快速、有效的手段，为阐明斑马鱼的血管生成机制提供了新的资料，为采用RNAi技术，以VEGF为靶点，以斑马鱼为模型对肿瘤进行基因治疗研究奠定了基础。

几种赤潮微藻的形态和系统进化分析及荧光原位杂交检测

赤潮也称红潮，通常是指由于一些海洋浮游生物在水体中过度繁殖或聚集而使海水变色的现象。赤潮特别是有害赤潮造成了严重的生态环境问题，给水产养殖业和滨海旅游业造成了巨大损失，并可直接危害人类健康。研究赤潮，进而预防和控制赤潮，首先要对引发赤潮的生物种类进行准确鉴定并对自然水域的赤潮生物进行监控，并建立赤潮藻的快速鉴定与检测方法。本文分别对几株赤潮微藻进行了形态和系统进化分析，并探讨了荧光原位杂交在赤潮检测中的应用。 分别对5株分离自中国沿海不同水域的中肋骨条藻[Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve]类似种 (SK-BH、SK-FQ、 SK-HH、SK-DH和SK-XM) 进行光镜和扫描电镜观察，并PCR扩增了转录内间隔区 (含5.8S rDNA)(ITS) 和核糖体大亚基 (D1-D2)区 (LSU)，获得的序列与其它已报道的骨条藻的同源序列进行了进化分析，以探讨５株骨条藻与已报道的骨条藻之间的进化关系。5株骨条藻在形态上各不相同，其中，只有1株 (SK-XM)被鉴定为中肋骨条藻，而其余4株皆与已报道的骨条藻的形态学特征不符。ITS树和LSU树具有不同的拓扑结构，并表明5株骨条藻至少分属3个不同的种。遗传距离分析提示了在地理距离上靠近的种，在进化上也可能靠近。此外，还可以观察到这5株藻之间的细微的形态学“进化”关系。所有结果表明了中国沿海骨条藻属种的多样性。 对1株分离自赤潮水域的裸甲藻 (Gymnodinium)类似种进行了形态学分析，并探讨了该藻与裸甲藻、凯伦藻(Karena)、旋沟藻(Gyrodinium)、下沟藻(Karlodinium)和共生甲藻(Symbiodinium)的进化关系。光镜观察表明该藻具有裸甲藻的一些典型的形态学特征，而我们没能获得细胞形态保存完好的电镜样品；进化分析初步鉴定该藻为一种共生甲藻。 获得了赤潮异湾藻[Heterosigma akashiwo (Hada) Hada]的LSU和ITS序列，设计了以胞质rRNA和胞核rDNA为靶序列的特异性探针，建立了赤潮异湾藻的全细胞和细胞核荧光原位杂交技术，对探针的特异性进行了验证，并考察了杂交信号和检测率在整个细胞周期的变化情况。探针能分别使整个细胞和细胞核呈现明亮的绿色荧光。探针是特异性的，不与其它受试藻进行交叉反应。杂交信号在整个细胞周期内变化不明显，且检测率为70%–80%。整个检测过程不到1 ｈ，能实现赤潮异湾藻的快速、准确、特异和半定量检测。 获得了海洋原甲藻(Prorocentrum micans Ehrenberg)的LSU和ITS序列，设计了以胞质rRNA为靶序列的特异性探针，建立了海洋原甲藻的全细胞荧光原位杂交技术，并对探针的特异性进行了验证。探针能使整个细胞呈现强烈的绿色荧光。探针不与其它受试藻种进行交叉反应，表明是特异性的。

亚历山大藻分子鉴定和荧光原位杂交检测方法研究

近年来，世界沿海国家有害赤潮发生的频率、规模及危害都有上升趋势，有害赤潮已经成为重要的近海环境问题之一。要有效防范有害赤潮带来的危害效应，建立和发展可靠、有效的赤潮监测手段非常重要。目前，对于赤潮藻种的监测主要依靠显微观察的方法，在实际应用中经常遇到困难。首先，亲缘关系相近的物种在形态上差异很小，如甲藻门亚历山大藻属的一些种类，仅细胞壁上个别甲片的结构有细微差别，并且这些形态学指标还容易受环境条件及生长阶段的影响。另外，这种以形态学为基础的分析方法，分析速度慢、耗时长，对操作人员的要求较高，难以满足浮游植物种群动力学监测“量大、连续”的要求。因此，本研究将分子生物学的技术和方法应用于赤潮监测，力求提高赤潮藻种鉴定的准确性和检测工作的效率。 亚历山大藻是一类重要的有害赤潮藻，该藻属中一些产毒特性差别很大的藻种，单从表形特征难以明确区分，从而限制了基于形态观察的监测技术的应用。本研究中，我们尝试应用分子生物学技术与方法，开展了该藻属藻种分子鉴定和荧光原位杂交检测方法的研究。在亚历山大藻的分子鉴定方面，我们采用了核糖体RNA基因（rDNA）序列分析的方法，首次测定了9株分离自中国沿海的（以及实验室保有的其它两株）亚历山大藻的rDNA序列全长，其中包括核糖体小亚基（SSU）rDNA、大亚基（LSU）rDNA、5.8S rDNA及内转录间隔区（ITS）区序列。序列分析结果显示，这些藻株包含了5种核糖体类型，分别是塔玛复合种亚洲温带（Temperate Asian）核糖体类型（TSC-TA），塔玛复合种西欧（West European）核糖体类型（TSC-WE），相关亚历山大藻（A. affine）核糖体类型（AF），微小亚历山大藻（A. minutum）葡萄牙（Portugal）核糖体类型（M-PO）和微小亚历山大藻新西兰（New Zealand）核糖体类型（M-NZ）。将测获的rDNA序列划分为若干保守性不同的区段，分别进行系统发育分析（结合GenBank数据库中保存的其它亚历山大藻相关序列）。结果显示，LSU rDNA D1-D2区是对该藻属藻种进行分子鉴定和系统发育研究的较好区段。同时，为解决建立亚历山大藻克隆培养的困难，我们应用单细胞rDNA序列分析方法，对亚历山大藻单个细胞直接进行了种类鉴定。结果表明，该方法适用于不同生活史阶段的亚历山大藻。 在亚历山大藻的检测技术方面，我们进一步扩展和完善了针对完整细胞的荧光原位杂交检测方法。首先，通过对不同核糖体类型藻株rDNA序列信息的对比分析，针对各自特异的序列位点，设计了特异性rRNA标记探针。经荧光原位杂交实验检验，实现了对5种核糖体类型亚历山大藻的特异性标记。其中，针对WE、M-PO及M-NZ核糖体型的特异性探针为首次获得，另外两个探针是针对TA和AF核糖体类型rRNA新的位点所设计。同时，对影响探针标记效果的诸多因素进行了分析和探讨。此外，在2007年春季长江口海域赤潮调查中，首次应用特异性核酸探针和荧光原位杂交检测方法，调查了该海域亚历山大藻的丰度。结果表明，在4月4日-4月10日的样品中，亚历山大藻达到了较高的密度，最高密度达到103cells/L。同时发现，实验中样品的保存方法有待改进。随后的研究表明，盐醇固定方法及多聚甲醛/甲醇固定方法，可以较好的保持rRNA不被降解并适宜杂交（至少3个月时间）。 总之，本研究首次测定并分析了11株亚历山大藻（9株分离自中国沿海）的rDNA全序列信息。在此基础上，获得了5种核糖体类型亚历山大藻的特异性rRNA标记探针，其中3种为首次获得。另外，实验证明，单细胞rDNA分析技术和荧光原位杂交检测方法，在自然水体中亚历山大藻的直接鉴定及丰度调查中，均具有良好的应用前景。这一工作为我国近海亚历山大藻的鉴定和检测提供了理论依据和方法学基础，希望对该藻赤潮的监测工作有推动作用。 关键词：亚历山大藻 遗传探针 rRNA rDNA 荧光原位杂交 系统发育

Characterization of a homogeneous taxonomic group of marine magnetotactic cocci within a low tide zone in the China Sea

Magnetotactic bacteria are a heterologous group of motile prokaryotes, ubiquitous in aquatic habitats and cosmopolitan in distribution. Here, we studied the diversity of magnetotactic bacteria in a seawater pond within an intertidal zone at Huiquan Bay in the China Sea. The pond is composed of a permanently submerged part and a low tide subregion. The magnetotactic bacteria collected from the permanently submerged part display diversity in morphology and taxonomy. In contrast, we found a virtually homogenous population of ovoid-coccoid magnetotactic bacteria in the low tide subregion of the pond. They were bilophotrichously flagellated and exhibited polar magnetotactic behaviour. Almost all cells contained two chains of magnetosomes composed of magnetite crystals. Intriguingly, the combination of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) and sequencing of cloned 16S rDNA genes from the low tide subregion samples as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed the presence of a homogenous population. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Qingdao Huiquan low tide magnetotactic bacteria belong to a new genus affiliated with the alpha-subclass of Proteobacteria. This finding suggests the adaptation of the magnetotactic bacterial population to the marine tide.

A bioaugmentation failure caused by phage infection and weak biofilm formation ability

Two biological aerated filters (BAF) were setup for ammonia removal treatment of the circulation water in a marine aquaculture. One of the BAFs was bioaugmented with a heterotrophic nitrifying bacterium, Lutimonas sp. H10, where the ammonia removal was not improved and the massive inoculation was even followed by a nitrification breakdown from day 9 to 18. The nitrification was remained stable in control BAF operated under the same conditions. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-targeted probes and cultivable method revealed that Lutimonas sp. H10 almost disappeared from the bioaugomented BAF within 3 d, and this was mainly due to the infection of a specific phage as revealed by flask experiment, plaque assay and transmission electron observation. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene libraries showed that bacterial groups from two reactors evolved differently and an overgrowth of protozoa was observed in the bioaugmented BAR Therefore, phage infection and poor biofilm forming ability of the inoculated strain are the main reasons for bioaugmentation failure. In addition, gazing by protozoa of the bacteria might be the reason for the nitrification breakdown in bioaugmented BAF during day 9-18.

Chromosomal rearrangement in Pectinidae revealed by rRNA loci and implications for bivalve evolution

Karyotype and chromosomal localization of major (18-5.8-28S) and minor (5S) ribosomal RNA genes were studied in two species of Pectinidae, zhikong (Chlamys farreri) and bay (Argopecten irradians irradians) scallops. using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). C. farreri had a haploid number of 19 with a karyotype of 3m + 4sm + 7sm-st + 4st + 1st-t, and A. i. irradians had a haploid number of 16 with a karyotype of 5st + 11t. In C. farreri, the major and minor rRNA genes had one locus each and were mapped to the same chromosome-Chromosome 5. In A. i. irradians, the major rRNA genes had two loci, located on Chromosomes 4 and 8, and the 5S rRNA gene was found at a third chromosome-Chromosome 10. Results of this and other studies indicate that karyotype of A. i. irradians (n = 16, 21 arms) is secondary and derived from an ancestral karyotype similar to that of C. farreri (n = 19, 38 arms) through considerable chromosomal loss and rearrangements. The ability to tolerate significant chromosomal loss suggests that the modal karyotype of Pectinidae and possibly other bivalves with a haploid number of 19 is likely tetraploid; i.e., at least one genome duplication has occurred during the evolution of Bivalvia.