Cloning and characterization of a novel C-type lectin gene from shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

In invertebrates, C-type lectins play crucial roles in innate immunity responses by mediating the recognition of host cells to pathogens and clearing microinvaders, which interact with carbohydrates and function as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). A novel C-type lectin gene (LvLec) cDNA was cloned from hemocytes of Litopenaeus vannamei by expressed sequence tag (EST) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The full-length cDNA of LvLec was of 618 bp, consisting of a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 60 bp and a 3'-UTR of 87 bp with a poly (A) tail. The deduced amino acid sequence of LvLec possessed all conserved features critical for the fundamental structure, such as the four cysteine residues (Cys(53), Cys(128), Cys(144), Cys(152)) involved in the formation of disulfides bridges and the potential Ca2+/carbohydrate-binding sites. The high similarity and the close phylogenetic relationship of LvLec shared with C-type lectins from vertebrates and invertebrates. The structural features of LvLec indicated that it was an invertebrate counterpart of the C-type lectin family. The cDNA fragment encoding the mature peptide of LvLec was recombined and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)-pLysS. The recombinant protein (rLvLec) could agglutinate bacteria E. coli JM109 depending on Ca2+, and the agglutination could be inhibited by mannose and EDTA. These results indicated that LvLec was a new member of C-type lectin family and involved in the immune defence response to Gram negative bacteria in Litopenaeus vannamei. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phycobilisomes linker family in cyanobacterial genomes: divergence and evolution

Cyanobacteria are the oldest life form making important contributions to global CO2 fixation on the Earth. Phycobilisomes (PBSs) are the major light harvesting systems of most cyanobacteria species. Recent availability of the whole genome database of cyanobacteria provides us a global and further view on the complex structural PBSs. A PBSs linker family is crucial in structure and function of major light-harvesting PBSs complexes. Linker polypeptides are considered to have the same ancestor with other phycobiliproteins (PBPs), and might have been diverged and evolved under particularly selective forces together. In this paper, a total of 192 putative linkers including 167 putative PBSs-associated linker genes and 25 Ferredoxin-NADP oxidoreductase (FNR) genes were detected through whole genome analysis of all 25 cyanobacterial genomes (20 finished and 5 in draft state). We compared the PBSs linker family of cyanobacteria in terms of gene structure, chromosome location, conservation domain, and polymorphic variants, and discussed the features and functions of the PBSs linker family. Most of PBSs-associated linkers in PBSs linker family are assembled into gene clusters with PBPs. A phylogenetic analysis based on protein data demonstrates a possibility of six classes of the linker family in cyanobacteria. Emergence, divergence, and disappearance of PBSs linkers among cyanobacterial species were due to speciation, gene duplication, gene transfer, or gene loss, and acclimation to various environmental selective pressures especially light.

Comparison between compsopogon coeruleus and porphyra yezoensis in their O-2 evolution rates and phycobilisome composition

In order to investigate the possible effects of the ecological environment on photosynthetic activity and the major light harvesting complex, the oxygen evolution rates and composition of phycobilisome from marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis Ueda and freshwater red alga Compsopogon coeruleus (Balbis) Montagne, which could grow and reproduce under salinity up to 35 ppt, were studied. The results showed that the oxygen evolution rate of P. yezoensis in seawater was significantly higher than that of C. coeruleus in freshwater, and P. yezoensis tolerated inorganic ions at a relatively higher concentration than C. coeruleus. Moreover, the phycoerythrin (PE) of P yezoensis was R-phycoerythrin containing alpha, beta, and gamma subunits comprised phycoerythrobilin and phycourobilin. In contrast, the PE from C. coeruleus consisted of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits comprised only phycoerythrobilin but not phycourobilin, suggesting that the PE from C. coeruleus was of a new type.

Surface sediment diatoms from the western Pacific marginal seas and their correlation to environmental variables

Diatom data of 192 surface sediment samples from the marginal seas in the western Pacific together with modern summer and winter sea surface temperature and salinity data were analyzed. The results of canonical correspondence analysis show that summer sea-surface salinity (SSS) is highly positively correlated with winter SSS and so is summer sea-surface temperature (SST) with winter SST. The correlations between SSSs and SSTs are less positively correlated, which may be due to interactions of regional current pattern and monsoon climate. The correlations between diatom species, sample sites and environmental variables concur with known diatom ecology and regional oceanographic characters. The results of forward selection of the environmental variables and associated Monte Carlo permutation tests of the statistical significance of each variable suggest that summer SSS and winter SST are the main environmental factors affecting the diatom distribution in the area and therefore preserved diatom data from down core could be used for reconstructions of summer SSS and winter SST in the region.

Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of Polygonal Faults in Qiongdongnan Basin, Northern South China Sea

Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data, we document the polygonal faults within the Miocene Meishan (sic) Formation and Huangliu (sic) Formation of the Qiongdongnan (sic) basin, northern South China Sea. Within the seismic section and time coherent slice, densely distributed extensional faults with small throw and polygonal shape were identified in map view. The orientation of the polygonal faults is almost isotropic, indicating a non-tectonic origin. The deformation is clearly layer-bounded, with horizontal extension of 11.2% to 16%, and 13.2% on average. The distribution of polygonal faults shows a negative correlation with that of gas chimneys. The development of polygonal faults may be triggered by over-pressure pore fluid which is restricted in the fine-grained sediments of bathyal facies when the sediments is compacted by the burden above. The polygonal faults developed to balance the volumetric contraction and restricted extension. The product of hydrocarbon in the Meishan Formation may have contributed to the development of the polygonal faults. In the study area, it was thought that the petroleum system of the Neogene post-rift sequence is disadvantageous because of poor migration pathway. However, the discovery of polygonal faults in the Miocene strata, which may play an important role on the fluid migration, may change this view. A new model of the petroleum system for the study area is proposed.

胶州湾浮游动物的物种组成与优势种时空分布特征

浮游动物作为海洋食物链中承上启下的一环，其群落结构和动态变化直接影响着海洋生态系统能流、物流的方向和效率。胶州湾作为一个受自然环境和人类活动双重影响的海湾，是研究人为活动对自然生态系统影响的模式港湾。因此，深入研究胶州湾浮游动物的群落特征及时空分布特点对了解该海湾生态系统的现状与历史变化趋势以及生态系统对自然条件变化和人类干扰的响应具有重要意义，也可为其他海区的研究提供参考资料。 本文根据2004年1月－12月用浅水I型和浅水II型浮游生物网在胶州湾每月一次的垂直拖网采集的浮游动物样品，分析了胶州湾浮游动物的物种组成和优势种的时空分布特征。2004年胶州湾浮游动物共74个种，分属于暖温带近岸种和暖温带近海种。浮游动物丰度周年波动范围1006－15571 ind./m3，全年平均5187 ind./m3。在胶州湾体长<1mm的浮游动物丰度和生物量最大。浮游动物的丰度和物种多样性季节变化明显，春夏大（高），秋冬小（低）。多数月份浮游动物丰度在湾内大于湾外。物种多样性在湾北和湾南较低，在湾中心和湾外较高。 胶州湾浮游动物优势种为双刺纺锤水蚤、小拟哲水蚤、太平洋纺锤水蚤、中华哲水蚤、拟长腹剑水蚤、近缘大眼剑水蚤、长尾住囊虫、强壮箭虫、短角长腹剑水蚤、八斑芮氏水母和小介穗水母等。双刺纺锤水蚤全年都是优势种，小拟哲水蚤除了4月其余月份都是优势种。其他优势种季节更替明显，冬、春季（12月、1－5月）优势种为中华哲水蚤、拟长腹剑水蚤、近缘大眼剑水蚤、长尾住囊虫等；夏季（6－8月）太平洋纺锤水蚤代替中华哲水蚤、拟长腹剑水蚤成为优势种；秋季（9－11月）优势种更替频繁，9月为短角长腹剑水蚤和太平洋纺锤水蚤，10月为太平洋纺锤水蚤、拟长腹剑水蚤和长尾住囊虫，11月为拟长腹剑水蚤、长尾住囊虫、近缘大眼剑水蚤和强壮箭虫。 双刺纺锤水蚤与中华哲水蚤在4月达到数量高峰，丰度分别为5604ind./m3和493 ind./m3。长尾住囊虫6月丰度1809 ind./m3为全年最大。小拟哲水蚤、太平洋纺锤水蚤和近缘大眼剑水蚤在7月达到数量高峰，丰度分别为1667 ind./m3、4000 ind./m3、775 ind./m3。短角长腹剑水蚤和强壮箭虫在8月丰度最大，分别为389ind./m3和192 ind./m3。八斑芮氏水母和小介穗水母分别在3、8月大量出现，丰度分别为194 ind./m3、358 ind./m3。拟长腹剑水蚤全年有7、10月两个高峰。双刺纺锤水蚤、小拟哲水蚤、太平洋纺锤水蚤、短角长腹剑水蚤、八斑芮氏水母和小介穗水母主要在湾北密集；中华哲水蚤密集区趋向于湾中心和湾外；近缘大眼剑水蚤、拟长腹剑水蚤、异体住囊虫和强壮箭虫等分布广泛，不同月份密集区不同。 从目前我们所掌握的资料来看，近30年来，胶州湾浮游动物的种类组成和优势种群没有发生大的变化。与70年代相比，2004年的物种数基本不变，但物种组成稍有不同；优势种丰度大大降低。与90年代相比，2004年物种数有所增加，其中水母类增加了15种，八斑芮氏水母成为冬季优势种；浮游动物的丰度和优势种的水平分布格局基本不变。胶州湾浮游动物的生态类型与渤海相似，但与黄海有所差异；胶州湾优势种的丰度大于渤海，且高峰期比渤海提前一个月。

趋磁细菌AMB-1培养条件优化及磁小体变化过程研究

趋磁细菌(Magnetotactic bacteria)的研究是国际微生物学研究热点之一。趋磁细菌体内含有纳米单磁畴的氧化铁/硫化铁(Fe3O4或Fe3S4)晶体，称为磁小体。由于趋磁细菌营养条件要求苛刻，在环境中需要微好氧条件，且营养类型属于化能自养，使得培养趋磁细菌时常遇到问题。 本研究首先通过正交试验优化趋磁细菌AMB-1菌株培养条件，在培养条件铁源为奎尼酸铁0.02 mmol/L，装瓶量75% ，pH值6.7，温度25 ℃时，AMB-1 OD600达到0.440(1.166×109 cells/ml)。同时运用磁收集传代法，使带有磁小体的AMB-1细胞比例占95％以上(Cmag值稳定在1.9-2.0)。 在AMB-1具有较好的生物量，同时又具有较好的含磁小体细胞比例后，研究磁小体的变化过程。通过透射电镜观察磁小体变化过程，发现培养24 h细菌体内已有较小晶体形成(平均27 nm，n=188)且沿长轴分布；48 h晶体长大(平均43 nm，n=203)且形成分段链沿长轴排列；72 h晶体进一步成熟(平均50 nm，n=191)仍以分段链沿长轴排列；随后细菌逐渐衰亡磁小体变小，168 h可见部分自溶细菌中仍有磁小体链(平均37 nm，n=186)；192 h细菌自溶磁小体链(平均33 nm，n=184)分散到环境中。 通过透射电镜在细胞水平上研究趋磁细菌细胞分裂时发现，磁小体在细菌分裂时采用两种分离方式：一种为磁小体分配到两个子细胞；另一种为磁小体只分配到一个子细胞。无磁小体的子细胞，在随后的生长过程又分为两种情况：一种为细胞逐渐产生磁小体，另一种为不再产生磁小体。这种现象的发现，解释了随着传代次数的增多，细菌磁性有所下降的原因(Cmag值降低)。 在对趋磁细菌磁小体合成机制的研究中，常使用基因敲除的办法获得缺陷型，并与野生型对比进行研究。但是，利用基因敲除获得缺陷型不仅操作繁琐并且所得缺陷型不稳定。本研究利用特殊的磁富集传代法，先将带有磁小体的菌体收集并连续传代，筛选获得了高磁菌株；利用这种方法，收集不含磁小体的菌体并连续传代，筛选获得了无磁菌株。 趋磁细菌磁小体在医疗、环保等领域具有广阔应用价值，但是目前由于趋磁细菌难以大规模培养，并且磁小体纯化存在成本高等原因，将磁小体真正实际应用尚有一段距离。通过研究磁小体在趋磁细菌中的变化过程发现，AMB-1菌株在培养192 h后自溶，并且磁小体随着细胞的破碎释放到环境中去。

菲律宾蛤仔（Ruditapes philippinarum)能量代谢的研究

能量代谢指动物在进行生理活动(如摄食、消化以及动物的活动等)时所消耗能量的总和，一般以动物的呼吸率利排泄率来估计动物的能量代谢。其主要研究内容是闸明生物能量代谢的基木规律以及与环境闪子的关系。菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapesphil ippmarum)是我国一种重要的养殖贝类，关于其能量代谢的研究却较少，这种状况妨碍了菲律宾蛤仔养殖生态理论的完善和养殖技术的提高。本研究主要对菲律宾蛤仔呼吸率和排泄率的基本规律(能量代谢与体重的关系、能量代谢的昼夜变化)及其与环境因子(饵料浓度、水温、栖息底质环境)的关系进行探讨。研究结果如下：1．不同体重菲律宾蛤仔代谢率小同。实验川菲律宾蛤仔分三种大小：l(干肉重为0．07-0．14g)、ll(干肉重0．27-0．34g)、III(干肉重0．45～0．63g)。温度包括：26℃(八月)、20℃(十月)、1 5℃(十二月)、9℃(一月)。实验共设四个饵料浓度：2．28±0．25，6．454±0．44，10．284±0．82，15．414±1．56mgTPM／L(TPM，总颗粒物)，饵料中POM(颗粒有机物)含量都为4．68±1．64 mg/L。常温下菲律宾蛤仔代谢率随着体重的增大而增大。15℃、20~C、26℃时蛤仔呼吸率与干肉重呈明显的幂函数关系R=aW~b，a值变动范围为0．1076-0．3309；b值变动范围为0．239l～0．8381；蛤仔排泄率与干肉重也呈明显的幂函数关系N=aW~b，a值变动范围为14．213～68．362：b值变动范围为0．3673-1．1 532。9℃(饵料浓度为2．28±0．25mgTPM／L)、20℃(饵料浓度为10．284-0．82mgTPM／L)、26℃(饵料浓度为6．454±0．44mgTPM／L)时不同体重蛤仔氧氮比差异显著，其它情况下不同体重蛤仔氧氮比差异不显著。2．常温下菲律宾蛤仔代谢率受饵料浓度的影响，不同大小蛤仔受饵料浓度的影响程度不同。I组蛤仔呼吸率受饵料浓度的显著影响，II组III组蛤仔呼吸率只在9℃(一月)和26~C(八月)时受饵料浓度的显著影响。26℃时影响最显著，26℃时I组蛤仔在饵料浓度为2．28±0．25，6．45±0．44，l0．28±0．82，15．4l±1．56mgTPM／L时呼吸率分别是O．086，0．146，0．073，0．093(mlO_2／h)；ll组蛤仔在上述浓度饵料中呼吸率分别是0．138，0．214，0．J 26，0．12l(mlO_2／h);III组蛤仔在上述浓度饵料中呼吸率分别是0．129，0．266，0．186，0．192(mlO_2／h)。菲律宾蛤仔呼吸率在饵料浓度为6．45±0．44 mgTPM／L时最高，蛤仔呼吸率在其它饵料浓度时都会降低。菲律宾蛤仔排泄率在饵料浓度为10．28±0．82 mgTPM／L和15．4l士1．56mgTPM／L时显著高于其它浓度组，9℃时这种趋势更明显，9℃时饵料浓度为2．28±0．25，6．454±044，lO．284±0．82，15．41±1．56mgTPM／L中I组蛤仔排泄率分别是4．297，2．874，8．003，6．658(μgNH_3-N／h)；II组蛤仔在上述浓度饵料中排泄率分别是4．011，3．609，10．427，12．732(μgNH_3-N／h)；III组蛤仔在上述浓度饵料中排泄率分别是2．28 l，6．452，10．283，15．417(μgNH_3-N／h)。3．菲律宾蛤仔代谢率受自然温度的显著影Ⅱ向。I组蛤仔在9℃、15℃、20℃、26℃时呼吸率平均为0．057，0．085，0．039，O．099；II组蛤仔在上述四个温度中呼吸率平均为0．08，O．128，0．089，0．149(mlO_2／h)，I组和II组蛤仔在9℃和20~C时呼吸率较低，在26℃时呼吸率最高。III组蛤仔在上述四个温度中呼吸率平均为0．09，O．1 59，O．143，O．193(mlO_2／h)，在9℃时llI组蛤仔呼吸率显著低于其它温度组。温度为9℃、15℃、20℃、26℃时l组蛤仔排泄率平均为5．458，13．169，4．946，11．138(μgNH_3-N／h)：II组蛤仔在上述温度中排泄率平均为7．695，23．578，8．319，23．90l(μgNH_3-N／h)；III组蛤仔在上述温度中排泄率平均为11．738，27．443，15．658，35．407(μgNH_3-N／h)，蛤仔排泄率在15℃和26℃时均高于9℃和20℃。4．摄食状态与饥饿状态菲律宾蛤仔代谢率有明显不同。26℃时蛤仔静止状态呼吸率平均为0．336(m102／g干重．h)，摄食状态呼吸率平均为0．656(ml0_2干重．h)，摄食状态呼吸率比静止状态平均升高了0 32(ml0_2／g干重．h)；26℃时蛤仔静止状态排泄率平均为39．471(μgNH_3-N／g干重．h)，摄食状态排泄率平均为88．08(μgNH_3-N／g干重．h)，摄食状态排泄率比静止状态排泄率平均升高了48．6(μgNH_3-N／g干重．h)。摄食状态代谢率平均是静止状态的2～3倍。根据摄食引起的呼吸率和排泄率升高量得出每氧化产生lμgNH_3-N需0_2量平均为7．05μl。5．人工控制温度对菲律宾蛤仔代谢率有明显影响。不同大小蛤仔受温度的影响程度不同。在温度5℃、10℃、l 5℃、20℃、26℃，I组和II组蛤仔呼吸率都随着温度的升高而升高，在10℃～l5℃和20℃～26℃这二个温度变化范围内呼吸率变化最大，在20℃～26℃时I组蛤仔呼吸率变动范围为O．85～1．04(m10_2／g干重．h)、II组蛤仔变动范围为0．57～0．86(ml0_2／g干重．h)。III组蛤仔呼吸率只在5℃～l0℃时明显增高，变动范围为0．09～0．5l(m10_2／g干重．h)，在10℃～26℃范围内变化不大。I组和II组蛤仔排泄率随着温度的升高而升高，变动幅度较大，在5℃～26℃范围内其排泄率变动范围为10．32～81．53(μgNH_3-N／g干重．h)；而 III组蛤仔排泄率只在5℃～15℃时随着温度的升高而升高，其排泄率变动范围为6．75～23．77(μgNH_3-N/g干重．h)，在15℃～26℃范围内几乎不变。III组蛤仔的适温范围比I组和II组蛤仔广。菲律宾蛤仔在5℃和10℃时氧氮比变化明显，变动范围为2．76～11．44，在15～26℃时变化不大。6．菲律宾蛤仔代谢率有明显的日节律性，呈正弦曲线型变化。蛤仔夜问代谢率明显升高。I组蛤仔夜间呼吸率平均为0．867(m10_2／g干重．h)，白天呼吸率平均为O．504(m10_2／g干重．h)；II组蛤仔夜间呼吸率平均为0．438(m10_2／g干重．h)，白天呼吸率平均为0．36l(m102／g干重．h)；III组蛤仔夜间呼吸率平均为0．409(m10_2／g干重．h)，白天呼吸率平均为0．252(m102／g干重．h)。在22：00-23：00菲律宾蛤仔呼吸率最高。7．底质环境对菲律宾蛤仔的代谢率有明显影响。在饥饿状态下菲律宾蛤仔在泥沙底质中呼吸率平均为l 406(m10_2／g干重h)，在无泥沙环境中呼吸率平均为O．963(ml0_2／g干重．h)；摄食状态下菲律宾蛤仔在泥沙底质中呼吸率平均为1．59l(m102／g干重．h)，在无泥沙环境中呼吸率平均为1．115(m10_2／g干重．h)。在饥饿状态下菲律宾蛤仔在泥沙底质中排泄率平均为78．934(μgNH_3-N／g 干重．h)，在无泥沙环境巾排泄率平均为45．043(μgNH_3-N／g干重．h)；摄食状态下菲律宾蛤仔在泥沙底质中排泄率平均为87．12l(μgNH_3-N／g干重．h)，在无泥沙底质中排泄率平均为58．354(μgNH_3-N／g干重．h)。蛤仔在泥沙环境中呼吸率和排泄率都明显升高。

扇贝、对虾基因组BAC文库构建及其重要功能基因的初步筛选和分析

基因组大片段BAC文库是进行生物遗传学和基因组学研究必不可少的基础工具。为了深入开展栉孔扇贝（Chlamys farreri）和凡纳滨对虾（Litopenaeus vannamei）基因组学研究、阐明其基因组的结构与功能、图位克隆重要功能基因、构建高密度物理图谱并最终实现与已有遗传连锁图的整合，本研究在植物基因组BAC文库构建技术的基础上，针对海洋生物的特点进行了大胆的改革与尝试，最终成功构建了C. ferrari和L. vannamei两种重要海水养殖动物的基因组BAC文库。 本文构建的栉孔扇贝基因组BAC文库，由BamHI文库和MboI文库构成。其中BamHI文库含有73,728个BAC克隆，空载率约为1%，平均插入片段约为110 kb，覆盖栉孔扇贝单倍体基因组约8倍；MboI文库共有7,680个克隆组成，平均插入片段大小约为145 kb，插入率为100%，覆盖栉孔扇贝单倍体基因组约1.1倍。两个栉孔扇贝基因组BAC文库共由81,408个克隆组成，平均插入片段约为113 kb，覆盖率约为栉孔扇贝单倍体基因组大小的9.1倍。 将栉孔扇贝基因组BAC文库的192个384微孔培养板中的73,728个BAC克隆以4 x 4点阵形式制备了高密度DNA薄膜，用于对感兴趣的基因及DNA序列的筛选。高密度DNA薄膜的覆盖率约为栉孔扇贝单倍体基因组的8.3倍。针对栉孔扇贝先天免疫系统通路的6个重要功能基因，根据栉孔扇贝cDNA序列以及异缘物种DNA序列设计了Overgo探针。利用Overgo探针对高密度DNA薄膜杂交筛选的结果显示，平均每个基因检测到7.3个潜在阳性克隆。 本研究所构建的凡纳滨对虾基因组HindIII酶切BAC文库共有102,528个BAC克隆，存放于267个384微孔培养板中，平均插入片段大小约为101 kb，空载率约为5%，覆盖L. vannamei单倍体基因组约5倍。将其中240个384微孔培养板中的92,160个BAC克隆以4 x 4的矩阵排列形式制作了5张高密度凡纳滨对虾DNA薄膜，约覆盖整个对虾单倍体基因组的4.5倍。针对6个与对虾免疫、生殖生理有关的重要功能基因设计了Overgo探针，杂交筛选出20个阳性克隆，平均每个基因有3.3个潜在阳性克隆。 以上筛选结果不仅为进一步研究这些功能基因的结构与功能、表达与调控，揭示它们在扇贝和对虾以及其他近缘种的免疫系统、抗逆和生殖生理过程中的作用机理打下了基础，同时也间接验证了栉孔扇贝和凡纳滨对虾基因组BAC文库将成为基因筛选、基因的结构与功能分析、基因图位克隆、物理图谱构建以及大规模全基因组测序等方面的有力工具。

Nutrients in the Changjiang River

N, P and SiO3-Si in the Changjiang mainstream and its major tributaries and lakes were investigated in the dry season from November to December, 1997, and in the flood season in August and October, 1998. An even distribution of SiO3-Si was found along the Changjiang River. However, the concentrations of total nitrogen, total dissolved nitrogen, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, nitrate and total phosphorus, total particulate phosphorus increased notably in the upper reaches, which reflected an increasing impact from human activities. Those concentrations in the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River were relatively constant. Dissolved N was the major form of N and the particulate P was the major form of P in the Changjiang River. The molar ratio of dissolved N to dissolved P was extremely high (192.5-317.5), while that of the particulate form was low (5.6-37.7). High N/P ratio reflected a significant input of anthropogenic N such as N from precipitation and N lost from water and soil etc. Dissolved N and P was in a quasi-equilibrium state in the process from precipitate to the river. In the turbid river water, light limitation, rather than P limitation, seemed more likely to be a controlling factor for the growth of phytoplankton. A positive linear correlationship between the concentration of dissolved N and the river's runoff was found, mainly in the upper reaches, which was related to the non-point sources of N. Over the past decades, N concentration has greatly increased, but the change of P concentration was not as significant as N. The nutrient fluxes of the Changjiang mainstream and tributaries were estimated, and the result showed that the nutrient fluxes were mainly controlled by the runoff, of which more than a half came from the tributaries. These investigations carried out before water storage of the Three Gorges Dam will supply a scientific base for studying the influences of the Three Gorges Dam on the ecology and environment of the Changjiang River and its estuary.

Four new species of the Genera Eudesme and Sphaerotrichia (Chordariaceae, Heterokontophyta) from the Chinese Coast

Four new species, Eudesme huanghaiensis Ding et Lu, E. qingdaoensis Ding et Lu, E. shandongensis Ding et Lu and Sphaerotrichia huanghaiensis Ding et Lu, from the western Yellow Sea coast of China are described. Eudesme huanghaiensis is mainly characterized by its spherical or sub-spherical sub-cortical cells, its rhizoidal filaments developing from the basal cells of sub-cortex and its broad sub-cortical and medullary layers. E. qingdaoensis is mainly characterized by its long medullary cells, generally hollow center of the medulla, short sub-cortex with only 3-4 cylindrical cells and long, slender and clavate terminal cells of the rhizoidal filaments. E. shandongensis is mainly characterized by its hollow frond, thick cell walls of both medulla and inner sub-cortical layers and the spherical terminal cells of the rhizoid filaments. Sphaerotrichia huanghaiensis is mainly characterized by its cylindrical, sparsely branched frond with acute angle, and its thick 5-6 layered sub-cortex with long assimilating filaments of 6-10 cells.

One step isolation and purification of liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Risch using high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) technique in semi-preparative scale has been successfully applied to the separation of bioactive flavonoid compounds, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin in one step from the crude extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Risch. The HSCCC was performed using a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-acetonitrile-water (2:2:1:0.6:2, v/v). Yields of liquiritigenin (98.9% purity) and isoliquiritigenin (98.3% purity) obtained were 0.52% and 0.32%. Chemical structures of the purified liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin were identified by electrospray ionization-MS (ESI-MS) and NMR analysis. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The chemical constituents from red alga Gymnogongrus flabelliformis Harv.

Eight compounds were isolated from red alga Gymnogongrus flabelliformis Harv. In normal phase silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, reverse phase HPLC, and recrystallization. Based on MS and 1D NMR spectroscopic data, their structures were determined as: stigmast-4-en-3-one (I), cholest-4-en-3-one (II), cholesterol (III), uracil (IV), uridine (V), adenosine (VI), succinic acid (VII), and 5-hydroxy-4-methyl-5-pentyl-2,5-dihydro-furan-2-on (VIII). All of them were obtained from this species for the first time. Cytotoxicity of these compounds was screened using standard MTT method, but all the compounds were inactive (IC50 > 10 mu g/ml).

Effect of alloy elements on the anti-corrosion properties of low alloy steel

Effect of alloy elements on corrosion of low alloy steel was studied under simulated offshore conditions. The results showed that the elements Cu, P, Mo, W, V had evident effect on corrosion resistance in the atmosphere zone; Cu, P, V, Mo in the splash zone and Cr, Al, Mo in the submerged zone.

3种高山药用植物光合作用及光抑制机制研究

研究3种药用植物叶片的光合色素含量、叶表光强和叶温以及叶绿素荧光参数的日变化进程。结果表明：麻花艽的单位鲜重叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量最高,唐古特山莨菪和鸡爪大黄的叶绿素和类胡萝卜素没有显著差异。3种植物的q_p的日进程与光强和叶温的日变化表明植物在1 d中都在进行过剩激发能的耗散,对光合机构起到一定的保护作用。