青蒿的遗传转化及青蒿素生物合成的调控

利用发根农杆菌(Agrobacterium rhizogenes)1601，1000，1500，15834，A4，均成功地转化了中药青蒿(Artemisia annua L.)并且建立了pRi1601，pRi15834，pRiA4诱导的发根培养。pRi1601，pRi15834的发根诱导率比其它质粒高。太老或太幼的叶片不利子发根的诱导;发根主要从叶脉的伤口处萌发;带顶芽或带侧芽的叶片容易诱导根，但不一定是发根。光照有利于发根的诱导和发根的生长。以每个发根的“绝对生长速率”(Gtowth Ratio，GR)和绝对“侧根”数量(Number of Side Roots，NSR），通过大量的发根系的筛选，建立了8个发根系，1601-L-1, 1601-L-2, 1601-L-3, 1601-L-4, 15834-L-1, 1601-P-I, 16 01-P-2，15834-L-2。Southern分子检测表明，160l-1-1，1801-L-2, 1601-L-3，1601-L-4，1601-P-1，1601-P-2均为转化子。8个建立的发根系之间无论生长或者QHS的合成存在明显的差异。比较光／暗(16/8hrs)，25℃条件下培养的16 01-L-1，1601-L-2，1601-L-3，1601-L-4，1601-P-l，和1601-P-2，其中16 01-L-3的生长最快，160l-L-1的生长最慢;但是，1601-L-1的QHS的含量最高（可达1. 048%），1601-1-3的QHS的含量最低。160Z-L-3，15834 -L-1和2583:1-L-2的生长速率相差不大。用盛有l000mLMS液体培养基的3000mL的锥形瓶扩大培养1601-L -3，15834-L-1和15834-L-2，转速为ll0rlpm，培养过程中发根容易形成发根球（Hairy Root Balis，HRB），HRB的形成严重影响发根的生长和QHs的合成，HpLC分析表明扩大培养发根中QHS的含量比较低。 改变MS基本培养基中的无机离子的浓度，研究不同无机离子对发根生长和QHS的合成的影响。 l、KN03为18.79×10-3M时有利于1601- L-1生长，为14. 84×10-3M时有利于QHS的合成。NH-4N0-3浓度在10.93-12. 49×10—3M范围内有利于1601-L-1生长，在0-20.62×10-3M范围内对QHS的合成影响不大，大于20. 62×lO-3M不利QHS的合成。培养基中NH-4+／N0-3-比值为0. 37-0. 4-0.52:1时有利于发根的生长，比值为0.52 - 0.58:1时有利于QHS的合成。 2、H-2P0-4-浓度为2.498×10-3M时有利于发根的生长在0-2. 498×l0-3M范围内，随着浓度的提高，促进发根的生长。培养基中的H2P4 -的浓度在0-1.249×lO-3M的范围内，随着浓度的提高，促进QHS的合成，为1.249×10-3M时QHS的含量最高。 3、培养基中最适16 01-L-1生长的Ca-2+浓度为0.198- 0.766×10-3M，大于或小于该浓度范围，显著地抑制发根的生长。但是，在0-3.695×10-3M范围内，随着培养基中Ca-2+浓度提高，促进QHS的合成，最适Ca-2+浓度为3.695×l0-3M。 4、培养基中不加Mg-2+时，完全抑制发根生长，在0. 142×10-3M-7.506×l0-3M浓度范围内，对发根生长影响没有明显的差别。但是，HPLC和UV分析发根中QHS含量，培养基中不加Mg-2+时，发根中QHS含量最高。 5、培养基中的Fe-2+浓度在0. 25 -1．0×10-3M范围内，同时有利于16 01- L-1的生长和QHS的形成。 6、培养基中最适合予16 01- L-3生长的KI浓度为2.5ppm，大于或小予该浓度均显著地抑制发根的生长，培养基中加入KI明显地降低发根中的QHS的含量。 7、H2BO3对l601-L-l生长影响不大，HPLC分析QHS的含量，培养基中的H3BO3浓度为100ppm和400ppm，QHS的含量分别为1.69mg/g和1.80mg/g(DW)。 8、Cu-2+对1601-L-3的生长影响显著，最适合1601-L-3生长的Cu-2+浓度为1.00ppm，在0 -1.00ppm的浓度范围内，随着培养基中的Cu+浓度的提高，发根的生物量不断增加。培养基中QHS合成的最适Cu2+浓度为0.05ppm，大于或小于该浓度均显著地抑制发根中QHS的合成。 比较光培养和暗培养对发根生长的影响，结果表明光照明显地促进1601-L-l的生长，暗培养明显不利于发根的生长。最适合于发根生长的温度为25℃，大于35℃显著地抑制发根的生长，影响发根的根尖细胞的正常分裂。 改变培养基中的蔗糖浓度和在发根培养的不同时期给培养基中添加蔗糖，试验结果表明蔗糖作为碳源对1601-L-3和1601-L-1的生长具有显著的影响。 (1)培养基中缺少蔗糖显著地抑制发根的生长。 (2)发根培养的前5天时间内，蔗糖浓度为30- 60glL昀培养基最有利于发根的生长，50glL的培养基中的发根生长最快，培养基中的蔗糖浓度大于60g/L小于30g／L时，发根的生物量增加较少。 (3)发根培养至第15天时，蔗糖浓度为60g/L的培养基最有利予发根的生物量的增加。发根培养至30天时，蔗糖浓度为60-90g/L的培养基，发根的生物量的增加相差不大，但是为蔗糖浓度为30-40g/L的培养基中的发根生物量一倍。 (4)发根培养过程中，分别于第5和15天给蔗糖浓度为30g/L的培养基中添加一次或二次蔗糖，使培养基中的蔗糖终浓度相当于60g/L或90g/L，培养至30天时，添加蔗糖的培养基中的发根的干重生物量相当于不添加蔗糖培养基中的发根生物量一倍，相当于初始蔗糖浓度为60g/L和90g/L培养基中发根的生物量。 (5)随着培养基中蔗糖浓度的提高，发根干重/鲜重比显著增加。培养基中的蔗糖的消耗量与发根生物量的增加呈正相关，蔗糖消耗越多，发根生物量的增加越大。 比较pH值对发根生长和QHS合成的影响表明，灭菌前pH值在5.O-6.5范围内的培养基适合予1601-L-1的生长，小于5.O不利于发根的生长，pH5.8有利于1601-1-1生长和QHS的生物合成。发根收获时培养基中的pH值一般为4.5-5.2. pH7.O抑制发根的生长，pHl0.O对发根具有强烈的致死作用。发根在培养过程中，对培养基中的pH值具有显著的调节作用，发根能在很短的时间内(24- 48hrs)使pl:l值为5.8、6.4、7.0培养基降低到pH4. 5-5.2，pH为5.8的培养基有利于QHS合成。 比较不同基本培养基对发根生长和QHS合成的影响，试验结果表明N6、DCR、Litvay培养基有利于1601-L-1的生长，WS、White、B5培养基不利于发根的生长。DCR培养基中的QHS含量最高。 根据三水平试验选用三水平正交表来安排试验的原则，选用三水平正交表L7(3-)，研究多因子效应对发根生长和QHS合成的影响，试验结果表明，Mg2+，Fe2+，Mn-2+，NH4NO3，KN03 ,KI,Ca-2+为发根生长的主要因子，NH4N03，KNOs，Mg2+，Ca2+，肌醇为QHS合成的主要因子。 通过TLC分析发根中QHS和其它化学成分，同时比较发根和无菌苗及野生植株的化学成分，发根和无菌苗均能合成包括QHS在内的野生青蒿叶片中的大部分非挥发性的化台 物。 研究青蒿植株在发育过程中QHS的含量的变化以及发根、无菌苗和野生青蒿中QHS的合成，HP分析结果表明，l、不同的单株青蒿之间的QHS量相差很大。2、同一植株幼 叶的QHS含量比老叶的QHS含量高。3、不同单株青蒿之间达到最高QHS含量的时间不一样，开花期或开花之前。4、无菌苗（带根）或者不带根丛生芽均能合成QHS，但是带根的无菌蕾的QHS量比丛生芽中的QIS的含量高。5、不同发根农杆菌转化的发根系1601-L-1和15834-L-1都能合成ＱＨＳ。

玉米的单倍体育种及基因转化的研究

玉米的单倍体育种，是利用花药培养或孤雌生殖产生单倍体后，进行人工或自然加倍，迅速获得稳定的新品种的育种方法。单倍体育种可以缩短育种时间，单倍体培养体系如果作为转基因的受体，可保证外源基因在后代中稳定遗传，而不发生分离。因此，玉米单倍体育种无论在实践中还是在理论研究方面都具有重大的意义。 本文针对玉米花药培养中长期以来未能解决的诱导频率低、基因型之间差异大、小苗移栽不容易成活等问题，重点探讨了各种因素对玉米花药培养的影响。结果表明：不同基因型之间的诱导频率差异明显，杂交种的诱导频率比纯系高，并选择出诱导频率高达20%的材料“中0198”;接种时花药中的花粉处于单核中期时，其诱导频率最高;采用液体培养基比采用固体培养基诱导频率提高一倍;培养基中加入0.5%的活性炭，可使诱导频率由5.25%提高到9.35%;15%的蔗糖浓度对玉米的花药培养是最适宜的，培养2周后，将培养基的蔗糖浓度从15%调整为10%，将明显提高诱导频率;培养基中高浓度的KT和低浓度的BA有利于诱导体细胞胚的发生，而低浓度的KT和高浓度的BA有利于诱导芽的发生;接种前将花药在4℃条件下进行低温预处理，可将诱导频率从3.13%提高到11.71%;培养基中添加2 mg/l的多效唑，可有效地促进小苗的生根;再生植株于冬季拿到海南种植，可明显提高移栽的成活率。 在玉米孤雌生殖的实验中，将未受粉的玉米雌穗接种在成份为N6 + 2,4-D 1mg/L + NAA 1mg/L + BA 1mg/L + CH 200mg/L + colchicine 2 mg/L + sucrose 5% + agar 0.7% 的培养基上。第一轮实验共接种了三个材料的26个雌穗（约3900个未受精的子房）。每种材料均有单性结实，诱导频率由高到低分别3.06%，2.29%，1.90%。直接获得了5株再生植株，通过染色体检查，发现其中3株为单倍体（n=10），另外2株为二倍体。移栽到土壤中后，有4株成活，其中一株二倍体植株能够正常开花、结实。得到的种子播种于实验田中，表现整齐一致，有纯系的特征，而且出现了2株白化苗。通过石蜡切片初步观察了孤雌生殖的胚胎发生过程，发现胚胎发生是从胚囊里的单倍体细胞起源的。第二、三轮实验又接种了10个基因型的玉米材料，证实了上述结果。 外源基因转导是利用生物技术进行玉米育种的一个有效途径。本文首次尝试了用离体子房注射法对玉米进行基因转化。首先构建了含有开花促进因子基因FPF1及植物选择标记抗除草剂基因pat的植物表达载体pFBR，采用离体注射培养法，取授粉24小时后的玉米雌穗，剥去苞叶，在超净工作台进行微量注射，然后切成小块接种在培养基上，在光照培养箱内培养，3-4周可直接获得种子或小植株。种子萌发后进行植株抗性筛选和分子检测，共注射了3个品种的47个雌穗（约16450个子房）得到再生植株109株，其中经PPT筛选有抗性的植株为23株，占再生植株的21.1%。经PCR检测，13株植株有阳性反应。但Southern杂交检测有杂带出现。出现杂带的原因、RNA水平的分子检测、转基因后代T1代的分子检测和早开花农艺性状的观察，由于时间关系没有完成，还需要进一步的实验。实验初步证明了离体子房注射法对玉米进行基因转化的可行性，而且与田间注射法相比，此方法具有省力省时，容易控制污染，转化效率提高的优点, 克服了玉米培养再生植株受基因型限制的困境, 将为玉米分子育种的基因工程提供更易行的手段。 同时，也为子房较大的其它植物的基因转化提供了方法。

牛耳草光合作用的脱水保护和复苏机理

本文以复苏植物牛耳草成熟植株的离体叶片为实验材料，以光合作用、蔗糖、抗氧化剂系统和离子渗漏等在脱水复苏过程中的变化为切入点，从生理生化水平上探讨其耐脱水复苏的机制;同时应用mRNA差异显示技术，从分子水平上探讨其耐脱水复苏的机制。 牛耳草叶片光系统II光化学活性参数和叶黄素循环色素在脱水复苏过程中的变化结果表明，极微弱光强（3μmol.m-2.s-1）下，脱水8天的牛耳草叶片诱导了叶黄素循环，叶黄素循环可能介导了牛耳草叶片脱水过程中的光保护作用。 利用不同浓度的磷酸盐溶液处理牛耳草叶片的结果表明，0.1mol/L以上的磷酸盐溶液对牛耳草叶片具有损伤作用，极大的影响了其光系统II的光化学活性，使得牛耳草叶片在脱水后不能很好的复苏。 牛耳草叶片在脱水复苏过程中，抗坏血酸（AsA）、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）和蔗糖含量在脱水时很快增加，复苏时又迅速恢复到原来水平，表明它们可能对脱水的牛耳草叶片具有保护作用，但对复苏的牛耳草叶片可能不重要;其离子渗漏情况表明质膜结构的完整性和稳定性在脱水复苏过程中能得到很好的保持，这可能是其耐脱水复苏的重要机制之一。 利用mRNA差异显示技术分离到牛耳草叶片脱水过程中一些脱水和磷酸盐特异诱导表达的cDNA。对其中5个脱水特异诱导表达和3个磷酸盐特异诱导表达的cDNA进行克隆测序、同源性探测和Northern 杂交检测表明，牛耳草脱水过程中诱导表达的基因可能涉及到脱水胁迫的信号转导、调节基因的级联和结构基因产物调节细胞结构在脱水胁迫中的稳定性等。

水稻(Oryza sativa L. ssp japonica)幼苗根质膜蛋白质组分析

根质膜具有重要的生物学功能，它参与了根响应脱落酸（ABA）的一系列活动。尽管已经有很多有关ABA影响根的生长和发育的报道，但是在蛋白质组水平上研究参与ABA信号转导及相关活动的质膜蛋白质的报道还未见到。我们期望利用蛋白质组学技术平台研究外源ABA胁迫下水稻根质膜与ABA功能相关的蛋白质组的变化。 本论文通过双向电泳（2DE）结合质谱（MALDI-TOF MS 和 MALDI-TOF/TOF MS）分析的方法鉴定了102个质膜相关蛋白质。这些蛋白质功能涉及到跨膜运输（16.2%）、胁迫反应（14.3%）、物质运输（4.8%）、细胞骨架动态变化（5.7%）、细胞壁重建（3.8%）、碳代谢和能量循环（13.3%）、蛋白质代谢（14.3%）、信号转导（18.1%）和其他功能的蛋白质（4.8%），以及未知功能的蛋白质（2.9%）。其中大约30％的蛋白质以同工型的形式存在。在这些鉴定结果中，有10个斑点（代表10种蛋白质）已被报道为质膜特异的蛋白质;68个蛋白质斑点（代表58种蛋白质）是质膜相关蛋白质。其余54个蛋白质斑点（代表42种蛋白质）是首次在水稻根的质膜囊泡中被鉴定出来。 在ABA处理条件下，我们在2DE胶上发现了15个响应ABA调节的蛋白质斑点。9个上调的蛋白质斑点分别代表以下9种蛋白质：vacuolar proton-ATPase A subunit, vacuolar ATPase B subunit、patatin、 Salt-stress root protein RS1、谷氨酰氨合成酶（Glutamine synthetase，GS）、OSR40c1、H+-exporting ATPase （vacuolar ATPase E subunit）、甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶I型（glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase, type I，GADPH）和醛缩酶C-1（aldolase C-1）。6个下调的蛋白质斑点分别代表4种蛋白质：endosperm lumenal binding protein、remorin protein、富含脯氨酸蛋白质（glycine-rich protein，GRP）和蔗糖合成酶（sucrose synthase, SuSy）。其中，OSR40c1和endosperm lumenal binding protein与蛋白质合成相关，从它们与ABA的关系中可以看出，ABA可能抑制了细胞的蛋白质合成。而vacuolar proton-ATPase A subunit、vacuolar ATPase B subunit和 H+-exporting ATPase参与了细胞质pH的调控，ABA致使了细胞质pH的上升。甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶I型、醛缩酶C-1和蔗糖合酶参与了细胞壁的生长发育，ABA的作用可能导致了细胞壁生长发育的延迟。ABA促使Patatin上升，其作用可能与质膜膜脂的降解有关。而ABA的刺激也使谷氨酰氨合成酶的表达显著上升，谷氨酰氨合成酶可以去除细胞内有害的游离NH+4。同时还有未知功能的富含脯氨酸蛋白质（glycine-rich protein，GRP）同样受到ABA的诱导，但具体的功能及其与ABA的关系还要进一步的实验证据。

甘油和蔗糖对光系统I结构与功能的影响

在光系统I(PSI)内部结合有大量的水分子，而这些水分子的生理功能还不清楚。在本工作中，我们通过外加具有渗透活性和吸水强的多羟基化合物甘油和蔗糖来改变PSI环境中水的含量，研究水的改变对PSI结构与功能的影响。主要结果如下： 1．甘油和蔗糖对PSI的电子传递产生影响，影响程度和大小与它们的浓度有关。一般地，低浓度的甘油和蔗糖可促进PSI的电子传递，而在高浓度时，这种促进作用有所减弱。但过高浓度的甘油(>60%, v/v)会抑制PSI的电子传递活性。 2．与对PSI电子传递的影响趋势相类似，在低浓度的甘油和蔗糖存在下，PSI的光化学反应活性(PSI反应中心色素P700的光氧化还原能力)大为增加，而较高浓度的甘油和蔗糖对P700的氧化还原能力有所抑制。 3．甘油和蔗糖也会改变PSI中的主体色素(bulk chlorophyll)和长波色素或红色素(red chlorophyll)之间的能量分布。它们的作用导致激发能分配失衡，使更多的激发能分配到红色素。 4．甘油和蔗糖的作用还会影响PSI的蛋白质构象。甘油使PSI蛋白质内部的色氨酸残基(Trpapolar)处于更加疏水的微环境，而蔗糖却使极性环境中的色氨酸残基(Trppolar)周围微环境的极性继续增大。它们均会使色氨酸残基邻近的具有淬灭活性的蛋白质的位置和/或方向有所变化。同时，甘油和蔗糖的作用也会导致PSI的疏水性增加。

葡萄浆果成熟与延迟采收期间糖酸变化特点的研究

连续2年对“京秀”ד亚历山大”（编号97-2）杂交后代10个单株和“京秀”ד香妃”（编号97-3）杂交后代10个单株成熟期和延迟采收期的糖酸组分含量进行测定，以了解葡萄浆果延迟采收内在品质的变化差异。第二年 对可长期挂果的亲本“京秀”、“亚历山大”和杂交后代单株“97-2-23”、“97-2-24”成熟期和延迟采收期糖酸组分动态变化进行测定，以了解葡萄浆果糖酸品质延迟采收期的动态变化规律。同时对以上四个单株的浆果中蔗糖代谢相关酶活性和浆果呼吸强度进行测定，以对不同蔗糖表现型的产生原因进行探讨。研究表明： 葡萄延迟采收，浆果内可溶性糖变化可分为积累型和稳定型两种类型。延迟采收3周，糖积累型的8个单株浆果 可溶性糖显著积累，而稳定型的12个单株的糖与成熟时不存在显著差异。浆果主要积累果糖和葡萄糖，这两种糖的 动态变化趋势基本一致，但果糖变化幅度较大。两种类型的有机酸含量在延迟采收期间变化不大，没有显著差异。 糖积累型的“京秀”和“97-2-23”延迟采收期间各蔗糖分解酶（酸性转化酶、中性转化酶、蔗糖合成酶分解方 向）活性持续升高，但糖稳定型的“亚历山大”和“97-2-24”延迟采收第3周时急剧降低。此外，果实成熟和延迟 采收期间两种糖表现型浆果的呼吸速率也存在差异。浆果的蔗糖分解酶活性和呼吸速率存在的差异可能是两种类型 延迟采收期间糖含量存在差异的重要原因。

Meiothermus rosaceus sp nov isolated from Tengchong hot spring in Yunnan, China

A rosy-pigmented Gram-negative, thermophilic bacterium with an optimum growth temperature of about 55degreesC was isolated from Tengchong hot springs in Yunnan province, China. Its growth scarcely occurred below 40degreesC or above 70degreesC. Phylogenetic and secondary structural analyses of 16S rRNA and DNA-DNA hybridization showed that the organism represented a new species of the genus Meiothermus. This new species could be distinguished easily from other species of the genus Meiothermus by the following phenotypic characteristics: rosy pigment, expanded body, sucrose and maltose were not utilized, gelatin and starch were not hydrolyzed. On the basis of the above data, the name Meiothermus rosaceus sp. nov. was proposed for the species represented by the strain RH9901(T)(CCTCC-AB200291). (C) 2002 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Outer membrane proteins induced by iron deficiency in Anabaena sp PCC 7120

Iron deficiency can induce cyanobacteria to synthesize siderophore receptor proteins on the outer membrane to enhance the uptake of iron. In this study, an outer membrane of high purity was prepared from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 based on aqueous polymer two-phase partitioning and discontinuous sucrose density ultra-centrifugation, and the induction of outer membrane proteins by iron deficiency was investigated using 2-D gel electrophoresis. At least. five outer membrane proteins were newly synthesized or significantly up-regulated in cells transferred to iron-deficient conditions, which were all identified to be siderophore receptor proteins according to MALDI-TOF-MS analyses. Bacterial luciferase reporter genes luxAB were employed to monitor the transcription of the encoding genes. The genes were induced by iron deficiency at the transcriptional level in different responsive modes. Luciferase activity expressed from an iron-regulated promoter may be used as a bioreporter for utilizable iron in natural water samples. (C) 2009 National Natural Science Foundation of China and Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Limited and Science in China Press. All rights reserved.

Effects of Organic-Rich Sediment and Below-Ground Sulfide Exposure on Submerged Macrophyte, Hydrilla verticillata

The effects of organic-rich sediment and sulfide exposure on Hydrilla verticillata were investigated. The organic richness of sediment was simulated by adding sucrose into sediments, and sulfide exposure was conducted by adding sodium sulfide to plant roots. The length, biomass and density of shoot reduced in the sucrose-amended sediments, and the largest reduction occurred in the highest 1.0% addition treatment by 84.2%, 56.7% and 92.4%, respectively. However, the 0.1% addition treatment stimulated the growth of root. The effects of below-ground sulfide exposure on the physiological activities of H. verticillata were determined by adding sulfide to the below-ground tissue. Significantly inhibitory effects of sulfide were observed on plant photosynthesis, root carbohydrate and nitrogen synthetic reserves. The net photosynthetic rates, soluble carbohydrate and soluble protein contents in root were reduced by 104%, 71.8% and 49.8%, respectively, in the 0.6 mM sulfide treatment.

Effects of sediment anoxia and light on turion germination and early growth of Potamogeton crispus

Potamogeton crispus is a cosmopolitan aquatic species and is widely used as a pioneer species for vegetation restoration of eutrophic lakes. However, many restoration projects applying P. crispus turions have not been successful. Earlier studies focused on effects of light and temperature on turion germination. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sediment anoxia and light interactively affected the turion germination and early growth of P. crispus. Anoxic conditions in the experiment were produced by adding sucrose to the sediment. The germination rate of the turions was 68-73% lower in the highly anoxic condition treatment than in the control. Medium light intensity (10% of natural light at the water surface) was more favorable for germination under slightly anoxic conditions than either low or high light intensity. The growth of newly-formed sprouts was also significantly inhibited by sediment anoxia. Photosynthesis and shoot biomass were reduced under sediment anoxia, whereas total chlorophyll content, root biomass, and soluble protein content were highest in the low anoxic condition treatment. Medium light improved net photosynthesis and biomass production of the sprouts. We conclude that turion germination and sprout growth can be significantly inhibited by sediment anoxia. Medium light intensity may alleviate this inhibition by anoxia, but light has little effect when sediment anoxia is severe. For the purposes of vegetation restoration, more attention should be paid to the role of sediment anoxia, and it is necessary to improve sediment and light conditions for turion germination and early growth of P. crispus in eutrophic lakes. These results will contribute to a more complete understanding of turion germination dynamics of P. crispus and will be useful for future restoration programs.

UV-B-induced Oxidative Damage and Protective Role of Exopolysaccharides in Desert Cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatus

UV-B-induced oxidative damage and the protective effect of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in Microcoleus vaginatus, a cyanobacterium isolated from desert crust, were investigated. After being irradiated with UV-B radiation, photosynthetic activity (Fv/Fm), cellular total carbohydrates, EPS and sucrose production of irradiated cells decreased, while reducing sugars, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, malondialdehyde (MDA) production and DNA strand breaks increased significantly. However, when pretreated with 100 mg/L exogenous EPS, EPS production in the culture medium of UV-B stressed cells decreased significantly; Fv/Fm, cellular total carbohydrates, reducing sugars and sucrose synthase (SS) activity of irradiated cells increased significantly, while ROS generation, MDA production and DNA strand breaks of irradiated cells decreased significantly. The results suggested that EPS exhibited a significant protective effect on DNA strand breaks and lipid peroxidation by effectively eliminating ROS induced by UV-B radiation in M. vaginatus.

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to spring viraemia of carp virus

Five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against spring viraemia of carp (SVCV0504, isolated from common carp in China) were produced from mice immunized with purified virus preparations. The virion of SVCV contains five structural proteins, representing the nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (M), glycoprotein (G) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (Q. Western blotting analysis revealed that three mAbs (1145, IE10, and 11-17) recognized specifically to a single protein of 47 kDa (N), the mAb 3G4 reacted with, two SVCV0504 proteins of 69 kDa (G) and 47 kDa (N), while the mAb 1A9 reacted with three SVCV0504 proteins of 69 kDa (G), 50 kDa (P), and 47 kDa (N). By indirect ELISA, two mAbs (1H5 and 11-17) showed cross-reactivity with pike fry rhabdovirus (PFRV), but no cross-reactions with the Siniperca chuatsi rhabdovirus (SCRV), Scophthalmus maximus rhabdovirus (SMRV), Paralichthys olivaceus rhabdovirus (PoRV) were demonstrated with the five mAbs. Indirect immunofluorescence showed intense fluorescence in the cytoplasm of the SVCV0504-infected epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells in areas corresponding to the location of granular structures. The sucrose gradient-purified SVCV0504 particles could be detected successfully by these mAbs using immunodot blotting. mAb 1A9 could completely neutralize 100 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective dose) of SVCV0504 at a dilution of 1:8. This is the first report of development of the neutralizing mAbs against SVCV. The mAb 1A9 was analyzed further and could be used to successfully detect viral antigens in the infected-EPC cell cultures or in cryosections from experimentally infected crucian carp (Carassius auratus) by immunohistochemistry assay. Furthermore, a flow cytometry procedure for the detection and quantification of cytoplasmic SVCV0504 in cell cultures was developed with mAb 1A9. At 28 h after inoculation with the virus (0.01 PFU/cell), 10.12% of infected cells could be distinguished from the uninfected cells. These mAbs will be useful in diagnostic test development and pathogenesis studies for fish rhabdovirus. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of salt stress on carbohydrate metabolism in desert soil alga Microcoleus vaginatus Gom.

The effects of salt stress on carbohydrate metabolism in Microcoleus vaginatus Gom., a cyanobacterium isolated from desert algal crusts, were investigated in the present study. Extracellular total carbohydrates and exopolysaccharides (EPS) in the culture medium produced by M. vaginatus increased significantly during the growth phase and reached a maximum during the stationary phase. The production of extracellular carbohydrates also significantly increased under higher salt concentrations, which was attributed to an increase in low molecular weight carbohydrates. In the presence of NaCl, the production of cellular total carbohydrates decreased and photosynthetic activity was impaired, whereas cellular reducing sugars, water-soluble sugars and sucrose content and sucrose phosphate synthase activity increased, reaching a maximum in the presence of 200 mmol/L NaCl. These parameters were restored to original levels when the algae were transferred to a non-saline medium. Sodium and K+ concentrations of stressed cells decreased significantly and H+-ATPase activity increased after the addition of exogenous sucrose or EPS. The results suggest that EPS and sucrose are synthesized to maintain the cellular osmotic equilibrium between the intra- and extracellular environment, thus protecting algal cells from osmotic damage, which was attributed to the selective exclusion of cellular Na+ and K+ by H+-ATPase.

Effect of dietary carbohydrate sources on growth performance and utilization for gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Gunther)

The nutritional function of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides for omnivorous gibel carp and carnivorous Chinese longsnout catfish were investigated and the ability of these two species to utilize carbohydrates was compared. For each species, triplicate groups of fish were assigned to each of five groups of isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets with different carbohydrate sources: glucose, sucrose, dextrin, soluble starch (acid-modified starch) and alpha-cellulose. The carbohydrates were included at 60 g kg(-1) in Chinese longsnout catfish diets and at 200 g kg(-1) in gibel carp diets. A growth trial was carried out in a recirculation system at 27.8 +/- 1.9 degrees C for 8 weeks. The results showed that fish with different food habits showed difference in the utilization of carbohydrate sources. For gibel carp, better specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency (FE) were observed in fish fed diets containing soluble starch and cellulose, but for Chinese longsnout catfish, better SGR and FE were observed in fish fed diets containing dextrin and sucrose. Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter (ADC(d)) and apparent digestibility coefficient of energy (ADC(e)) were significantly affected by dietary carbohydrate sources in gibel carp. ADC(d) and ADC(e) significantly decreased as dietary carbohydrate complexity increased in Chinese longsnout catfish except that glucose diet had medium ADC(d) and ADC(e). In both species, no significant difference of apparent digestibility coefficient of protein was observed between different carbohydrate sources. Dietary carbohydrate sources significantly affected body composition, and liver phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and malic enzyme (ME) activities also varied according to dietary carbohydrate complexity. Fish with different food habits showed different abilities to synthesize liver glycogen, and the liver glycogen content in gibel carp was significantly higher than in Chinese longsnout catfish. The influence of carbohydrate source on gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis was also different in the two fish species.