Characterization, structure and function of linker polypeptides in phycobilisomes of cyanobacteria and red algae: An overview

Cyanobacteria and red algae have intricate light-harvesting systems comprised of phycobilisomes that are attached to the outer side of the thylakoid membrane. The phycobilisomes absorb light in the wavelength range of 500-650 nm and transfer energy to the chlorophyll for photosynthesis. Phycobilisomes, which biochemically consist of phycobiliproteins and linker polypeptides, are particularly wonderful subjects for the detailed analysis of structure and function due to their spectral properties and their various components affected by growth conditions. The linker potypeptides are believed to mediate both the assembly of phycobiliproteins into the highly ordered arrays in the phycobilisomes and the interactions between the phycobilisomes and the thylakoid membrane. Functionally, they have been reported to improve energy migration by regulating the spectral characteristics of colored phycobiliproteins. In this review, the progress regarding linker polypeptides research, including separation approaches, structures and interactions with phycobiliproteins, as well as their functions in the phycobilisomes, is presented. In addition, some problems with previous work on linkers are also discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isolation of PSI from a siphonous marine green alga, Codium fragile

Three different forms of PS I complexes were isolated from a siphonous marine green alga, Codium fragile, by Triton X-100 sucrose gradient centrifugation. Zone III had a Chl a/b>20, and designated as PS I. core complex CC I because it created only CP I band in mild PAGE. Zone IV and V had absorption at 436 and 674 nm, 467 and 650 nm, and 540 nm, suggesting the presence of Chl a, Chl b, siphonaxanthin and siphonein, Chl a/b were 3.23 and 2.4, respectively. Both CP I and CP I a bands were observed when they were subjected to mild PAGE. Therefore, Zone IV and V were different forms of PS I complexes that consisted of CC I and different amount of light-harvesting complex LHC I. Zone III contained only 66 and 56 ku peptides in SDS-PAGE, while Zone IV and V had 4 different LHC I peptides of 25, 26, 26.2 and 27.5 ku in addition to 66, 56 ku peptides. Fluorescence emission spectra showed that efficient energy transfer were kept among pigments in isolated PS I complexes. Excitation energy absorbed by Chl b, siphonaxanthin and siphonein can be transferred to Chl a.

Radiolarian distribution in surface sediments of the northern and central South China Sea

Radiolarian distribution in surface sediments of 104 stations from northern and central South China Sea show that the abundance and diversity of radiolarians increase with the water depth and are related to radiolarian concentrations from the water column, diminished terrigenous input, variability in calcareous shell content and the rate of silica and carbonate dissolution in the deep sea. According to the appearances of individual species in surface sediments at particular depths, seven faunal boundaries distribution are recognized at water depths of 100, 450, 650, 1000, 1200, 1400 and 2500 m. Four radiolarian assemblages in the sediments were identified by applying clustering procedures. Geographic distributions of these four assemblages coincide with present-day hydrologic features of the surface waters in this area.

Large-scale recovery of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis using expanded bed adsorption chromatography

C-phycocyanin was purified on a large scale by a combination of expanded bed adsorption, anion-exchange chromatography and hydroxyapatite chromatography from inferior Spirulina platensis that cannot be used for human consumption. First, phycobiliproteins were extracted by a simple, scaleable method and then were recovered by Phenyl-Sepharose chromatography in an expanded bed column. The purity (the A(620)/A(280) ratio) of C-phycocyanin isolated with STREAMLINE (TM) Column was up to 2.87, and the yield was as high as 31 mg/g of dried S. platensis. After the first step, we used conventional anion-exchange chromatography for the purification steps, with a yield of 7.7 mg/g of dried S. platensis at a purity greater than 3.2 and with an A(620)/A(650) index higher than 5.0. The fractions from anion-exchange chromatography with a level of purity that did not conform to the above standard were subjected to hydroxyapatite chromatography, with a C-PC yield of 4.45 mg/g of dried S. platensis with a purity greater than 3.2. The protein from both purification methods showed one absolute absorption peak at 620 nm and a fluorescence maximum at 650 nm, which is consistent with the typical spectrum of C-phycocyanin. SDS-PAGE gave two bands corresponding to 21 and 18 kDa. In-gel digestion and LC-ESI-MS showed that the protein is C-phycocyanin. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genetic transformation in Kappaphycus alvarezii using micro-particle bombardment: a potential strategy for germplasm improvement

This study investigated the delivery of a SV40 promoter driving lacZ gene into cells of Kappaphycus alvarezii using particle bombardment. Thallus pieces 0.5-0.8 mm in diameter and 1 cm in length were prepared as gene recipients. Bombardment parameters of 450 psi (rupture pressures) x 6 cm (particle travel distances), 650 psi x 6 cm, 1,100 psi x 6 cm and 1,100 psi x 9 cm were used. A significant increase in transformation efficiency from about 33% under the rupture pressure of 450 psi to 87% at 650 psi was observed in transformed thalli. Most of the positive cells appeared in epidermal cells bombarded at 450 psi, whereas positive signals were seen in both epidermal and medullary cells at 650 psi. No positive transient expression was detected at a bombardment of 1,100 psi, or in negative or blank controls. For the conditions tested, the best parameter was obtained at 650 psi at a distance of 6 cm. Thus, the strategy of taking vegetative thalli as recipients, using particle bombardment, and combining this with micro-propagation, together with developing an in vivo selectable marker, is a viable way to produce stable transformants, to eliminate chimeric expression, and to achieve transgenic breeding in K. alvarezii.

Characteristics of water exchange in the Luzon Strait during September 2006

The Luzon Strait is the only deep channel that connects the South China Sea (SCS) with the Pacific. The transport through the Luzon Strait is an important process influencing the circulation, heat and water budgets of the SCS. Early observations have suggested that water enters the SCS in winter but water inflow or outflow in summer is quite controversial. On the basis of hydrographic measurements from CTD along 120 degrees E in the Luzon Strait during the period from September 18 to 20 in 2006, the characteristics of temperature, salinity and density distributions are analyzed. The velocity and volume transport through the Luzon Strait are calculated using the method of dynamic calculation. The major observed results show that water exchanges are mainly from the Pacific to the South China Sea in the upper layer, and the flow is relatively weak and eastward in the deeper layer. The net volume transport of the Luzon Strait during the observation period is westward, amounts to about 3.25 Sv. This result is consistent with historical observations.

东中国海波候对局地气候变化的响应研究

波候研究对于解释全球气候变化的内在物理机制，理解全球气候变化后人们的生产、生活环境由此而产生的相关变化都具有重要的现实意义。 本文利用了欧洲中尺度气象中心（ECMWF）所提供的最新的近45年（1957-2002）全球同化资料集，该资料集提供每天4次天气尺度的环境要素信息。本研究从中提取海面矢量风场信息，并以此来驱动第三代海洋波浪模式WAVEWATCH-III v2.22，从而构建了历时45年的西北太平洋地区的波候资料。 使用日本气象厅（Japan Meteorological Agency）所提供的B22001号浮标的实地观测资料，以及美国的TOPEX/POSEIDON 卫星高度计资料对本研究通过数值模拟所获取的波候资料进行验证，发现通过这一方法所重建的历史波候资料完全满足对东中国海波候状况进行分析的精度要求。通过参考前人的研究成果，本研究所获取的波候时间序列满足对气候问题进行评估时所必需的数据序列一致性的基本要求，可以用于长时间序列的分析。 运用经验正交函数（empirical orthogonal function，EOF）分析方法，本研究提取了东中国海地区的极值波高的分布特征。根据分析结果，本研究将时间序列分成“1977年前”和“1977年后”两段，并据此比较两段的变化特征。研究发现，东中国海北部地区（黄海）的极值波高在最近45年内存在缓慢的衰减现象，导致这一现象的原因主要是由于该地区的东亚夏季风正在慢慢减弱。而东中国海南部的极值波高在最近45年内则存在增强的现象，这主要是由于活跃在西北太平洋上的热带气旋正在慢慢加强，由于这些热带气旋所产生的涌浪对东中国近海的影响也在慢慢加深。 通过将本研究的研究成果和前人的成果进行对比，我们不难发现：西北太平洋地区热带气旋活动的增强已经是一个比较普遍接受的事实，而这一变化对东中国近海所能构成的影响范围足以影响到整个东中国海的中南部地区。而东亚季风减弱对东中国海波候所造成的影响，也从另一个角度提示我们，从能量的角度重新审视全球气候变化的内在物理机制或许是非常必要的。

The nitrogen isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate in the Yangtze River (Changjiang) estuary, China

The nitrogen isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate (delta N-15-NO3-) in surface water of the Yangtze River estuary was determined in four seasons of 2006. delta N-15-NO3- ranged from 0.4 parts per thousand to 6.5 parts per thousand and varied with seasons and geographic regions, reflecting the dynamics of nitrogen cycling in the estuarine ecosystem. delta N-15-NO3- was markedly lower in February than in other seasons and exhibited conservative mixing, which was probably attributed to the NO3- being sourced from the atmospheric deposition and agricultural fertilizer. In the upper estuary, the influence of riverine inputs was important during all surveys. in the turbidity maximum zone, nitrification was found with nitrate depleted in N-15 in May, whereas denitrification resulting in heavy delta N-15-NO3- played an important role in August. More enriched delta N-15-NO3- values coinciding with losses of nitrate concentrations based on the conservative mixing model were found in the adjacent marine area in May, and may reflect obvious phytoplankton assimilation of dissolved nitrate. In this manner, delta N-15-NO3- may be a sensitive indicator of nitrogen sources and biogeochemical processing existing in this estuary in conjunction with the variations of dissolved nitrate and other environmental factors. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vivo antitumor and immunomodulation activities of different molecular weight Lambda-Carrageenans from Chondrus ocellatus

lambda-Carrageenan is a sulfated galactan isolated from some red algae and have been reported to have many kinds of biological activities. lambda-Carrageenan from Chondrus ocellatus, an important economic alga in China and many other parts of the world, was degraded by microwave, and obtained five products that have different molecular weight: 650, 240, 140, 15, 9.3 kDa. Analytical results confirmed that microwave degradation might not change the chemical components and structure of polysaccharides under certain condition. In this study, tumor-inhibiting activities, weight of immune organ, nature killer cells activity, lymphocyte proliferation ratio and pathological slice of spleen and tumor cells from the control group and lambda-carrageenan-treated mice of transplanted S 180 and H22 tumor were investigated. The results indicated that the five lambda-carrageenan samples all showed antitumor and immunomodulation activities in different degree. Molecular weight of polysaccharides had notable effect on the activities. In addition, their antitumor and immunomodulation have some relevance and the five lambda-carrageenans probably inhibited tumor by means of activating the immunocompetence of the body. Among all the experiment results, samples with the highest activities are PC4 and PC5 whose molecular weight are 15 and 9.3 kDa. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

大鸨生长期能量代谢和蛋白质沉积量的初步研究

对不同日龄笼养大鸨(Otis tarda)的能量代谢和蛋白质沉积量进行研究.结果表明,50日龄、70日龄、300日龄和400日龄雄性大鸨的能量日摄入量分别为1 498.9 kJ、2 376.2 kJ、2 397.4 kJ和2 465.9 kJ;能量代谢率分别为82.3%、81.8%、81.8%和83.1%;蛋白质的日沉积量分别为5.8 g、13.4 g、15.8 g和13.5 g. 表3 参9

An inventory of forest relicts in the pastures of Southern Tibet (Xizang AR, China)

An inventory of isolated tree stands surrounded by desert pastures in Southern Tibet (A.R. Xizang, China) revealed more than 50 sites with vigorous trees of Juniperus convallium Rehder & E.H. Wilson and Juniperus tibetica Kom and additional more than 10 records where juniper trees had been destroyed between 1959-1976. The tree stands are not restricted to any specific habitat, and occur within an area stretching 650 km westwards from the current forest border of Southern Tibet. The trees are religious landmarks of the Tibetan Buddhists. The highest trees were found at an elevation of 4,860 m. Vegetation records, rainfall correlations and temperature data collected by local climate stations and successful reforestation trials since 1999 indicate that forest relicts fragmented through human interference could regenerate if current cattle grazing and deforestation practices are halted. The drought line of Juniperus forests in Southern Tibet is approximately 200-250 mm/a. A first pollen diagram from Lhasa shows forest decline associated with the presence of humans since at least 4,600 yr BP. The currently degraded commons developed in the last 600 yr. To date, no findings of remains of ancient forests in the Central Tibetan Highlands of the Changtang have been reported.

元谋盆地河湖相沉积记录的上新世印度季风转型事件

The Indian monsoon, an integral part of the global climate system, has been extensively investigated during the past decades. Most of the proxy records are derived from marine sediments and focused on time periods of the late Miocene and Pleistocene. The Pliocene represents a period when Earth’s boundary conditions underwent dramatic changes. However, variations of the Indian monsoon during the Pliocene and its forcing mechanisms have remained unclear. The Yuanmou Basin, located in the region of the Indian monsoon, provides an ideal target for understanding the Pliocene history of Indian monsoon variations. Detailed investigations on the lithostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and limnology of a 650-m-thick fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary sequence from the basin are carried out in the present study. The clay and clay-plus-fine-silt fractions of the sediments are referred to the midlake-facies components, and changes in the percentages of both fractions generally reflect changes in the water level of the lakes developed in the basin closely related to variations in the intensity of the Indian monsoon. Whereas the greenish-gray lacustrine mud beds represent the environment of deep-water lakes, and the frequency of individual lacustrine mud beds is considered to indicate the frequency of the deep-water lakes developed in the basin associated with the variability of the Indian monsoon. The proxy data suggest that the Indian monsoon experienced abrupt shifts at 3.53, 3.14, 2.78 and 2.42 Ma, respectivey. 1) Since 3.53 Ma, the midlake-facies components displayed a general trend of increase in the concentrations, accompanied by an increase in the sedimentation rate from an average ~10 to 25 cm ka–1. The data suggest that high stands of the lakes in the basin rose progressively, implying a gradual intensification of the Indian monsoon since that time. This shift occurred coeval with the accelerated uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau, denoting a close link between the Indian monsoon strengthening and the Tibetan Plateau uplifting. 2) 2.78 Ma ago, the concentrations of the midlake-facies components decreased abruptly and the dominant fraction of the sediments turned to fluvial sands. The data indicate that lakes in the basin disappeared, reflecting a dramatic decline in the intensity of the Indian monsoon at that time. This shift coincided with the formation of extensive Northern Hemisphere ice sheets, implying a quick response of the low-latitude monsoon regime to the high-latitude glaciation. 3) At 3.14 Ma, the initial appearance of blackish-grey mud beds with long durations and occasional occurrences of lacustrine mud beds indicate that the basin was overall dominated by shallow lakes, implying a shift to decreased variability of the Indian monsoon at that time. At 2.42 Ma, an increase in the frequency and a decrease in the duration of the lacustrine mud beds suggest that deep-water lakes were frequently developed in the basin, denoting a shift to increased variability of the Indian monsoon at that time. The former shift coincides with the onset of large-scale glaciation in the circum Atlantic region and the latter corresponds to the inception of predominance of the 41 ka periodicity in Northern Hemisphere ice-sheet cover fluctuations, presumably suggesting a physical link between the Indian monsoon system and the high-latitude ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere.

内蒙古白云鄂博超大型REE-Nb-Fe矿床脉状矿化时代与成矿流体特征

Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe ore deposit is the largest REE deposit in the world. Owing to its unique type and tremendous economic value, this deposit has widely attracted interests from geological researchers and vast amount of scientific data have been accumulated. However, its genesis, especially ore-forming age and REE sources, have been under dispute for a long time. On the basis of previous research works, this paper mainly conducts studies on the Early Paleozoic ore-forming event in the Bayan Obo deposit. The following results and conclusions can be suggested: Sm-Nd isotopic analytical results of bastnaesite, beloeilite, albite and fluorite samples from a coarse-crystalline ore lode present an isochron age of 436±35Ma. Besides, Rb-Sr isotope dating of the coarse-crystalline biotite lode that intruded into banded ores gives an isochron age of 459±39Ma. The two ages verify the exist of Early Paleozoic ore-forming event at Bayan Obo, which characterized by extensive netted mineralization of REE fluorocarbonates, aeschynite and monazite, accompanied by widely fluorite-riebeckite-aegirine-apatite alteration. Sr-Nd isotope composition of vein minerals is located between EMI and ancient lower crust component in the ISr(t)-εNd(t) correlation diagram, indicating that there is a crustal contamination during veined mineralization. A large area late Paleozoic granitoids are distributed in the southeast region of east open pit of the mine. The granitoids intruded directly into the ore-bearing dolomite, and produced intense skarnization. Moreover, at 650-660m of the drill core on 22 line and 1598m level flat in the south of East Open Pit, we firstly found skarnization rocks. Single grain and low background Rb-Sr isochrone dating on phlogopite in skarn gives 309±12Ma. Considering the intruded contacting relationship, the late Paleozoic granitoids, already extended to the under part of REE ore bodies, must be posterior to the latest intense REE mineralization, and is only a destructive tectonic and magmatic activity. Fluid inclusion types of fluorite in the Bayan Obo deposit consist of multiphase daughter mineral-bearing inclusion, two or three phase CO2-bearing inclusion and two phase aqueous inclusion. Petrography, laser Raman analysis and microthermometry study indicate that the fluids involving in REE-Nb-Fe mineralization at Bayan Obo might be mainly of H2O-CO2-NaCl-(F-REE) system. The presence of REE-carbonate as a daughter mineral in fluid inclusions shows that the original ore-forming fluids are rich in REE elements.

芙蓉锡矿田骑田岭花岗岩黑云母矿物化学组成及其对锡成矿的指示意义

芙蓉锡矿田骑田岭复式岩体主要由早阶段角闪石黑云母花岗岩和晚阶段黑云母花岗岩组成.电子探针分析结果表明角闪石黑云母花岗岩中的黑云母属于铁黑云母,黑云母花岗岩中的黑云母属于铁叶云母.相对于黑云母花岗岩,角闪石黑云母花岗岩中黑云母的MgO、TiO2含量偏高,Al2O3含量偏低.矿物化学研究结果显示,角闪石黑云母花岗岩中黑云母的结晶温度、氧逸度(logfO2)分别为680℃～740℃、-16.00～-15.31,黑云母花岗岩中黑云母的结晶温度、氧逸度分别为530℃～650℃、-19.20～-17.50.从角闪石黑云母花岗岩到黑云母花岗岩,岩浆结晶温度和氧逸度逐渐降低.与花岗岩有关的共存流体性质的研究发现,与角闪石黑云母花岗岩共存的热液流体log(fH2O/fHF)fluid,log(fH2O/fHCl)fluid,log(fHF/fHCl)fiuid值分别为4.22～4.39,2.78～3.24,-1.82～-1.73,而与黑云母花岗岩共存的热液流体log(fH2O/fHF)fluid,log(fH2OfHCl)fluid,log(fHF/fHCl)fluid值分别为3.27～3.53,2.85～3.22,-0.75～-0.22,可见与两种岩石类型共存热液流体的性质存在明显差异,且热液中Cl、Sn含量变化与岩浆结晶分异指数呈正相关关系.骑田岭岩体从角闪石黑云母花岗岩到黑云母花岗岩,随着岩浆的演化.岩浆结晶期后分异出的热液流体向富Cl和Sn方向演化.芙蓉锡矿田的成矿流体应主要来源于黑云母花岗岩岩浆结晶期后分异出的岩浆热液.