A method of immersion of panels for ecological studies on marine fouling and boring organisms

The importance of studies on the biology of marine foulers and borers needs no emphasis since they cause damage to submerged wooden structures resulting in considerable economic loss. In order to study their occurrence, settlement and to assess the rate of destruction to timber, several immersion techniques using iron racks, cages and rafts have been adopted. On the east and west coasts of India, at the Marine Centres of Forest Research Institute (Waltair, Madras, Cohin and Bombay) investigations have so far been carried out employing the first two methods.

Extraction and structure elucidation of natural compounds of some gorgonians of the Persian Gulf and also physiological and pharmacological effects of gorgonian extract on some selected organisms

In the present research, investigations were carried out for structure elucidation of natural compounds and also for studing biological and teratogenical effects of two Genus of soft corals named as " Echinogorgia cf. indica" and "Sinularia erecta" in Persian Gulf. First, 350 gr Echinogorgia was extracted by Acetone, then, the extract was separated by ether from aqueos phase to give 4.5 gr oil. The oil eluted with Petrol - ether Et2 o (9:1) which was recovered Linderazulene and it's derivative as purple Cristals (350 mg/ca 0.1 %). In order to determine molecular structure, the Samples were used for spectroscopic method as: H1- NMR , C13- NMR and 2D NMR. Also, for extraction and structure elucidation of natural compounds, the soft coral " sinularia erecta " were used 1187/37 gr and extracted by Aceton. The extract was concentrated and resulting aqueous suspension and extracted by using ether to give 8.41 gr oil. The oil , was Chromatographed on a column of silica gel and some different fractions were gathered. Initial fraction (1-11) which were nonpolar compounds were seprated by GC/MS. Mass spectrum were prepared and much compounds were recognized.

Biodiversity values of different aquatic systems, habitats and organisms in relation to restoration and sustaining of biodiversity

Biodiversity values provide objective data and advice from which policy makes could assess the conservation options and determine optimal policies that would balance the needs of conservation with the socia-economic needs of the people in the area.

Diversity of pigment-protein complexes of photosynthetic organisms.

PS I, PS II and light-harvesting complexes (LHC) in oxygen evolving photosynthetic organisms were reviewed. These organisms include cyanobacteria, red algae, brown algae, diatoms, chrysophytes, dinophytes, xanthophytes, crypophytes, green algae and green plants. The diversity of pigment-protein complexes that fuel the conversion of radiant energy to chemical bond energy was highlighted, and the evolutionary relationships among the LHC structural polypeptides and the characteristics of the fluorescence emission of PS I at 77 K was discussed.

MARINE ORGANISMS ATTACHED TO SEAWEED SURFACES IN JIAOZHOU BAY, CHINA

Scanning electron microscopy of the surfaces of the seaweeds Laminaria japonica, haploid Porphyra yezoensis, Ulva pertusa and the diploid conchocelis of P. yezoensis and P. haitanensis revealed Vibrio and Micrococcus to be abundant on the surfaces of U. pertusa and P. yezoensis. Vibrio, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Corynebacterium and other genera were isolated from the surfaces of L. japonica.

Carbon isotopic studies of individual lipids in organisms from the Nansha sea area, China

Carbon isotopes of individual lipids in typical organisms from the Nansha sea area were measured by the GC-IRMS analytical technique. delta(13)C values of saturated fatty acids in different organisms examined are from -25.6parts per thousand to -29.7parts per thousand with the average values ranging from -26.4parts per thousand to -28.2parts per thousand and the variance range of 11.8parts per thousand, between different organisms is also observed. Unsaturated fatty acids have heavy carbon isotopic compositions and the mean differences of 2.9%.9-6.8parts per thousand compared to the same carbon number saturated fatty acids. delta(13)C values of n-alkanes range from -27.5%o to -29.7parts per thousand and their mean values, ranging from -28.6parts per thousand, to -28.9parts per thousand, are very close in different organisms. The mean difference in delta(13)C between the saturated fatty acids and n-alkanes is only 1.5parts per thousand, indicating that they have similar biosynthetic pathways. The carbon isotopic variations between the different carbon-number lipids are mostly within +/-2.0parts per thousand, reflecting that they experienced a biosynthetic process of the carbon chain elongation. At the same time, the carbon isotopic genetic relationships between the biological and sedimentary lipids are established by comparative studies of carbon isotopic compositions of individual lipids in organisms and sediments from the Nansha sea area, which provides scientific basis for carbon isotopic applied research of individual lipids.

Comparison of effectiveness of different ashing auxiliaries for determination of phosphorus in natural waters, aquatic organisms and sediments by ignition method

An improved method for the determination of phosphorus in natural waters, aquatic organisms and sediments by ignition method is proposed. The recoveries of phosphorus (P) from selected inorganic and organic P-containing compound standards after ignition with different auxiliaries, such as MgSO4, Mg(NO3)(2), MgO2, Mg(Ac-2) and CaCl2, were compared. We found that the phosphorus from most compound standards could not be completely recovered when these compounds were ignited (450-500degreesC) with the MgSO4 as auxiliary and the baked residue was extracted with 0.2 mol l(-1) HCl for 30min at 80degreesC or at room temperature. P recoveries, for example, were poor, less than 85%, if pyrophosphate and metaphosphate were ignited with the addition Of MgSO4 prior to the extraction of the baked residue with 0.2 mol l(-1) HCl at 80degreesC for 30 min. In contrast, MgO2, Mg(Ac)(2) and CaCl2, as well as Mg(NO3)(2), could all yield complete P recoveries at routine ashing temperatures (450-500degreesC). The results demonstrate that MgC12 is a more effective auxiliary agent for the determination of phosphorus in natural waters, aquatic organisms and sediments by ignition method than MgSO4 which is commonly used. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clay surface modification and its coagulation of red tide organisms

Surface modification of montmorillonite by means of Mg2+ insertion reaction has been studied and a positively charged montmorillonite has been prepared. The effects of preparation temperature and Mg2+ concentration on the positive charge property of the clay and on the clay coagulating Heterosigma akashiwo have been studied. The results showed that the modified clay enhanced the coagulation and the used amount decreased to 1/5-1/10 of the original. The removal rates of Heterosigma akashiwo were correlated positively with positive charge on the clay in accordance with theoretical model.

Proteomic approaches to environmental stress in mussel Mytilus edulis due to emerging classes of anthropogenic pollutants

Anthropogenic pollutant chemicals pose a major threat to aquatic organisms. There is a need for more research on emerging categories of environmental chemicals such as nanomaterials, endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals. Proteomics offers options and advantages for early warning of alterations in environmental quality by detecting sub-lethal changes in sentinel species such as the mussel, Mytilus edulis. This thesis aimed to compare the potential of traditional biomarkers (such as enzyme activity measurement) and newer redox proteomic approaches. Environmental proteomics, especially a redox proteomics toolbox, may be a novel way to study pollutant effects on organisms which can also yield information on risks to human health. In particular, it can probe subtle biochemical changes at sub-lethal concentrations and thus offer novel insights to toxicity mechanisms. In the first instance, the present research involved a field-study in three stations in Cork Harbour, Ireland (Haulbowline, Ringaskiddy and Douglas) compared to an outharbour control site in Bantry Bay, Ireland. Then, further research was carried out to detect effects of anthropogenic pollution on selected chemicals. Diclofenac is an example of veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, an emerging category of chemical pollutants, with potential to cause serious toxicity to non-target organisms. A second chemical used for this study was copper which is a key source of contamination in marine ecosystems. Thirdly, bisphenol A is a major anthropogenic chemical mainly used in polycarbonate plastics manufacturing that is widespread in the environment. It is also suspected to be an endocrine disruptor. Effects on the gill, the principal feeding organ of mussels, were investigated in particular. Effects on digestive gland were also investigated to compare different outcomes from each tissue. Across the three anthropogenic chemicals studied (diclofenac, copper and bisphenol A), only diclofenac exposure did not show any significant difference towards glutathione transferase (GST) responses. Meanwhile, copper and bisphenol A significantly increased GST in gill. Glutathione reductase (GR) enzyme analysis revealed that all three chemicals have significant responses in gill. Catalase activity showed significant differences in digestive gland exposed to diclofenac and gills exposed to bisphenol A. This study focused then on application of redox proteomics; the study of the oxidative modification of proteins, to M. edulis. Thiol proteins were labelled with 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein prior to one-dimensional and two-dimensional electrophoresis. This clearly revealed some similarities on a portion of the redox proteome across chemical exposures indicating where toxicity mechanism may be common and where effects are unique to a single treatment. This thesis documents that proteomics is a robust tool to provide valuable insights into possible mechanisms of toxicity of anthropogenic contaminants in M. edulis. It is concluded that future research should focus on gill tissue, on protein thiols and on key individual proteins discovered in this study such as calreticulin and arginine kinase which have not previously been considered as biomarkers in aquatic toxicology prior to this study.

Identification of ribosomal proteins specific to higher eukaryotic organisms

This report describes the identification of a novel protein named PS1D (Genbank accession number ), which is composed of an S1-like RNA-binding domain, a (cysteine)x3-(histidine) CCCH-zinc finger, and a very basic carboxyl domain. PS1D is expressed as two isoforms, probably resulting from the alternative splicing of mRNA. The long PS1D isoform differs from the short one by the presence of 48 additional amino acids at its amino-terminal extremity. Analysis of PS1D subcellular distribution by cell fractionation reveals that this protein belongs to the core of the eukaryotic 60S ribosomal subunit. Interestingly, PS1D protein is a highly conserved protein among mammalians as murine, human, and simian PS1D homologues share more than 95% identity. In contrast, no homologous protein is found in lower eukaryotes such as yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans. These observations indicate that PS1D is the first eukaryotic ribosomal protein that is specific to higher eukaryotes.

A computational analysis of antisense off-targets in prokaryotic organisms

© 2014 .The adoption of antisense gene silencing as a novel disinfectant for prokaryotic organisms is hindered by poor silencing efficiencies. Few studies have considered the effects of off-targets on silencing efficiencies, especially in prokaryotic organisms. In this computational study, a novel algorithm was developed that determined and sorted the number of off-targets as a function of alignment length in Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. The mean number of off-targets per a single location was calculated to be 14.1. ±. 13.3 and 36.1. ±. 58.5 for the genomes of E. coli K-12 MG1655 and M. tuberculosis H37Rv, respectively. Furthermore, when the entire transcriptome was analyzed, it was found that there was no general gene location that could be targeted to minimize or maximize the number of off-targets. In an effort to determine the effects of off-targets on silencing efficiencies, previously published studies were used. Analyses with acpP, ino1, and marORAB revealed a statistically significant relationship between the number of short alignment length off-targets hybrids and the efficacy of the antisense gene silencing, suggesting that the minimization of off-targets may be beneficial for antisense gene silencing in prokaryotic organisms.

Heavy metals in the Fal estuary, Cornwall: A study of long term contamination by mining waste and its effects on estuarine organisms. Occasional Publication of the Marine Biological Association 2

The Fal Estuary System in West Cornwall has, over many centuries, received inputs of heavy metals from various mining activities. In this context its most important tributary is the Carnon River. Analyses of organisms from the Fal Estuary have shown that some species contain abnormally high concentrations of Cu, Zn and As, especially those living in Restronguet Creek.