海洋红藻多管藻和松节藻的化学成分及抗氧化活性研究

海洋生物具有产生丰富多样的次生代谢产物的能力，其中红藻门松节藻科海藻卤代次生代谢产物以其结构新颖、生物活性独特引起了天然产物化学家的重视。 本论文对海洋红藻多管藻和松节藻进行了化学成分研究，综合利用各种色谱学方法 (硅胶柱层析、反相硅胶柱层析、凝胶Sephadex LH-20柱层析、半制备高效液相色谱以及重结晶等) 和现代波谱学技术 (IR、UV、EI-MS、FAB-MS、HR-ESI-MS、CD、1H-NMR、13C-NMR、DEPT、1H-1H COSY、HSQC、HMBC等)，共分离鉴定了100个化合物，发现25个新化合物。 从多管藻中分离鉴定38个化合物 (24个溴酚化合物)，其中7个新化合物 (均为溴酚化合物)，包括1个菲并呋喃结构溴酚 (P1), 2个二氢菲结构溴酚 (P2, P3)，1个含 5,7-dihydrodibenzo[c,e]oxepine 结构溴酚 (P4)和3个简单溴酚 (P5, P6, P7)。P1 (urceolatin) 属首例报道的具有菲并呋喃结构的天然产物，从该种中分离的化合物P12 和 P13 可能是其生源合成的前体。P2和P3为第二例报道的具有二氢菲结构的溴酚化合物。 从松节藻中分离并鉴定了62 个化合物，其中18 个为溴酚类新化合物，44 个为已知化合物。化合物具有多变的取代基团，包括2 个脲基吡咯烷酮溴酚化合物 (R1, R2), 4 个γ-脲基丁酸溴酚化合物 (R3-R6)，5 个酰胺溴酚化合物 (R7, R8, R9, R13, R14)，1 个溴酚砜化合物 (R12), 1 个Xanthene 溴酚化合物 (R10)和5 个简单溴酚化合物 (R11, R15, R16, R17, R18)。R1、R2 是首例报道的含有脲基吡咯烷酮片段的天然产物，R10 为首次报道的溴代Xanthene 类天然产物。 对分离到的化合物进行了清除DPPH 和ABTS两种自由基活性的筛选。结果发现溴酚类天然产物具有显著的DPPH自由基清除活性，其中R3 的IC50 仅为3.3 μM, 其活性强度约为阳性对照BHT (IC50 为82.1 μM) 的24倍。另外，溴酚类天然产物对ABTS自由基有较强的清除活性，R2 的TEAC（Trolox efficency activity capacity）值为5.2 mM，约为阳性对照 (ascorbic acid, 1.02 mM) 的 5 倍。初步的构效关系研究发现，稠环分子、多羟基和邻位甲氧基等结构特点能有效增强DPPH 自由基清除活性；特殊取代基如脲基、吡咯烷酮等含有氮原子的基团，能有效增强ABTS 自由基清除活性，多羟基、溴代等结构特点也使其活性有所增强。 本研究结果丰富了海藻卤代化合物的结构类型，为多管藻和松节藻的合理利用提供了一定的科学依据。

黄槿内生真菌赤散囊菌及红海榄的次生代谢产物及其生物活性研究

由于生长环境的特殊性，红树林及其内生真菌的代谢产物在化学类型和生物活性方面都具有多样性，因此对其代谢产物的研究引起了人们越来越多的关注。本论文以菌丝体生物量、代谢产物量等指标及薄层色谱分析、高效液相色谱分析、抗菌活性测试等筛选手段对来源于我国海南红树植物的九株内生真菌在四种不同液体培养基上的静置发酵产物进行了综合评价，并从中选择了来源于半红树植物黄槿（Hibiscus tiliaceus）的内生真菌G2——赤散囊菌（Eurotium rubrum）进行了30 L规模发酵（采用PDB培养基）和次生代谢产物的研究，对分离得到的部分化合物进行了初步的生物活性评价。此外，本论文还对海南真红树植物红海榄（Rhizophora stylosa Griff.）的化学成分进行了研究，并对分离得到的部分化合物进行了二苯代苦味酰自由基（DPPH）清除活性的评价。 采用常规的硅胶柱层析、Sephadex LH-20柱层析、反相硅胶柱层析、制备薄层层析（pTLC）、重结晶等分离手段，分离纯化得到单体化合物。综合运用现代波谱技术 (IR、UV、MS、1D-NMR 和 2D-NMR) 以及与标准品或文献比对鉴定单体化合物的结构。从G2菌丝体和发酵液的合并提取物中鉴定了45个化合物的结构，其中13个为新化合物，结构类型包括6个苯甲醛类化合物（ER1*~ER6*）、4个蒽醌类化合物（ER15*~ ER18*）和3个含吲哚的二酮哌嗪生物碱类化合物（ER27*~ER29*）。 对以上分离鉴定的部分单体化合物进行了DPPH自由基清除活性、拒食杀虫活性、抗细菌活性以及体外细胞毒活性的初步评价。新化合物ER15*和三个已知化合物ER20、ER39和ER40都表现很强的DPPH自由基清除活性。化合物ER15*还表现较好的拒食杀虫活性，而化合物ER5*和ER18*不但没有杀虫活性，反而能促进幼虫的生长。所测试的化合物只有ER15*和ER18*表现出微弱的抗金黄色葡萄球菌活性。所测试的化合物对A-549、HL-60和P-388细胞株均未表现出有意义的体外细胞毒活性。 从红海榄枝条的提取物中分离鉴定了29个化合物，其中2个为新化合物，包括1个三萜酯（RS1*）和1个黄烷醇类化合物（RS12*）；另有1个三萜酯（RS5）和1个黄烷醇类化合物（RS11）作为新的天然产物被分离鉴定。 对从红海榄提取物乙酸乙酯相和正丁醇相分离得到的部分单体化合物进行了DPPH自由基清除活性的研究。黄烷醇类化合物RS16和RS17显示最强的活性。另外，实验结果说明黄烷醇类化合物的DPPH自由基清除活性与其分子中所含的羟基数目有一定关系，而且若芳香环上有多个邻位酚羟基，则该化合物的活性将增强。本论文实验结果为海南红海榄植物资源的利用提供了化学成分及抗氧化活性方面的科学依据。

凹顶藻次级代谢产物及其生物活性和化学分类学研究

本论文对近10年凹顶藻中分离鉴定的146个结构新颖的次级代谢产物及其生物活性和结构鉴定技术进行了总结，并对采自中国沿海的马岛凹顶藻、俯仰凹顶藻、冈村凹顶藻、复生凹顶藻、齐腾凹顶藻、羽枝凹顶藻、三列凹顶藻和似瘤凹顶藻的次级代谢产物进行了提取分离，结构鉴定，生物活性筛选和化学分类学探讨。 干燥并粉碎的8种凹顶藻样品分别进行有机溶剂提取，粗提物进行硅胶柱、凝胶sephadex LH-20柱、制备薄层和高效液相等色谱方法分离纯化得单体化合物，利用核磁共振和质谱等现代谱学技术鉴定化合物的结构，共计分离鉴定139个化合物，其中新化合物33个，新天然产物6个，部分化合物由不同种中多次分离鉴定，结构类型涵盖倍半萜、二萜、三萜、C15-聚乙酰、吲哚和甾体类等，并且大多为卤代结构。 生物活性筛选和文献检索结果表明，8种凹顶藻的部分次级代谢产物，特别是大量存在的卤代化合物，具有抗菌、细胞毒和拒食杀虫等多种生物活性。 化学分类学分析表明，8种凹顶藻的次级代谢产物，特别是丰富的卤代结构，可为其分类学研究提供重要的分子证据。

两株海藻内生真菌次生代谢产物及其生物活性研究

海洋微生物拥有丰富多样的次生代谢途径，其中海洋生物内生真菌次生代谢产物研究日益受到天然产物化学界的重视。本论文以菌丝体生物量、发酵产物重量、抗菌与细胞毒活性、薄层色谱分析结果以及高效液相色谱分析结果等为评价依据对采自青岛沿海的13株海藻内生真菌在四种液体培养基上的静置发酵产物进行了综合评价，并从中选择了黑曲霉Aspergillus niger EN-13（分离自褐藻囊藻Colpomenia sinuosa）和杂色曲霉A. versicolor EN-7（分离自褐藻鼠尾藻Sargassum thunbergii）两株真菌进行了30升规模发酵（分别采用GPYM培养基和PDB培养）和化学成分的研究，对分离得到的大部分化合物进行了初步的生物活性筛选。 发酵提取物采用常规的硅胶柱层析、反相硅胶柱层析，凝胶Sephadex LH-20柱层析、制备薄层层析、半制备高效液相色谱以及重结晶等分离手段，得到单体化合物。利用各种现代波谱技术(IR、UV、EI-MS、FAB-MS、HR-ESI-MS、1H-NMR、13C-NMR、DEPT、1H-1H COSY、HSQC、HMBC等)并结合化学方法从两种菌株发酵提取物中鉴定了55个化合物的结构。其中从菌株A. niger EN-13分离鉴定了31个化合物，发现9个新化合物，包括2个鞘酯类化合物（AN-1~2）、3个萘并-γ-吡喃酮类化合物（AN-3~5）、3个苯乙基取代的α-吡喃酮类化合物（AN-17, AN-19~20）和1个甾体Diels-Alder加成产物（AN-21），另有1个新的天然环二肽（AN-27）被分离鉴定；从菌株A. versicolor EN-7分离鉴定了24个化合物，发现2个新化合物，为蒽醌AV-12与AV-17，另外，从前一菌株（A. niger EN-13）中鉴定的2个新鞘酯类化合物（AN-1~2）在A. versicolor EN-7中也被再次分离到。 对大部分单体化合物进行了抗菌活性、DPPH自由基清除活性和细胞毒活性测试。结果显示新化合物AN-1、AN-5和AN-20具有弱或中等强度的抑制白色念珠菌生长的活性，AN-4、AN-5、AN-21显示了弱或中等强度的抑制黑曲霉生长的活性，AV-12、AV-17显示了弱的抑制大肠杆菌生长的活性。在DPPH自由基清除活性筛选中，AN-5显示了中等强度的活性，其EC50为109.3 mM，与阳性对照BHT相近（EC50为81.8 mM）。其它部分已知化合物在抗菌和DPPH自由基清除活性的筛选中也显示了弱或中等强度的活性。在针对人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721和人肺腺癌细胞株A549的体外细胞毒活性筛选中，所测样品均未显示显著活性。

三种海洋红藻和两株放线菌次级代谢产物研究

海洋是一个巨大的天然产物宝库，约占地球表面积70%的海洋蕴藏着80%的生物资源。由于海洋生态环境的特殊性，导致海洋生物能够产生大量结构独特多变和活性特殊多样的代谢产物。我国海域辽阔，海洋资源丰富，为寻找结构新颖、生理活性独特的先导化合物，加强对海洋资源的开发利用，本论文对中国沿海的三种海洋红藻和两株放线菌次生代谢产物以及生物活性进行研究，为新药研究与开发提供模式结构和药物前体。 对红藻似瘤凹顶藻Laurencia similis乙酸乙酯萃取物进行分离纯化，从中得到单体化合物35个，通过波谱学方法（IR、MS、NMR等）鉴定了他们的结构。分别为：2, 2, 5, 5, 6, 6-sixibromo-3, 3-bi-1H-indole (1)，3,5-dibromo- 1-methyl-indole (2)，3',5',6,6'-tetrabromo-2,4-dimmethyldiphenyl ether (3)，1,2,5- tribromo-3-bromoamino-7-bromomethylnaphthalene (4)，2,5,8-tribromo-3-bromo- amino-7-bromomethylnaphthalene (5)，2,5,6-tribromo-3-bromoamino-7-bromo- methylnaphthalene (6), 2,5,6,5',6'-pentabromo-3,4,3',4'-tetramethoxybenzophenone (7), (4E)-1-bromo-5-[(1'S*,3'R*)-3'-bromo-2',2'-dimethyl-6'-methylenecyclohexyl] -3-methylpent-4-ene-2,3-diol (8)，4-hydroxy-Palisadin C (9)，Isopalisol (10)，Luzonensol (11)，Palisadin B (12)，Aplysistatin (13)，Palisadin A (14)，5-Acetoxypalisadin B (15)，Aristolan-1(10)- en-9-ol (16)，Aristol-8-en-1-one (17)，Aristolan-9-en-1-one (18)，Aristolan-1(10)-en- 9-one (19)，Aristofone (20)，Aristolan-1(10)-8-diene (21)，Aristolan-1,9-diene (22)，10-Hydroxyaristolan-9-one (23)，7,11,15-trimethyl-3-methylene-hexadecan-1,2-diol (24)，3β-Hydroxyergosta- 5,24(28)-dien-7-one (25)，Isofucosterol (26)，β-sitosterol (27)，豆甾-4-烯-3α,6β-二醇 (28)，Cholesta-5-en-3β-ol (29)，Stigmasterol (30)，2,3,5,6-四溴-吲哚 (31)，2,3,6-tribromo-1H-indole (32)，3,5,6-tribromo-1-methylindole (33)，3,5,6-tribromo -1H-indole (34)，2,3,5-tribromo-1-methylindole (35)，其中化合物1-9为新化合物，化合物10-15、20和化合物24-30均为首次从该种海藻中得到。对新化合物1-9进行PTP1B酶抑制剂活性筛选，新化合物1、3、7显示强的PTP1B酶抑制活性。 对红藻齐藤凹顶藻Laurencia saitoi乙酸乙酯萃取物进行分离纯化，从中得到单体化合物11个，通过波谱学方法（IR、MS、NMR等）鉴定了他们的结构，分别为：2-hydroxyl-Luzofuranone (1)，2-hydroxyl-Luzofuranone B (2)，4-hydroxyl-Palisudin C (3)，2-bromo-γ-ionone (4)，Aplysistatin (5)，5-Acetoxypalisadin B (6)，Palisadin B (7)，Palisadin A (8)，Pacifigorgiol (9)，豆甾-4-烯-3α,6β-二醇 (10)，2, 3, 5, 6-四溴-吲哚 (11)，其中化合物1-4为新化合物，所有化合物均为首次从该种海藻中得到。通过MTT法对分离得到的新化合物1-4进行肿瘤细胞毒活性筛选，结果显示4个新化合物对所测肿瘤细胞株均无明显的活性。 对红藻瘤状软骨凹顶藻Chondrophycus papillous乙酸乙酯萃取物进行分离纯化，从中得到单体化合物5个，通过波谱学方法（MS、NMR等）鉴定了他们的结构，分别为邻苯二甲酸二丁酯 (1)，邻苯二甲酸二异辛酯 (2)，胆甾醇 (3)，3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadec-2-en-1-ol (4)，4-羟基苯甲醛 (5)，所有化合物均为首次从该种海藻中得到。 对海洋放线菌M159乙酸乙酯萃取物进行分离纯化，从中得到单体化合物13个，通过波谱学方法（MS、NMR等）鉴定了他们的结构，分别为：5-(4',6'-dihydroxy-6-methyloctyl)furan-2(5H)-one (A)，phenethyl alcohol (1)，4-羟基苯甲醛(2)，anthranilic acid (3)，4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy- phenyl-propionic acid (4)，5-(6,7-dihydroxy-6-methyloctyl)furan-2(5H)-one (5)，p-Hydroxyphenylethyl alcohol (6)，3-Indoleacrylic acid (7)，Indol-3-carboxylic acid (8)，Adenine cordyceposide (9)，腺嘌呤核苷(10)，尿嘧啶核苷(11)，Thymidine (12)，其中化合物A为新化合物。所有化合物均为首次从该株放线菌中得到。 对海洋放线菌L211乙酸乙酯萃取物进行分离纯化，从中得到单体化合物15个，通过波谱学方法（MS、NMR等）鉴定了7个结构，分别为：spatozoate (1)，anthranilic acid (2)，3-Indolylethanol (3)，1-Acetyl-β-carbolin (4)，p-Hydroxyphen- ylethyl alcohol (5)，Indole-3-acetic acid (6)，Indol-3-carboxylic acid (7)，所有化合物均为首次从该株放线菌中得到。

Organochlorine micropollutants in the Jiulong River Estuary and Western Xiamen Sea, China

Organochlorine contaminants including 12 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and 18 insecticides were determined in water, pore water and sediments of the Jiulong River Estuary and Western Xiamen Sea, China. The results showed that the levels of the total PCBs ranged from non-detectable to 1500 ngl(-1) in water, from 209 to 3870 ngl(-1) in pore water, and from 2.78 to 14.8 ng g(-1) dry weight in sediments. Total organochlorine insecticide concentrations were from below the limit of detection to 2480 ngl(-1) in water, from 267 to 33400 ngl(-1) in pore water, and from 4.22 to 46.3 ng g(-1) dry weight in sediments. Concentrations of PCBs and insecticides in pore water were significantly higher than those in surface water, due to the high affinity of these hydrophobic compounds for sediment phase. The PCB congeners with the highest concentrations were CB153, CB180 and CB194, which together accounted for 68-87% of total PCBs in water, pore water and sediment. Among the hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) compounds, beta-HCH was found to be a major isomer. Analysis of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-chlorophenyl-ethane (DDT) and its metabolites showed that 1, 1-dichloro-2[o-chlorophenyl]-2[p-chlorophenyl]-ethylene (DDE) was dominant in the group. In comparison to a 1998 study in the Western Xiamen Sea, levels of organochlorines were enhanced due probably to recent inputs and changes in sediments. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Marine bacteria associated with marine macroorganisms: the potential antimicrobial resources

In order to explore marine microorganisms with medical potential, marine bacteria were isolated from seawater, sediment, marine invertebrates and seaweeds collected from different coastal areas of the China Sea. The antimicrobial activities of these bacteria were investigated. Ethyl acetate extracts of marine bacterial fermentation were screened for antimicrobial activities using the method of agar diffusion. The results showed that 42 strains of the isolates have antimicrobial activity. The proportion of active bacteria associated with marine invertebrates (20%) and seaweeds (11%) is higher than that isolated from seawater (7%) and sediment (5%). The active marine bacteria were assigned to the genera Alteromonas, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Flavobacterium. The TLC autobiographic overlay assay implied that the antimicrobial metabolites produced by four strains with wide antimicrobial spectrum were different. Due to a competitive role for space and nutrient, the marine bacteria associated with marine macroorganisms (invertebrates and seaweeds) could produce more antibiotic substances. These marine bacteria were expected to be potential resources of natural antibiotic products.

Effects of diatoms on reproduction and growth of marine copepods

Two hot spots in marine ecology, deleterious effects of diatoms and feeding selectivity of copepods, as well as new progress on these two issues achieved in the recent ten years, are reviewed. These two issues are considered correlated closely. Diatoms and their metabolites can induce deleterious effects on growth, reproduction and development of copepods, including increase of mortality and decrease of egg production, hatching and growth rates. Such negative effects, resulting from either chemical toxin or nutritional deficiency, can be conquered in natural environments by diverse feeding. It is therefore concluded that deleterious effects of diatoms observed in laboratory or during blooming period are only a special case that accommodation of feeding strategy of copepods is disabled. To understand their feeding strategy in natural environments is a prerequisite to explaining the mechanisms of deleterious effects caused by diatoms, and makes it possible to re-evaluate the energy flow in marine ecosystems.

Sesquiterpenes from Laurencia similis

One new sesquiterpene, (4E)-1-bromo-5-[(1'S*, 3'R*)-3'-bromo-2',2'-dimethyl-6'-methylenecyclohexyl]-3-methylpent-4-ene-2,3-diol (1), and fifteen known sesquiterpenes, isopalisol (2), luzonensol (3), palisadin B (4), aplysistatin (5), palisadin A (6), 4-hydroxyl-palisudin C (7), 5-acetoxypalisadin B (8), 10-hydroxyaristolan-9-one (9), aristol-8-en-1-one (10), aristolan-9-en-1-one (11), aristolan-1(10)-en-9-one (12), aristolan-1( 10)-en-9-ol (13), aristolan-1(10), 8-diene (14), aristolan-1,9-diene (15) and aristofone (16), were isolated from a sample of marine red alga Laurencia similis. Their structures were established by detailed NMR spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Compounds 2-9, and 16 were isolated for the first time from this species. All these metabolites were submitted for a cytotoxicity assay against the tumor cell line BEL7402 (human liver adenocarcinoma), but all of them were found inactive (IC50 > 10 mu g/mL).

Sesquiterpenes from the red alga Laurencia tristicha

Seven new sesquiterpenes (1-7), together with seven known sesquiterpenes, aplysin (8), aplysinol (9), gossonorol (10), 7,10-epoxy-ar-bisabol-11-ol (11), 10-epi-7,10-epoxy-ar-bisabol-11-ol (12), johnstonol (13), and laurebiphenyl (14), have been isolated from the red alga Laurencia tristicha. The structures of new compounds were established as laur-11-en-2,10-diol (1), laur-11-en-10-ol (2), laur-11-en-1,10-diol (3), 4-bromo-1,10-epoxylaur-11-ene (4), cyclolauren-2-ol (5), laurentristich-4-ol (6), and ar-bisabol-9-en-7,11-diol (7) by means of spectroscopic methods including IR, HRMS, and ID and 21) NMR techniques. Compound 6 possessed a novel rearranged skeleton. All compounds were tested against several human cancer cell lines including lung adenocarcinoma (A549), stomach cancer (BGC-823), hepatoma (Bel 7402), colon cancer (HCT-8), and HELA cell lines. Laurebiphenyl (14) showed moderate cytotoxicity against all tested cell lines, with IC50 values of 1.68, 1.22, 1.91, 1.77, and 1.61 mu g/mL, respectively. Other compounds were inactive (IC50 > 10 mu g/mL).

Fucoidan protects against dopaminergic neuron death in vivo and in vitro

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder of uncertain pathogenesis characterized by a loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta, and can be modeled by the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Oxidative stress may contribute to MPTP- and Parkinson's disease-related neurodegeneration. Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweeds which possesses a wide variety of biological activities including potent antioxidative effects. Here we investigated the effect of fucoidan treatment on locomoter activities of animals, striatal dopamine and its metabolites and survival of nigral dopaminergic neurons in MPTP-induced animal model of Parkinsonism in C57/BL mice in vivo and on the neuronal damage induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in vitro, and to study the possible mechanisms. When administered prior to MPTP, fucoidan reduced behavioral deficits, increased striatal dopamine and its metabolites levels, reduced cell death, and led to a marked increase in tyrosine hydroxylase expression relative to mice treated with MPTP alone. Furthermore, we found that fucoidan inhibited MPTP-induced lipid peroxidation and reduction of antioxidant enzyme activity. In addition, pre-treatment with fucoidan significantly protected against MPP+-induced damage in MN9D cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that fucoidan has protective effect in MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in this model of Parkinson's disease via its antioxidative activity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Necessity of dietary lecithin and eicosapentaenoic acid for growth, survival, stress resistance and lipoprotein formation in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata

The substitution of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reduces larval growth in gilthead sea bream. However, the value of EPA when dietary DHA is able to meet the requirements of the larvae has not been sufficiently studied. Dietary phosphoacylgliceride levels also affect fish growth and it has been suggested that they enhance lipid transport in developing larvae. The present experiment was carried out to further study the effect of dietary lecithin and eicosapentaenoic acid on growth, survival, stress resistance,. larval fatty acid composition and lipid transport, when DHA is present in the microdiets of gilthead:sea bream. Eighteen thousand gilt-head sea bream larvae of 4.99+/-0.53 mm total length were fed three microdiets tested by triplicate: a control diet [2% soybean lecithin (SBL) and 2.89% EPA], a low EPA diet,(2% SBL and 1.63% EPA) and a no SBL diet (0% SBL and 2.71% EPA). Handling, temperature and salinity tests determined larval resistance to stress. The results show that when dietary DHA levels are high, but dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) levels are about 0.2%, EPA is necessary to improve larval growth, and survival. Larval EPA content, but not DHA or ARA, was affected by dietary EPA levels. Increased dietary EPA improved larval stress resistance to handling and temperature tests, which could be related to its possible role as a regulator of cortisol production whereas it did not affect stress resistance after salinity shock. Larvae fed the no SBL diet showed a lower lipid content characterized by a low proportion of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, together with a significant reduction in the appearance of lipoprotein particles in the lamina propria and in the size of such particles, denoting a critical reduction in dietary lipid transport and utilization, and lower larval growth and survival rates.

Metabolic studies on the nitrophile yeast Rhodotorula glutinis DSBCA06

Nitrogen is the most abundant element in atmosphere and fundamental component of proteins, nucleic acids and other essential molecules. In the past century the industrial use of nitrogen compounds has grown exponentially causing widespread pollution. Nitrogen pollution has wide-ranging impacts including contributions to global warming, acid rains and eutrophication. Reduction of nitrogen use in industry and agriculture coupled whit remediation treatments could represent a solution. To this purpose we isolated from environmental samples a nitrophile strain capable of removing nitrogen compounds efficiently from the medium. Through the molecular characterization, we identified the strain as a Rhodotorula glutinis that we called DSBCA06. We examined the main metabolic features of the strain, also to determine the best growing conditions. At the same time, the ability of the strain to grow in presence of high nitrite concentrations was assayed, being a relevant feature poorly studied earlierfor other environmental yeasts. The ability of the strain to grow in presence of heavy metal cations was also tested, showing a noticeable tolerance. The cost of bioremediation treatments is often a problem. One of the way to obviate this is to produce valuable secondary metabolites, capable of positively impact the cost of the processes. In this context the ability of the strain to produce carotenoids, natural molecules with antioxidant properties used for food production, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, has been evaluated. The strain Rhodotorula glutinis DSBCA06 showed interesting features suggesting its possible use in bioremediation or industrials process for production of secondary metabolites such as lipids and carotenoids.

On the use of qualitative reasoning to simulate and identify metabolic pathways

King, R.D., Garrett, S.M., Coghill, G.M. (2005). On the use of qualitative reasoning to simulate and identify metabolic pathways. Bioinformatics 21(9):2017-2026 RAE2008

Functional genomic hypothesis generation and experimentation by a robot scientist

King R. D., Whelan, K. E., Jones, F. M., Reiser, P. G. K., Bryant, C. H., Muggleton, S., Kell, D. B. and Oliver, S. G. (2004) Functional genomic hypothesis generation and experimentation by a robot scientist. Nature 427 (6971) p247-252