Intergeneric conjugation in holomycin-producing marine Streptomyces sp strain M095

Marine Streptomyces are potential candidates for novel natural products and industrial catalysts. In order to set up biosynthesis approach for a holomycin-producing strain M095 isotated from Jiaozhou Bay, China, a genetic transformation system was established using intergeneric conjugation. The plasmid pIJ8600 consists of an origin of replication for Escherichia coli, a phage integrase directing efficient site-specific integration in bacterial chromosome, thiostrepton-induced promoter and an attP sequence. Using E. coli ET12567 (pUZ8002) carrying pIJ8600 as a conjugal donor, while it was mated with strain M095, pIJ8600 was mobilized to the recipient and the transferred DNA was also integrated into the recipient chromosome. The frequency of exconjugants was 1.9 +/- 0.13 x 10(-4) per recipient cell. Analysis of eight exconjugants showed pIJ8600 was stable integrated at a single chromosomal site (attB) of the Streptomyces genome. The DNA sequence of the attB was cloned and shown to be conserved. The results of growth and antimicrobial activity analysis indicated that the integration of pIJ8600 did not seem to affect the biosynthesis of antibiotics or other essential amino acids. To demonstrate the feasibility of above gene transfer system, the allophycocyanin gene (apc) from cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans UTEX625 was expressed in strain M095, and the results indicated heterologous allophycocyanin could be expressed and folded effectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Identification of archaeon-producing hyperthermophilic alpha-amylase and characterization of the alpha-amylase

The extremely thermophilic anaerobic archaeon strain, HJ21, was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, could produce hyperthermophilic alpha-amylase, and later was identified as Thermococcus from morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics and the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. The extracellular thermostable alpha-amylase produced by strain HJ21 exhibited maximal activity at pH 5.0. The enzyme was stable in a broad pH range from pH 5.0 to 9.0. The optimal temperature of alpha-amylase was observed at 95 degrees C. The half-life of the enzyme was 5 h at 90 degrees C. Over 40% and 30% of the enzyme activity remained after incubation at 100 degrees C for 2 and 3 h, respectively. The enzyme did not require Ca2+ for thermostability. This alpha-amylase gene was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence displayed an open reading frame of 1,374 bp, which encodes a protein of 457 amino acids. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that four homologous regions common in amylases were conserved in the HJ21 alpha-amylase. The molecular weight of the mature enzyme was calculated to be 51.4 kDa, which correlated well with the size of the purified enzyme as shown by the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Effects of ultra-violet irradiation on sperm motility and diploid gynogenesis induction in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) undergoing cold shock

Large yellow croaker, Pseudosciaena crocea, exhibit sexually dimorphic growth, with females growing faster and reaching larger adult sizes than males. Thus, development of techniques for preferentially producing females is necessary to optimize production of these species. We have established a protocol to produce all-female croaker P. crocea through induction of meiotic gynogenesis with homologous sperm. The first set of experiments investigated the ultra-violet (UV) irradiation on sperm motility and duration of sperm activity to determine the optimal UV dosage for genetic inactivation of sperm, yet retaining adequate motility for activation of eggs. Milt from several males was diluted 1: 100 with Ringer's solution and UV irradiated with doses ranging from 0-150 J cm (-2). The results indicated that motility and duration of activity generally decreased with increased UV doses. At UV doses greater than 105 J cm(-2), after fertilization, motility was < 10% and fertilization rates were significantly lower. Highest hatching rate was obtained at 75 J cm -2. A second set of experiments was carried out to determine appropriate conditions of cold shock for retention of the 2nd polar body in P. crocea eggs after fertilization with UV-inactivated sperm by altering the timing, temperature and duration of shock. At 208 degrees C, shock applied at 3 min after fertilization resulted in higher survival rate of larvae at 6 h after hatching. Results of different combinations of three shock temperatures ( 28 degrees C, 38 degrees C or 48 degrees C) and five shock durations ( 4 min, 8 min, 12 min, 16 min or 20 min) at 3 min after fertilization demonstrated that shocks of 12 min gave highest production of diploid gynogens. Statistical analysis revealed that maximum production of diploid gynogens (44.55 +/- 2.99%) were obtained at 38 degrees C. The results of this study indicate that the use of UV-irradiated homologous sperm for activation of P. crocea eggs and cold shock for polar body retention is an effective method for producing gynogenetic offspring.

Induction of diploid gynogenesis in turbot Scophthalmus maximus with left-eyed flounder Paralichthys olivaceus sperm

Turbot Scophthalmus maximus exhibits sexually dimorphic growth, with females growing faster and reaching larger adult sizes than males. Thus, development of techniques for preferentially producing females is necessary to optimize production of these species. In this paper, gynogenetic diploids of turbot were induced by activating egg development with ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated left-eyed flounder Paralichthys olivaceus sperm combined with cold shock to prevent extrusion of the second polar body. The results of UV irradiation experiments showed that survival, motility, and duration of activity of P. olivaceus sperm generally decreased with increase in UV dose. The typical Hertwig's effect was observed after fertilized turbot eggs with UV-irradiated P. olivaceus sperm and the optimal UV dose for gynogenetic haploid production was 36,000 erg mm(-2). At 15 degrees C, appropriate timing of cold shock for retention of the second polar body in turbot eggs was at 6 min after fertilization. Results of different combinations of two shock temperatures (1 or 3 degrees C) and four shock durations (15, 25, 35 or 45 min) at 6 min after fertilization demonstrated that shock of 25 min at 1 degrees C gave the highest production of diploid gynogens (39.58% relative to its diploid control). The results of this study reveal that the use of UV-irradiated P. olivaceus sperm for activation of turbot eggs and cold shock for polar body retention is an effective method to produce gynogenetic offspring.

Laurenidificin, a new brominated C-15-acetogenin from the marine red alga Laurencia nidifica

new brominated C-15-acetogenin, namely, laurenidificin, was isolated from the marine red alga Laurencia nidifica. Its structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods. (C) 2010 Bin Gui Wang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Phylogenetic studies on two strains of Antarctic ice algae based on morphological and molecular characteristics

The taxonomic characterization of two strains of Antarctic ice algae, Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L and Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-W, were analyzed on the basis of morphological and molecular traits. The results indicate that they are the same species and belong to Chlamydomonas (Chlorophyta). According to I SS rDNA and ITS-I sequences they are very close relatives of Chlamydomonas sp. Antarctic 2E9, if not identified as such. They belong to the 'monadina clade', Cd. monadina and Cm. subdivisa as the sister group, on the basis of 18S rDNA sequence. They occur in 'Chlamydomonas clade' according to rbcL sequencing and are close relatives of Cd. kuwadae. The ITS sequences of ICE-L and ICE-W are 1302 base pairs and 1300 base pairs in length, the longest Volvocales ITS sequences ever reported.

Diversity of Both the Cultivable Protease-Producing Bacteria and Their Extracellular Proteases in the Sediments of the South China Sea

Protease-producing bacteria are known to play an important role in degrading sedimentary particular organic nitrogen, and yet, their diversity and extracellular proteases remain largely unknown. In this paper, the diversity of the cultivable protease-producing bacteria and their extracellular proteases in the sediments of the South China Sea was investigated. The richness of the cultivable protease-producing bacteria reached 10(6) cells/g in all sediment samples. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the predominant cultivated protease-producing bacteria are Gammaproteobacteria affiliated with the genera Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, Marinobacter, Idiomarina, Halomonas, Vibrio, Shewanella, Pseudomonas, and Rheinheimera, with Alteromonas (34.6%) and Pseudoalteromonas (28.2%) as the predominant groups. Inhibitor analysis showed that nearly all the extracellular proteases from the bacteria are serine proteases or metalloproteases. Moreover, these proteases have different hydrolytic ability to different proteins, reflecting they may belong to different kinds of serine proteases or metalloproteases. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report of the diversity of bacterial proteases in deep-sea sediments.

Dominant chloramphenicol-resistant bacteria and resistance genes in coastal marine waters of Jiaozhou Bay, China

Studies of abundance, diversity and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their resistance determinants are necessary for effective prevention and control of antibiotic resistance and its dissemination, critically important for public health and environment management. In order to gain an understanding of the persistence of resistance in the absence of a specific antibiotic selective pressure, microbiological surveys were carried out to investigate chloramphenicol-resistant bacteria and the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase resistance genes in Jiaozhou Bay after chloramphenicol was banned since 1999 in China. About 0.15-6.70% cultivable bacteria were chloramphenicol resistant, and the highest abundances occurred mainly in the areas near river mouths or sewage processing plants. For the dominant resistant isolates, 14 genera and 25 species were identified, mostly being indigenous estuarine or marine bacteria. Antibiotic-resistant potential human or marine animal pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Shewanella algae, were also identified. For the molecular resistance determinants, the cat I and cat III genes could be detected in some of the resistant strains, and they might have the same origins as those from clinical strains as determined via gene sequence analysis. Further investigation about the biological, environmental and anthropogenic mechanisms and their interactions that may contribute to the persistence of antibiotic-resistance in coastal marine waters in the absence of specific antibiotic selective pressure is necessary for tackling this complicated environmental issue.

Experimental study on the impact of dinoflagellate Alexandrium species on populations of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

To investigate harmful effects of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium species on microzooplankton, the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis was chosen as an assay species, and tested with 10 strains of Alexandrium including one known non-PSP-producer (Alexandrium tamarense, AT-6). HPLC analysis confirmed the PSP-content of the various strains: Alexandrium lusitanicum, Alexandrium minutum and Alexandrium tamarense (ATHK, AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102, ATC103) used in the experiment were PSP-producers. No PSP toxins were detected in the strains Alexandrium sp1, Alexandrium sp2. Exposing rotifer populations to the densities of 2000 cells ml(-1) of each of these 10 Alexandrium strains revealed that the (non-PSP) A. tarnarense (AT-6) and two other PSP-producing algae: A. lusitanicum, A. minutum, did not appear to adversely impact rotifer populations. Rotifers exposed to these three strains were able to maintain their population numbers, and in some cases, increase them. Although some increases in rotifer population growth following exposures to these three algal species were noted, the rate was less than for the non-exposed control rotifer groups. In contrast, the remaining seven algal strains (A. tamarense ATHK, AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102, ATC103; also Alexandrium sp1 and Alexandrium sp2) all have adverse effects on the rotifers. Dosing rotifers with respective algal cell densities of 2000 cells ml-1 each, for Alexandrium spl, Alexandrium sp2, and A. tamarense strains ATHK and ATC103 showed mean lethal time (LT50) on rotifer populations of 21, 28, 29, and 36h, respectively. The remaining three species (A. tamarense strains AT5-1, AT5-3, ATC102) caused respective mean rotifer LT50S of 56, 56, and 71 h, compared to 160 h for the unexposed "starved control" rotifers. Experiments to determine ingestion rates for the rotifers, based on changes in their Chlorophyll a content, showed that the rotifers could feed on A. lusitanicum, A. minutum and A. tamarense strain AT-6, but could graze to little or no extent upon algal cells of the other seven strains. The effects on rotifers exposed to different cell densities, fractions, and growth phases of A. tamarense algal culture were respectively compared. It was found that only the whole algal cells had lethal effects, with strongest impact being shown by the early exponential growth phase of A. tamarense. The results indicate that some toxic mechanism(s), other than PSP and present in whole algal cells, might be responsible for the adverse effects on the exposed rotifers. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Inheritance of 15 microsatellites in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas: segregation and null allele identification for linkage analysis

Microsatellites were screened in a backcross family of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Fifteen microsatellite loci were distinguishable and polymorphic with 6 types of allele-combinations. Null alleles were detected in 46.7% of loci, accounting for 11.7% of the total alleles. Four loci did not segregate in Mendelian Ratios. Three linkage groups were identified among 7 of the 15 segregating loci. Fluorescence-based automated capillary electrophoresis (ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer) that used to detect the microsatellite loci, has been proved a fast, precise, and reliable method in microsatellite genotyping.

15种獐牙菜属植物中主要药用成分的高效液相色谱测定

对青藏高原和云贵高原的15种獐牙菜属植物进行了3种苦味苷,即獐牙菜苦苷(swertiamarin)、龙胆苦苷(gentiopicroside)、苦龙苷(amarogentin)、一种黄酮苷-当药黄素(swertisin)、及5种(口山) 山酮苷-芒果苷(mangiferin)、当药醇苷(swertianolin)、7-O-[α-L-吡喃鼠李糖-(1→2)-β-D-吡喃木糖]-1,8-二羟基-3-甲氧基(口山) 山酮(7-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl]-1,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone)、7-O-β-D-吡喃木糖-1,8-二羟基-3-甲氧基(口山) 山酮(7-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-l,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone)、3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖-1,8-二羟基-5-甲氧基(口山) 山酮(3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,8- dihydroxy-5-methoxyxanth-one)等9种主要药效成分同时进行了高效液相色谱的含量测定(Kromasil C18柱,甲醇-水梯度洗脱,二级管阵列检测);并对其主要药效成分的分布进行了比较。

Phylogenetic analyses of some genera in Oedipodidae (Orthoptera : Acridoidea) based on 16S mitochondrial partial gene sequences

Based on the 16S mitochondrial partial gene sequences of 29 genera, containing 26 from Oedipodidae and one each from Tanaoceridae, Pyrgomorphidae and Tetrigidae (as outgroups), the homologus sequences were compared and phylogenetic analyses were performed. A phylogenetic tree was inferred by neighbor-joining (NJ). The results of sequences compared show that: (i) in a total of 574 bp of Oedipodidae, the number of substituted nucleotides was 265 bp and the average percentages of T, C, A and G were 38.3%, 11.4%, 31.8% and 18.5%, respectively, and the content of A+T (70.1%) was distinctly richer than that of C+G (29.9%); and (ii) the average nucleotide divergence of 16S rDNA sequences among genera of Oedipodidae were 9.0%, among families of Acridoidea were 17.0%, and between superfamilies (Tetrigoidea and Acridoidea) were 23.9%, respectively. The phylogenetic tree indicated: (i) the Oedipodidae was a monophyletic group, which suggested that the taxonomic status of this family was confirmed; (ii) the genus Heteropternis separated from the other Oedipodids first and had another unique sound-producing structure in morphology, which is the type-genus of subfamily Heteropterninae; and (iii) the relative intergeneric relationship within the same continent was closer than that of different continents, and between the Eurasian genera and the African genera, was closer than that between Eurasians and Americans.

陡坡带砂砾岩体油气成藏模式研究——以东营凹陷西北部陡坡带为例

Based on the study of sequence stratigraphy, modern sedimentary, basin analysis, and petroleum system in abrupt slop of depression, this paper builds sedimentary system and model, sandy bodies distribution, and pool-forming mechanism of subtle trap. There are some conclusions and views as follows. By a lot of well logging and seismic analysis, the author founded up the sequence stratigraphic of the abrupt slope, systematically illustrated the abrupt slope constructive framework, and pointed out that there was a special characteristics which was that south-north could be divided to several fault block and east-west could be carved up groove and the bridge in studying area. Based all these, the author divided the studying area to 3 fault block zone in which because of the groove became the basement rock channel down which ancient rivers breathed into the lake, the alluvial fan or fan delta were formed. In the paper, the author illustrated the depositional system and depositional model of abrupt slope zone, and distinguished 16 kinds of lithofacies and 3 kinds of depositional systems which were the alluvial fan and fan-delta system, lake system and the turbidite fan or turbidity current deposition. It is first time to expound completely the genetic pattern and distributing rule of the abrupt slope sandy-conglomeratic fan bodies. The abrupt slope sandy-conglomeratic fan bodies distribute around the heaves showing itself circularity shape. In studying area, the sandy-conglomeratic fan bodies mainly distribute up the southern slope of Binxian heave and Chenjiazhuang heave. There mainly are these sandy-conglomeratic fan body colony which distributes at a wide rage including the alluvial fan, sub-water fluvial and the turbidite fan or the other turbidity current deposition in the I fault block of the Wangzhuang area. In the II fault block there are fan-delta front and sub-water fluvial. And in the Binnan area, there mainly are those the alluvial fan (down the basement rock channel) and the sandy-conglomeratic fan body which formed as narrowband sub-water fluvial (the position of bridge of a nose) in the I fault block, the fan-delta front sandy-conglomeratic fan body in the H fault block and the fan-delta front and the turbidity current deposition sandy-conglomeratic fan body in the m fault block. Based on the reservoir outstanding characteristics of complex classic composition and the low texture maturity, the author comparted the reservoir micro-structure of the Sha-III and Sha-IV member to 4 types including the viscous crude cementation type, the pad cementation type, the calcite pore-funds type and the complex filling type, and hereby synthetically evaluated 4 types sandy- conglomeratic fan body reservoir. In the west-north abrupt slope zone of Dongying Depression, the crude oil source is belonging to the Sha-III and Sha-IV member, the deep oil of Lijin oilfield respectively come from the Sha-III and Sha-IV member, which belongs to the autogeny and original deposition type; and the more crude oil producing by Sha-IV member was migrated to the Wangzhuan area and Zhengjia area. The crude oil of Binnan oil-field and Shanjiasi oil-field belongs to mixed genetic. It is the first time to illustrate systematically the genetic of the viscous crude that largely being in the studying area, which are that the dissipation of the light component after pool-forming, the biological gradation action and the bath-oxidation action, these oil accumulation belonging to the secondary viscous crude accumulation. It is also the first time to compart the studying area to 5 pool-forming dynamical system that have the characteristic including the common pressure and abnormal pressure system, the self-fountain and other-fountain system and the closing and half-closing system etc. The 5 dynamical systems reciprocally interconnected via the disappearance or merger of the Ethology and the fluid pressure compartment zone, the fault and the unconformity surface, hereby formed duplicated pattern oil-gas collecting zone. Three oil-gas pool-forming pattern were founded, which included the self-fountain side-direction migrated collecting pattern, the self-fountain side-direction ladder-shape pool-forming pattern and the other-fountain pressure releasing zone migrated collecting pattern. A series of systemic sandy-conglomeratic fan bodies oil-gas predicting theory and method was founded, based on the groove-fan corresponding relation to confirm the favorable aim area, according as the characteristic of seismic-facies to identify qualitatively the sandy-conglomeratic fan bodies or its scale, used the temporal and frequency analysis technique to score the interior structure of the sandy- conglomeratic fan bodies, applied for coherent-data system analysis technology to describe the boundary of the sandy-conglomeratic fan bodies, and utilized the well logging restriction inversion technique to trace quantificational and forecast the sandy-conglomeratic fan bodies. Applied this technique, totally 15 beneficial sandy-conglomeratic fan bodies were predicted, in studying area the exploration was preferably guided, and the larger economic benefit and social benefit was acquired.