The first study on the effects of microcystin-RR on gene expression profiles of antioxidant enzymes and heat shock protein-70 in Synechocystis sp PCC6803

Microcystins are heptapeptide toxins produced by cyanobacteria. Microcystin-RR(MC-RR) is a common variant among the 80 variants identified so far. There have been many investigations documenting the toxic effects of microcystins on animals and higher plants, but little is known on the toxic effects of microcystins on algae, especially at molecular level. We studied the effects of MC-RR on gene expression profile of a few antioxidant enzymes and heat shock protein-70 (Hsp70) in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. After two days post-exposure, a high dose toxin (5 mg/l, about 4.8 x 10(-3) mM) significantly increased expression levels of the genes gpx1, sodB, katG, acnB, gamma-TMTand dnaK2, while a relatively low dose toxin (1 mg/l, about 9.63 x 10(-4) mM) induced a moderate and slow increase of gene expression. Our results indicate that MC-RR could induce the oxidative stress in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and the increase in gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and Hsp70 might protect the organism from the oxidative damage. in addition, cell aggregation was observed during the early period of exposure, which might be a specific oxidative stress reaction to MC-RR. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of pure microcystin-LR on the transcription of immune related genes and heat shock proteins in larval stage of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Microcystins (MCs) are cyanobacterial toxins in water blooms that have received increasing attention as a public biohazard for human and animal health. Previous studies were mainly focused on the toxic effects on adult fish, rather than juvenile or larvae, and the response of fish immune system were usually neglected. This paper presents the first data of the effects of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on transcription of several genes essential for early lymphoid development (Rag1, Rag2, Ikaros, GATA1, Lck and TCR alpha) and heat shock proteins (HSP90, HSP70, HSP60, HSP27) in zebrafish larvae. Relative changes of mRNA transcription were analyzed by real time PCR. The transcription of Rag1, Rag2, Ikaros, GATA1, Lck and TCR alpha were up-regulated when following exposure to 800 mu g/L MC-LR, which may indicate that specific lymphocytes differentiation and TCR/lg arrangement are induced to counteract the toxic effects of MC-LR. It was also interesting to note the dramatically increased transcription of HSP90. HSP70, HSP60 and HSP27, which may indicate their important roles as molecular chaperones under oxidative stress. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Feeding rates affect heat shock protein levels in liver of larval white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

A two-week trial was conducted to study the effect of feeding rates on heat shock protein levels in larval white sturgeon. The larvae (30 day post hatch, 230 mg initial body weight) were fed a commercial feed (12.6% moisture, 49.5% crude protein. 20.7% Crude fat, and 8.6% ash) at 5, 15. or 25% body weight per clay (BW d(-1)). Liver heat shock proteins (Hsp) were measured before and after the larvae were subjected to a heat shock from 18 to 26 degrees C at 1 degrees C/15 min and maintained at 26 degrees C for 4 h thereafter. Before heat shock, larvae fed 5% BW d(-1) had significantly (P<0.05) lower final body weight, RNA/DNA ratio, whole body lipid and protein content, and Hsp60 and Hsp70 levels but higher protein efficiency ratio, and whole body moisture content than larvae fed the two higher feeding rates. Heat shock significantly induced Hsp60 and Hsp70 levels in the liver of all fish but they were lower in larvae fed the 5% than those fed 15 and 25% BW d(-1). Hsp70 level increased much more than Hsp60 after the heat shock Suggesting that Hsp70 is a more sensitive biomarker under our experimental conditions. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Predicted glycosyl transferase genes located outside the HEP island are required for formation of heterocyst envelope polysaccharide in Anabaena sp strain PCC 7120

During maturation, heterocysts form an envelope layer of polysaccharide, called heterocyst envelope polysaccharide (HEP), whose synthesis depends on a cluster of genes, the HEP island, and on an additional, distant gene, hepB, or a gene immediately downstream from hepB. We show that HEP formation depends upon the predicted glycosyl transferase genes all4160 at a third locus and alr3699, which is adjacent to hepB and is cotranscribed with it. Mutations in the histidine kinase genes hepN and hepK appear to silence the promoter of hepB and incompletely down-regulate all4160.

Seasonal pattern of reproduction of Hizikia fusiformis (Sargassaceae, Phaeophyta) from Nanao Island, Shantou, China

The maturation pattern of sexual reproduction in Hizikia fusiformis (Harvey) Okamura (Sargassaceae, Phaeaophyta) was examined in 2003 at Yunao Bay, Nanao Island, Shantou, China. Maturation began in mid-April (seawater temperature 19-21 degrees C), reached the peak in mid-May (maturation rate ca. 70%, and seawater temperature 23.5-25 degrees C) and finished in late-June (seawater temperature 27.5-30 degrees C). The Hizikia plants continued to gain the length from the beginning of maturation season to reach a maximum mean length of 34.8 cm in mid-May, after which the mean length was reduced drastically due to the senescence and rupture of the larger plants in size. The major portion of the mature plants belonged to the larger plants between April and May, but to the smaller ones in June. It is suggested that the plant must achieve a critical size before reproductive maturation occurred. There was a positive relationship between the number of receptacles (NR), as well as the reproductive allocation (RA), and the plant size of Hizikia population, with the recorded maximum values of NR and RA being 1220 and 64.3% respectively, for a single plant.

Differential expression of three Paralichthys olivaceus Hsp40 genes in responses to virus infection and heat shock

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a family of highly conserved cellular proteins present in all organisms, mediating a range of essential housekeeping and cytoprotective functions as well-known molecular chaperons and recently as regulators of the immune response. By subtractive suppression hybridization, three Hsp40 homologues have been identified in the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) embryonic cells (FEC) after treatment with UV-inactivated turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) rhabdovirus (SMRV), termed PoHsp40A4, PoHsp40B6 and PoHsp40B11, whose encoded proteins all possess the conserved DnaJ domain, a signature motif of the Hsp40 family. Based on different protein structure and phylogenetic analysis, they can be categorized into two subfamilies, PoHsp40A4 for Type I Hsp40, PoHsp40B6 and PoHsp40B11 for Type 11 Hsp40. Further expression analysis revealed two very different types of kinetics in response either to heat shock or to virus infection, with a marked induction for PoHsp4OA4 and a weak one for both PoHsp40B6 and PoHsp40B11. A very distinct tissue distribution of mRNA was also revealed among the three genes, even between PoHsp40B6 and PoHsp40B11. This is the first report on the transcriptional induction of Hsp40 in virally stimulated fish cells, and the differential expressions might reflect their different roles in unstressed and stressed cells. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Marine species of Ainudrilus and Heterodrilus (Oligochaeta : Tubificidae : Rhyacodrilinae) from Hainan Island in southern China

Six species of Rhyacodrilinae (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae) are reported from intertidal and shallow water subtidal habitats around Hainan Island in southern China. Four species are new to science: Ainudrilus pauciseta n. sp., Heterodrilus chenianus n. sp., Heterodrilus nudus n. sp., and Heterodrilus uniformis n. sp. Japanese material of Ainudrilus lutulentus (Erseus, 1984) is also briefly described. Hitherto, 27 species belonging to Tubificidae have been recorded from Hainan.

Marine Phallodrilinae (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae)of Hainan Island in southern China

Six species of Phallodrilinae are reported from Hainan Island in southern China. The mesopsammic Aktedrilus yiboi sp. nov. is new to science. It is characterized by a combination of (1) small, straight, conical, strongly cuticularized penis sheaths, (2) posterior prostate glands being associated with the most ectal parts of the atria, and (3) small spermathecal ampulla. Bathydrilus ampliductus Erseus, 1997 is recorded for the first time since it was originally described from Australia's Northern Territory.

Resting metabolism and heat increment of feeding in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) and Chinese snakehead (Channa argus)

Resting metabolism was measured in immature mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi weighing 42.1-510.2 g and Chinese snakehead Channa argus weighing 41.5-510.3 g at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 degreesC. Heat increment of feeding was measured in mandarin fish weighing 202.0 (+/-14.0) g and snakehead weighing 200.8 (+/-19.3) g fed swamp leach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus at 1% body weight per day at 28 degreesC. In both species, weight exponent in the power relationship between resting metabolism and body weight was not affected by temperature. The relationship between resting metabolism and temperature could be described by a power function. The temperature exponent was 1.39 in mandarin fish and 2.10 in snakehead (P < 0.05), indicating that resting metabolism in snakehead increased with temperature at a faster rate than in mandarin fish. Multiple regression models were used to describe the effects of body weight (W, g) and temperature (T, C) on the resting metabolism (R-s, mg O-2/h): In R-s = - 5.343 + 0.772 In W + 1.387 In T for the mandarin fish and In R-s = -7.863 + 0.801 ln W + 2.104 In T for the Chinese snakehead. The proportion of food energy channelled to heat increment was 8.7% in mandarin fish and 6.8% in snakehead. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Maximal Heat Generation in Nanoscale Systems

National Basic Research Programme of China G2009CB929300 National Natural Science Foundation of China 10404010 6052100160776061Supported by the National Basic Research Programme of China under Grant No G2009CB929300, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 10404010, 60521001 and 60776061.

Changing planar thin film growth into self-assembled island formation by adjusting experimental conditions

Illustrated in this paper are two examples of altering planar growth into self-assembled island formation by adapting experimental conditions. Partial oxidation, undersaturated solution and high temperature change Frank-Van der Merwe (FM) growth of Al0.3Ga0.7As in liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) into isolated island deposition. Low growth speed, high temperature and in situ annealing in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) cause the origination of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) to happen while the film is still below critical thickness in Stranski-Krastanow (SK) mode. Sample morphologies are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or atomic force microscopy (AFM). It is suggested that such achievements are of value not only to fundamental researches but also to spheres of device applications as well. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.