塔里木盆地YJ1X井中奥陶统一间房组燧石结核中的有机壁微体化石

位于新疆塔里木盆地塔北隆起的YJ1X井中奥陶统钻遇富含硅质结核的一间房组地层,通过对硅质结核进行切片观察,发现大量丝状蓝藻化石及少数疑源类化石。经鉴定疑源类化石共包括:Aremoricanium sp.,Cheleutochroa oculata,Cymatiogalea sp.,Cymatiosphaera sp.,Dictyotidium microreticulatum,Leiosphaeridia sp.,Polygonium gracile,Pterospermella sp.;丝状蓝藻类化石两属四种,包括:Siphonophycus typicum,S.kestron,S.solidum,Oscillatoriopsis longa;多细胞球状藻类化石1种:Eoentophysalis sp.。其中丝状蓝藻类化石均为奥陶系一间房组的首次报道。该化石组合的发现为塔里木盆地奥陶系一间房组燧石结核中微体化石的研究提供了新资料,大量破碎的藻席及少数疑源类反映了本区沉积环境由浅水相变为深水相的过程。     

徐淮地区元古宙九顶山组燧石中微体生物化石新资料

我国徐淮地区元古宙九顶山组产出丰富的条带状和结核状燧石,其中保存了大量微体生物化石。本研究通过岩石切片法发现了呈三维立体状态保存的精美的丝状和球状蓝藻化石,鉴定出12属16种,即有丝状蓝藻6属10种(包含2个未定种):Siphonophycus septatum,S.robustum,S.typicum,S.kestron,Oscillatoriopsis ver-miformis,O.obtusa,Cephalophytarion grande,Salome sp.,Veteronostocale amoenum,Paleolyngbyasp.;球状蓝藻3属3种:Gloeodiniopsis suxianensis,Eoentophysalis cumulus,Nanococcus vulgaris;以及分类位置未定的3属3种(包含1个未定种):Myxococcoides minor,Leiosphaeridiasp.,Brachypleganon khandanum。其中Oscil-latoriopsis vermiformis,O.obtusa,Cephalophytarion grande,Salome sp.,Veteronostocale amoenum,Paleolyn-gbyasp.,Nanococcus vulgaris均为本地首次发现,弥补了以前在九顶山组中只找到Siphonophycus而未曾见Os-cillatoriopsis的缺憾,并对大量保存精美的Siphonophycus的来源问题给出了可能的解释。而大量无异形胞的Os-cillatoriopsis属化石的存在可能反映了当时的海底为缺氧环境。本次新发现丰富了九顶山组的微体生物化石资料,这些微体生物化石组合有可能成为元古宙洲际生物地层对比的依据。九顶山组碳酸岩台地沉积相中普遍发育的微体生物藻席、保存精美的高分异度的蓝藻化石以及并未在底栖环境中发现真核生物,均反映冰期前的浅海底栖生态系统还是由原核生物为主体的微体生物生态系统。     

江西上饶朝阳磷矿新元古代晚期陡山沱组微体化石新材料

江西上饶朝阳磷矿新元古代晚期微体化石产于上震旦统陡山沱组上部含磷地层中,微体化石组合包括疑源类Asterocapsoides sp.,Megasphaera inornata,Meghystrichosphaeridium chadianensis,M.gracilentum,丝状蓝绿藻Siphonophycus septatum,S.robustum,S.tpicum,S.kestron,S.soldium,Oscillatoriopsis sp.和Slome nunavutensis,及可能的多细胞藻类。该化石组合的发现为中国南方扬子区陡山沱组含磷岩系中微体化石生物群的研究提供新的材料。     

华北高于庄组硅化微体化石组合的古环境

华北中元古代高于庄组 ( 1 4- 1 5亿年 )的硅质叠层石中保存了完好的多种微生物化石。从这些叠层石的微细构造分析 ,成岩早期硅质矿物的交代作用为微体化石的原位保存起了很重要的作用。除部分居住者和浮游的分子外 ,两种丝状蓝藻 ( Siphonophycus inornatum和Eoschizothric composita)和两种球状蓝藻 ( Coccostratusdispergens和 Eoentophysalisbelcherensis)是这些藻席的主要建造者。以球状蓝藻 Eoentophysalis为主的藻席可能发育于潮下高能环境中 ;而以多种丝状蓝藻为主的藻席可能反映了当时的沉积环境为中—高潮间带的局部静止小水体     

湖北宜昌樟村坪陡山沱组微体化石新资料

湖北宜昌樟村坪磷矿陡山沱组化石组合主要包括球状蓝菌Archaeophycus venustus,丝状蓝菌Siphono-phycus,Oscillatoriopsis,Polytrichoides和Salome hubeiensis,以及多细胞藻类化石Wengania和可能的Sarcino-phycus。化石主要产于陡山沱组上部白云岩的硅磷质条带和结核中。樟村坪磷矿陡山沱组化石组合的发现进一步表明华南扬子地区陡山沱组燧石相具有和磷块岩相中类似的化石组合。     

蓝藻的硫氧还蛋白

蓝藻(蓝细菌)是一种分布广泛,结构简单的原核生物。不象其它的光合细菌,蓝藻含有叶绿素a,并且象真核藻和高等植物一样,以分解水作为光合电子传递的电子源。有许多种蓝藻能够固氮。大多数丝状蓝藻具有营养胞和异形胞。异形胞是厌氧的固氮场所。       

湖北保康白竹磷矿埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组微体化石新材料

埃迪卡拉纪(震旦纪)是早期多细胞生物起源与辐射的重要地质时期,磷酸盐化保存的微体化石则是研究该时期生命演化的重要窗口。目前对我国扬子地台埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组磷酸盐化微体化石的研究主要集中于贵州瓮安等地,其他地区的研究偏少。本次研究报道了保存于湖北保康白竹磷矿埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组磷块岩的微体化石。这些微体化石以三维磷酸盐化形式保存,种类丰富,共计14属21种,包括大型带刺疑源类Asterocapsoides sp.,Dicrospinasphaera sp.,Knollisphaeridium sp.,Mengeosphaera chadianensis,Tanarium conoideum,T.digi-tiforme,T.pilosiusculum,Tianzhushania sp.;球状化石Megasphaera inornata;球状蓝藻Archaeophycus yunnanensis,丝状蓝藻Cyanonema majus,Obruchevella minor,Salome sp.,Siphonophycus septatum,S.robustum,S.typicum,S.kestron;以及多细胞藻类Gremiphyca corymbiata,Thallophyca ramosa,Wengania exquisita,W.globosa。这些微体化石的发现,进一步丰富了白竹磷矿陡山沱组的化石组合,为华南扬子地台陡山沱组的生物地层对比提供了新的材料。     

湖南张家界四都坪埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组微体化石新材料

首次描述并研究了在湖南张家界四都坪乡四都坪剖面埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组下部硅质条带和结核中发现的保存精美的微体化石。化石组合包括大型具刺疑源类Cavaspina acuminata,Cavaspina basiconica,Gyalosphaeridium sp.,Mengeosphaera latibasis,Tanarium varium,Tanariumsp.和Urasphaera fungiformis;球状化石Megasphaera inornata;球状、丝状蓝藻化石Archaeophycus yunnanensis,Polytrichoides sp.,Salome hubeiensis,Siphonophycus robustum,S.typicum,S.kestron,和S.solidum以及多细胞藻类Wengania minuta。该微体化石组合与湖北峡东地区陡山沱组三段硅质结核中以大型具刺疑源类Tanarium为特征的组合面貌基本一致。这些微体化石的发现,进一步完善了我国埃迪卡拉系(震旦系)陡山沱组的生物地层序列,也为华南扬子地区陡山沱组的地层对比提供了新的古生物证据。     

贵州中部埃迪卡拉系—寒武系留茶坡组的颤藻化石*

在我国贵州省麻江县埃迪卡拉纪—寒武纪过渡时期的留茶坡组硅质岩中,发现了丰富的丝状蓝藻化石。通过观察岩石薄片共鉴定出蓝藻门颤藻科的6个种,包括Calyptothrix perfecta,Calyptothrix major,Megathrix longus,Obruchevellasp.,Palaeolyngbya barghoorniana,以及Palaeolyngbyasp.。此外,还发现一种未定名的丝状微体化石,经观察与对比,认为该丝状化石形态接近于现代鞘丝藻Lyngbya,由于其胶鞘具有独特的规则环纹,可能为鞘丝藻属的一个新种,在本组硅质岩中为首次发现。该发现丰富了留茶坡组的微体生物化石资料,为埃迪卡拉纪—早寒武世的生物演化提供新的化石材料。     

异形胞与蓝藻的固氮

一些丝状蓝藻具有异形胞,它们是由丝状体中的营养细胞转化而来的,异形胞能够直接固定大气中的Ｎ２（分子态）,形成可为植物利用的氮素化合物,具异形胞的丝状蓝藻在保持自然界中的氮素循环,增加土壤肥力,提高农作物产量等方面均有重要意义。     

FtsZ may have dual roles in the filamentous cyanobacterium Nostoc/Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

The cellular and subcellular localization of FtsZ, a bacterial cell division protein, were investigated in vegetative cells of the filamentous cyanobacterium Nostoc/Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. We show by using immunogold-transmission electron microscopy that FtsZ forms a ring structure in a filamentous cyanobacterium, similar to observations in unicellular bacteria and chloroplasts. This finding, that the FtsZ in a filamentous cyanobacterium accumulates at the growing edge of the division septa leading to the formation of the typical prokaryotic Z-ring arrangement, is novel. Moreover, an apparent cytoplasmic distribution of FtsZ occurred in vegetative cells. During the transition of vegetative cells into terminally differentiated heterocysts the cytoplasmic FtsZ levels decreased substantially. These findings suggest a conserved function of FtsZ among prokaryotes, including filamentous cyanobacteria with cell differentiation capacity, and possibly a role of FtsZ as a cytoskeletal component in the cytoplasm.     

MreB is important for cell shape but not for chromosome segregation of the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

MreB is a bacterial actin that plays important roles in determination of cell shape and chromosome partitioning in Escherichia coli and Caulobacter crescentus. In this study, the mreB from the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 was inactivated. Although the mreB null mutant showed a drastic change in cell shape, its growth rate, cell division and the filament length were unaltered. Thus, MreB in Anabaena maintains cell shape but is not required for chromosome partitioning. The wild type and the mutant had eight and 10 copies of chromosomes per cell respectively. We demonstrated that DNA content in two daughter cells after cell division in both strains was not always identical. The ratios of DNA content in two daughter cells had a Gaussian distribution with a standard deviation much larger than a value expected if the DNA content in two daughter cells were identical, suggesting that chromosome partitioning is a random process. The multiple copies of chromosomes in cyanobacteria are likely required for chromosome random partitioning in cell division.     

Purification and properties of glutamine synthetases from the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 and Calothrix sp. strain PCC 7601.

Glutamine synthetases (GSs) from two cyanobacteria, one unicellular (Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803) and the other filamentous (Calothrix sp. strain PCC 7601 [Fremyella diplosiphon]), were purified to homogeneity. The biosynthetic activities of both enzymes were strongly inhibited by ADP, indicating that the energy charge of the cell might regulate the GS activity. Both cyanobacteria exhibited an ammonium-mediated repression of GS synthesis. In addition, the Synechocystis sp. showed an inactivation of GS promoted by ammonium that had not been demonstrated previously in cyanobacteria.     

Cyanobacteria inhabiting biological soil crusts of a polar desert: Sør Rondane Mountains,Antarctica

Molecular and morphological methods were applied to study cyanobacterial community composition in biological soil crusts (BSCs) from four areas (two nunataks and two ridges) in the Sør Rondane Mountains, Antarctica. The sampling sites serve as control areas for open top chambers (OTCs) that were put in place in 2010 at the time of sample collection and will be compared with BSC samples taken from the OTCs in the future. Cyanobacterial cell biovolume was estimated using epifluorescence microscopy, which revealed the dominance of filamentous cyanobacteria in all studied sites except the Utsteinen ridge, where unicellular cyanobacteria were the most abundant. Cyanobacterial diversity was studied by a combination of molecular fingerprinting methods based on the 16S rRNA gene (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and 454 pyrosequencing) using cyanobacteria-specific primers. The number of DGGE sequences obtained per site was variable and, therefore, a high-throughput method was subsequently employed to improve the diversity coverage. Consistent with previous surveys in Antarctica, both methods showed that filamentous cyanobacteria, such as Leptolyngbya sp., Phormidium sp. and Microcoleus sp., were dominant in the studied sites.In addition, the studied localities differed in substrate type, climatic conditions and soil parameters, which probably resulted in differences in cyanobacterial community composition. Furthermore, the BSC growing on gneiss pebbles had lower cyanobacterial abundances than BSCs associated with granitic substrates.     

FtsZ degradation in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

In prokaryotes, cell division is normally achieved by binary fission, and the key player FtsZ is considered essential for the complete process. In cyanobacteria, much remains unknown about several aspects of cell division, including the identity and mechanism of the various components involved in the division process. Here, we report results obtained from a search of the players implicated in cell division, directly associating to FtsZ in the filamentous, heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. Histidine tag pull-downs were used to address this question. However, the main observation was that FtsZ is a target of proteolysis. Experiments using various cell-free extracts, an unrelated protein, and protein blot analyses further supported the idea that FtsZ is proteolytically cleaved in a specific manner. In addition, we show evidence that both FtsZ termini seem to be equally prone to proteolysis. Taken together, our data suggest the presence of an unknown player in cyanobacterial cell division, opening up the possibility to investigate novel mechanisms to control cell division in Anabaena PCC 7120.     

Chemoheterotrophic Growth of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120 Dependent on a Functional Cytochrome c Oxidase

Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is a filamentous cyanobacterium commonly used as a model organism for studying cyanobacterial cell differentiation and nitrogen fixation. For many decades, this cyanobacterium was considered an obligate photo-lithoautotroph. We now discovered that this strain is also capable of mixotrophic, photo-organoheterotrophic, and chemo-organoheterotrophic growth if high concentrations of fructose (at least 50 mM and up to 200 mM) are supplied. Glucose, a substrate used by some facultatively organoheterotrophic cyanobacteria, is not effective in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. The gtr gene from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 encoding a glucose carrier was introduced into Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. Surprisingly, the new strain containing the gtr gene did not grow on glucose but was very sensitive to glucose, with a 5 mM concentration being lethal, whereas the wild-type strain tolerated 200 mM glucose. The Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 strain containing gtr can grow mixotrophically and photo-organoheterotrophically, but not chemo-organoheterotrophically with fructose. Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 contains five respiratory chains ending in five different respiratory terminal oxidases. One of these enzymes is a mitochondrial-type cytochrome c oxidase. As in almost all cyanobacteria, this enzyme is encoded by three adjacent genes called coxBAC1. When this locus was disrupted, the cells lost the capability for chemo-organoheterotrophic growth.     

The developmental regulator PatD modulates assembly of the cell-division protein FtsZ in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

FtsZ is a tubulin-like GTPase that polymerizes to initiate the process of cell division in bacteria. Heterocysts are terminally differentiated cells of filamentous cyanobacteria that have lost the capacity for cell division and in which the ftsZ gene is downregulated. However, mechanisms of FtsZ regulation during heterocyst differentiation have been scarcely investigated. The patD gene is NtcA dependent and involved in the optimization of heterocyst frequency in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. Here, we report that the inactivation of patD caused the formation of multiple FtsZ-rings in vegetative cells, cell enlargement, and the retention of peptidoglycan synthesis activity in heterocysts, whereas its ectopic expression resulted in aberrant FtsZ polymerization and cell division. PatD interacted with FtsZ, increased FtsZ precipitation in sedimentation assays, and promoted the formation of thick straight FtsZ bundles that differ from the toroidal aggregates formed by FtsZ alone. These results suggest that in the differentiating heterocysts, PatD interferes with the assembly of FtsZ. We propose that in Anabaena FtsZ is a bifunctional protein involved in both vegetative cell division and regulation of heterocyst differentiation. In the differentiating cells PatD-FtsZ interactions appear to set an FtsZ activity that is insufficient for cell division but optimal to foster differentiation.     

New Microorganisms from the Gaoyuzhuang Formation of Northern Taihang Mountains,China

A new diverse assemblage of microorganisms has been discovered in black bedded, nodular and lenticular cherts and dark chert of domical stromatolites in dolostone of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation in Lingqiu County, northern Taihang Mountains. The geologic relationships, biostratigraphic correlations, and available radiometric age determinations place the age of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation at approximately 1 400-1 600 million years in age. Eight new species, three unnamed species, and two emended genera of oscillatoriacean, nostocacean, and chroococcacean cyanobacteria are described. These data coupled with reports of others indicate that the diversity of taxa in the Gaoyuzhuang Formation reaches 100 species. The Gaoyuzhuang Formation contains one of the richest Mesoproterozoic communities of microfossils. The following new and emended taxa are described: Oscillatoriaceae: Eophormidium orculiformis sp. nov., E . sp., Siphonophycus caudataceous sp. nov., Palaeolyngbya complanata sp. nov., P. capitata sp. nov., P . sp. and Oscillatoriopsis sp..Nostocaceae: Veteronostocale vaginata sp. nov.. Chroococcaceae: Maculosphaera giganta sp. nov. and Gloeotheceopsis grandis sp. nov. Incertae sedis: Myxococcoides limpida sp. nov.     

华北太行山北段高于庄组微古植物的新发现

长城群高于庄组主要分布于我国华北地区,地质年龄约在14－16亿年。主要描述了华北太行山北段灵邱县境内高于组白云岩中的层状和扁豆状透镜体燧石及穹隆式叠层石的黑色燧石中的颤藻、念珠藻和色球藻植物的8个新种和3个未定种,其中还有两个新修订属。这些新的促群再加上前人在高于庄组地层中已报道的汇成了近100个种生物组合,进一步证明高于庄组地地球上中元代微化石类群最丰富的产地之一。以下是该 新发现和新修订的分类类群：颤藻科（Oscillatoriaceae): Eophormkidium orculiformis sp. nov., E. sp., Siphonophycus caudataceous sp. nov., Palaeolyngbya complanata sp. nov., P. capitata sp. nvo., P. sp., Oscilaltoriopsis sp.;念珠藻科（Nosto-caceae):Veteronostiocale vaginata sp.nov.;色球藻科（Chroococcaceae):Maculosphaera giganta sp.nov.,Gloeotheceopsis grandis sp.nov.;分类位置未定的类群：Myxococcoides limpida sp.nov.。