余甘子采后软腐病拮抗菌的筛选、鉴定及其防效

【背景】由青霉菌引起的软腐病是余甘子采后贮藏期的主要病害,造成了经济损失严重。【目的】筛选对余甘子软腐病菌具有良好拮抗效果的放线菌菌株,并初步评价拮抗菌无菌发酵液的防治效果。【方法】以PenicilliumchoerospondiatisDQ23为指示菌,采用琼脂块法结合生长速率法进行拮抗菌株的筛选,并采用形态学特征、生理生化特性结合16S rRNA基因序列进行分类鉴定,并采用浸果法初步测定其无菌发酵液对余甘子软腐病发生及果实贮藏品质的影响。【结果】菌株SC-15对青霉P.choerospondiatis DQ23有较强的拮抗作用,拮抗圈直径为18.70 mm,20%无菌发酵液对软腐病菌的抑制率可达87.8%。根据菌株形态学和生理生化特性,结合16SrRNA基因序列分析将菌株SC-15鉴定为维及尼链霉菌(Streptomycesvirginae)。菌株SC-15无菌发酵液能降低余甘子的腐烂率和腐烂指数,延缓可溶性固形物和可滴定酸的降低,其中75%发酵液浸果效果最好,贮藏8d后,果实腐烂率为53.3%,果实腐烂指数为35.2%,可溶性固形物为4.8%,可滴定酸为6.25mg/g。【结论】菌株SC-15可有效防治余甘子采后青霉软腐病的发生,具有一定的应用价值。     

致病疫霉拮抗菌株YR-7 的分离鉴定及其活性物质

【目的】从黄河边的农田土壤中分离筛选拮抗致病疫霉的粘细菌,鉴定目标菌株,分析其发酵上清液的稳定性及对马铃薯晚疫病菌的抑制效果,为活性物质分离鉴定及抗马铃薯晚疫病菌生物农药的研发奠定基础。【方法】采用兔粪诱导法分离菌株,通过平板对峙法筛选对马铃薯晚疫病菌有拮抗作用的粘细菌,通过形态特征、生理生化特征以及16S r RNA基因序列分析对菌株进行鉴定。采用称重法测定菌株生长曲线,通过平皿法测定菌株不同生长时期发酵上清液对致病疫霉的菌丝生长抑制率和浓缩发酵上清液的稳定性。通过马铃薯离体叶片涂布浓缩发酵上清液和接种病原菌孢子悬浮液法,测定该菌株对马铃薯晚疫病的防病作用。【结果】从土壤样品中共分离获得7株粘细菌,其中4株拮抗致病疫霉,拮抗效果最强的为YR-7菌株,菌丝的生长抑制率为96%,该菌株被鉴定为Myxococcus xanthus。培养7 d后,菌株发酵上清液对致病疫霉的抑制活性趋于稳定。浓缩发酵上清液经30-50°C处理后,对致病疫霉菌丝的生长抑制率可达50.90%,高于50°C时抑菌活性逐渐下降,90°C处理后菌丝的生长抑制率仍可达25.45%。浓缩发酵上清液在p H 4.0-9.0条件下比较稳定,保持40.21%以上菌丝的生长抑制率,当p H4.0或p H9.0时,抗菌活性显著降低。活性物质不能被蛋白酶降解,其抗菌活性不受紫外线、自然光照射的影响。对马铃薯离体叶片的生防效果检测表明,YR-7的浓缩发酵上清液处理组叶片相对病斑面积仅为0.35%,对照组的相对病斑面积高达68.19%。【结论】粘细菌菌株YR-7可以产生抗马铃薯晚疫病菌的次生代谢产物,抗菌活性物质具有较好的稳定性,可以有效抑制致病疫霉侵染马铃薯叶片,具有开发成抗马铃薯晚疫病生物农药的潜在价值。     

新疆野果林苹果腐烂病病原菌鉴定及药用植物内生细菌对其抑菌效果

【背景】药用植物内生细菌能产生与寄主植物相同或相似的化合物及一些新的次级代谢产物等,具有促进宿主植物生长、抵抗病虫害、降解有毒有害化合物等作用。【目的】进一步提高苹果腐烂病生物防治的效率,丰富新疆药用植物内生细菌拮抗功能菌株的资源库。【方法】从新疆伊犁新源县和塔城额敏县野果林中采集带腐烂病病斑的果树枝条,分离鉴定苹果腐烂病病原菌,并采用平板对峙法从药用植物内生细菌中筛选对苹果腐烂病具有抑制作用的拮抗菌株。【结果】从两地共分离获得234株分离株,筛选鉴定出25株Valsa malicola和2株Valsa mali;同时,筛选出92株具有抑菌效果的内生细菌菌株,其中70株来自甘草植物内生细菌。【结论】药用植物甘草中富含较为丰富的抗苹果腐烂病病原菌的微生物菌株资源。本研究在新疆野果林苹果腐烂病的生物防治及药用植物内生细菌的开发利用等方面具有重要意义。     

一株马铃薯干腐病拮抗菌的筛选、鉴定及其生物防效

【背景】马铃薯干腐病是一种由镰刀菌引起的田间和储藏期都普遍发生的病害,主要引起块茎腐烂,致使马铃薯品质和产量降低,严重影响其食用价值和经济价值。【目的】发掘有效的生防菌株以控制马铃薯干腐病,并探究其抑菌作用。【方法】从甘肃定西地区马铃薯根际土壤中分离到109株细菌,以硫色镰刀菌(Fusarium sulphureum)为靶标菌,采用平板对峙法筛选拮抗菌,并通过形态学、生理生化特征及16S r RNA基因序列分析对拮抗菌株进行鉴定。检测拮抗菌无菌发酵液对F.sulphureum菌丝生长、孢子萌发、马铃薯块茎损伤接种病斑直径、干腐病发病率及对绿豆种子发芽的影响。【结果】筛选到一株对马铃薯干腐病有较强抑制作用的菌株YL11,经鉴定其为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.)菌株。YL11菌株无菌发酵液对F.sulphureum菌丝生长、孢子萌发、马铃薯块茎病斑扩展、干腐病发病率、毒素活性均有显著抑制作用。20%无菌发酵液对F.sulphureum菌落生长的抑制率达到87.3%;75%无菌发酵液可完全抑制孢子萌发;无菌发酵液浸泡能有效抑制马铃薯干腐病病斑的扩展,14 d时对病斑扩展的抑制率达到67.1%;90 d后干腐病的发生率降低了68.4%;同时降低了F.sulphureum毒素的活性。【结论】拮抗菌株YL11能显著抑制F.sulphureum的生长,对马铃薯干腐病有较强的生物防治效果,具有潜在的应用价值。     

甲基营养型芽孢杆菌拮抗玉蜀黍尾孢菌、链格菌和灰葡萄孢菌及环脂肽分析

【目的】探究甲基营养型芽孢杆菌(Bacillus methylotrophicus)对植物病原菌玉蜀黍尾孢菌(Cercospora zeae-maydis Tehon et Daniels)、链格菌(Alternaria alternate)和灰葡萄孢菌(Botrytis cinerea)的拮抗作用并鉴定抗菌物质,为其病害防治提供优良生防菌。【方法】平板对峙法初筛和杯碟法筛选拮抗菌株;微生物形态学和16S rRNA基因鉴定拮抗菌株;薄层色谱(TLC)和编码基因分析鉴定抗菌物质;玉米田间生防试验评估拮抗菌对3种病原菌的防治效果。【结果】筛选到一株能够明显拮抗玉蜀黍尾孢菌、链格菌和灰葡萄孢菌的甲基营养型芽孢杆菌B-1841,抑制率分别为65.95%、71.04%和46.69%,抑菌物质为伊枯草菌素类脂肽。玉米田间生防试验表明,菌株B-1841对玉蜀黍尾孢菌、链格菌和灰葡萄孢菌感染的玉米病害均有防治效果,相对防效分别为60.25%、69.89%和45.21%。【结论】甲基营养型芽孢杆菌B-1841对玉蜀黍尾孢菌、链格菌和灰葡萄孢菌引起的病害有防治作用,在农作物真菌病害防治方面具有潜在应用价值。     

相似穿孔线虫拮抗细菌的筛选及分子鉴定

【背景】相似穿孔线虫是一种重要的检疫性有害生物,其寄主范围广,危害具有毁灭性,已给我国农业生产造成潜在威胁。由于目前大多化学杀线剂毒性较高,筛选获得对相似穿孔线虫具有拮抗活性的微生物菌株对线虫防控具有重要意义。【方法】广泛从染病香蕉植株根际采集土壤样本,运用等比稀释涂布平板法分离菌株;采用摇瓶发酵法制备拮抗菌株上清液和发酵液。通过室内生物测定和盆栽试验,筛选出对相似穿孔线虫具有拮抗作用的细菌菌株,并通过16S rDNA的PCR扩增和序列分析,对拮抗菌株进行种类鉴定。【结果】获得5株对相似穿孔线虫具有较理想拮抗活性的细菌菌株。其中,菌株HD-86的作用效果最好,其发酵上清液处理24 h后的相似穿孔线虫死亡率达100%。盆栽试验表明,菌株HD-86发酵液处理42和70 d后对相似穿孔线虫的相对防效分别为77.34%和90.51%,均优于对照药剂阿维菌素。【结论与意义】菌株HD-86对相似穿孔线虫具有很强的拮抗作用,将其鉴定为洋葱伯克氏菌Burkholderia cepacia。本研究可为相似穿孔线虫生防制剂的研发和病害的防控提供依据。     

地锦草内生细菌多样性、拮抗及促生特性测定

【背景】植物内生细菌既能抑制病原菌对植物的侵染,也具有促生作用。分离具有拮抗和促生活性的内生细菌可为开发微生物菌肥提供理论依据。【目的】筛选内生细菌中的优势拮抗、促生菌种资源。【方法】以地锦草为材料,采用4种分离培养基分离该植物内生细菌,通过形态特征以及16S r RNA基因序列分析,鉴定内生细菌的分类归属。采用平板对峙法,测定内生细菌对棉花立枯丝核菌(Rhizoctonia solani)、小麦赤霉病菌(Fusarium graminearum)、玉米小斑病菌(Bipolaris maydis)的拮抗活性。通过固氮、解磷、产吲哚乙酸(Indole Acetic Acid,IAA)、产铁载体能力等指标初步检测地锦草内生细菌的促生活性。【结果】共分离到133株内生细菌,分属于4门5纲8目13科25属,其中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)为优势门(52.63%),优势属为芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus),占15.79%。发现有8株菌相似性小于98.65%,可能为潜在新物种。拮抗活性结果表明,22株菌有不同程度的抑菌作用,其中菌株DHL56、DHN17、DHP3、DHP8对这3种病原菌都有抑制作用,均为芽孢杆菌属。菌株DHP8抑制作用最强,对棉花立枯丝核菌、小麦赤霉病菌抑制率分别为73.80%、71.25%,对玉米小斑病菌抑制率为61.70%。促生潜力结果表明,76株菌具有固氮能力;19株菌具有解磷能力;37株菌能产吲哚乙酸,菌株DHL55产吲哚乙酸的量达到105.67mg/L;7株菌能合成铁载体。其中有9株菌同时有固氮、解磷、产吲哚乙酸能力;菌株DHP8具有固氮、解磷、合成铁载体能力。DHP8不仅具有一定促生潜力,还对棉花立枯丝核菌、小麦赤霉病菌、玉米小斑病菌有明显的拮抗作用,需进一步研究。【结论】地锦草内生细菌种类丰富,获得多株具有优良拮抗和促生活性的菌株,为进一步开发微生物农药及菌肥资源提供新的菌株材料。     

库尔勒香梨黑头病拮抗菌的筛选和鉴定

【背景】库尔勒香梨黑头病是近年来发现的一种由芸薹生链格孢菌(Alternaria brassicicola)XL2引起的采后病症,由于其高侵染率和高腐烂率造成了极大的经济损失,目前已成为库尔勒香梨采后储运的主要防治病症之一。【目的】发掘高效的库尔勒香梨黑头病拮抗菌,探索拮抗菌株的抑菌作用,为其生物防治提供潜在资源菌。【方法】从采后健康果蔬表面分离不同微生物,采用平板对峙法,以A.brassicicola XL2为靶标菌筛选具有拮抗作用的菌株,结合形态学观察、生理生化检测和16S rRNA基因序列分析鉴定拮抗菌株分类地位;检测拮抗菌无菌滤液对A. brassicicola XL2的抑制效应,显微观察拮抗菌对A.brassicicola XL2菌丝生长的影响;验证拮抗菌发酵液在库尔勒香梨果实上的抑菌活性。【结果】从新疆油桃表面分离获得90株菌,其中菌株Y2对A. brassicicola XL2有较强拮抗作用,经鉴定其为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)。菌株Y2的无菌滤液对A. brassicicola XL2菌落生长具有明显抑制作用,2%的无菌滤液抑菌率达到70.96%;Y2无菌滤液造成A.brassicicola XL2菌丝扭曲变形、分枝增加、尖端出现致密结构等异常现象;Y2发酵液和无菌滤液明显抑制A.brassicicola XL2的孢子萌发;Y2发酵液在库尔勒香梨果实上具有较高抑菌活性,对库尔勒香梨病斑直径抑制率达到37.66%,深度抑制率达到42.74%。【结论】枯草芽孢杆菌(B.subtilis)Y2能有效抑制A. brassicicola XL2的生长,对库尔勒香梨黑头病具有显著的生物防治效果。     

短芽胞杆菌对香蕉采后炭疽病的防治

【背景】香蕉炭疽病是香蕉贮运过程中常见的病害,危害严重。【目的】评价短芽胞杆菌菌株FJAT-17214和FJAT-10657的抗菌活性,并进行菌株鉴定。【方法】采用抑菌圈法和菌丝生长速率法对菌株FJAT-17214和FJAT-10657的拮抗活性进行测定,采用香蕉果实回接法测定这2株菌对香蕉采后炭疽病病原菌的抗菌活性;根据菌株FJAT-17214和FJAT-10657的形态观察、特异性鉴定和16SrRNA基因序列进行种属鉴定。【结果】菌株FJAT-17214和FJAT-10657发酵上清液对香蕉炭疽病病原菌菌丝生长具有抑制作用,抑菌圈直径分别达到15.30 mm和15.35 mm。随着菌株培养时间的延长,菌株FJAT-17214和FJAT-10657发酵上清液抑菌效果也逐渐增强,培养72 h时,抑菌圈直径分别增大至17.37 mm和20.96 mm。不同添加量发酵上清液对香蕉炭疽病病原菌生长均具有一定的抑制作用。当培养基中添加50 m L菌株FJAT-17214和FJAT-10657的发酵上清液时,其抑菌率可分别达到83.90%和85.84%。接种炭疽病病原菌4 d后,防治效果分别为67.88%和54.55%,处理后香蕉果皮β-1,3-葡聚糖酶活性均明显高于对照。对菌株FJAT-17214和FJAT-10657进行形态学观察、特异性鉴定和16SrRNA基因种属鉴定的结果表明,这2株菌分别被鉴定为短短芽胞杆菌(Brevibacillus brevis)和人参土壤短芽胞杆菌(Brevibacillus panacihumi)。【结论】菌株FJAT-17214和FJAT-10657对香蕉采后炭疽病具有较好的防治效果,可作为采后病害防治微生物的材料。     

植物根际促生菌对3种土传真菌病害病原的抑制作用

【目的】获取促生同时可防治3种土传真菌病害(Fusarium oxysporum、Sclerotinia sclerotiorum和Rhizoctonia solani)的生防菌,并明确其抑菌效果。【方法】利用前期研究获得的17株促生菌,采用平板对峙法测定其对病原真菌的拮抗作用及对菌丝生长的抑制作用。【结果】可有效拮抗立枯丝核菌的生防菌有6株,其中促生菌株FX2和LM4-3的抑制率达73.82%;拮抗尖孢镰刀菌的生防菌有7株,其中FX2的抑制率达到66.81%;拮抗油菜菌核病菌的生防菌有4株,其中菌株LHS11的抑制率高达85.71%。菌株LHS11和JM170通过次生代谢物抑制病原真菌。所有的生防菌对病原菌的菌丝生长均有一定的抑制作用。【结论】筛选得到对3种真菌病害病原具有较好生防作用的菌株LHS11和FX2。     

壳聚糖酶的克隆表达与壳寡糖的制备分析

目的:克隆壳聚糖酶基因于大肠杆菌中实现高表达,制备壳寡糖。方法:以枯草芽孢杆菌总DNA为模板扩增壳聚糖酶基因(CSN),克隆至载体pET23a(+)上,转化菌株BL21(DE3)。重组子经0.5 mmol/L IPTG诱导后,SDS-PAGE和质谱检测与鉴定重组酶。酶纯化后水解壳聚糖,薄层色谱分析其水解产物。结果:质谱证明壳聚糖酶(31.5kDa)成功表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白的45%左右。纯化后重组酶浓度为900 mg/L,纯度95%、回收率85%,酶活力为10 000 U/mg。壳聚糖降解产物为壳二糖至壳四糖。结论:原核表达载体pET23a(+)-CSN构建正确,壳聚糖酶表达量与活性高,适用于水解壳聚糖制备壳寡糖。     

国内外蝗害治理技术现状与展望

本文首先概述了国内外蝗虫发生与为害的态势,总结了现阶段我国蝗虫发生与为害的主要特点:即农田飞蝗暴发频繁而且严重,草原土蝗的发生时常造成严重的经济损失,而且侵入城市干扰市民生活,我国与周边国家之间蝗虫过境迁移频繁,使用化学农药污染环境和农产品;分析了国内外蝗虫防治对策与技术的发展现状,重点介绍了应急防治和可持续治理对策、...     

放牧对牧草光合作用、呼吸作用和氮、碳吸收与转运的影响

研究放牧对草地植物生理活动的影响,对于揭示草地放牧演替的生理机制有重要意义.大量研究表明,家畜放牧对牧草光合作用、呼吸作用以及C和N吸收与转运的影响,可以分为生理伤害和生理恢复2个阶段.放牧通过改变草地冠层结构影响牧草光合作用,净光合作用速率短期内迅速下降,随着叶面积指数增加又逐渐上升,呼吸作用有相似的变化趋势.牧草放牧后再生长所需的C和N最初主要来自根系和留茬中的贮藏物质,此后随着牧草生长恢复逐渐由同化作用供给,C代谢与土壤N水平负相关.放牧后牧草生理活动变化与牧草遗传特性、种间竞争、家畜放牧特征、非生物环境等因素密切相关.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of peroxidase- and laccase-catalyzed oxidation of N-substituted phenothiazines and phenoxazines

N -substituted phenothiazines (PTs) and phenoxazines (POs) catalyzed by fungal Coprinus cinereus peroxidase and Polyporus pinsitus laccase were investigated at pH 4–10. In the case of peroxidase, an apparent bimolecular rate constant (expressed as k _cat/K _m) varied from 1 ×10⁷M⁻¹s⁻¹to 2.6×10⁸M⁻¹s⁻¹ at pH 7.0. The constants for PO oxidation were higher in comparison to PT. pH dependence revealed two or three ionizable groups with pK _a values of 4.9–5.7 and 7.7–9.7 that significantly affected the activity of peroxidase. Single-turnover experiments showed that the limiting step of PT oxidation was reduction of compound II and second-order rate constants were obtained which were consistent with the constants at steady-state conditions. Laccase-catalyzed PT and PO oxidation rates were lower; apparent bimolecular rate constants varied from 1.8×10⁵M⁻¹s⁻¹ to 2.0×10⁷M⁻¹s⁻¹ at pH 5.3. PO constants were higher in comparison to PT, as was the case with peroxidase. The dependence of the apparent bimolecular constants of compound II or copper type 1 reduction, in the case of peroxidase or laccase, respectively, was analyzed in the framework of the Marcus outer-sphere electron-transfer theory. Peroxidase-catalyzed reactions with PT, as well as PO, fitted the same hyperbolic dependence with a maximal oxidation rate of 1.6×10⁸M⁻¹s⁻¹ and a reorganization energy of 0.30 eV. The respective parameters for laccase were 5.0×10⁷M⁻¹s⁻¹ and 0.29 eV. Received: 20 September 1999 / Accepted: 24 February 2000     

Coiled-coil nanomechanics and uncoiling and unfolding of the superhelix and alpha-helices of myosin

The nanomechanical properties of the coiled-coils of myosin are fundamentally important in understanding muscle assembly and contraction. Force spectra of single molecules of double-headed myosin, single-headed myosin, and coiled-coil tail fragments were acquired with an atomic force microscope and displayed characteristic triphasic force-distance responses to stretch: a rise phase (R) and a plateau phase (P) and an exponential phase (E). The R and P phases arise mainly from the stretching of the coiled-coils, with the hinge region being the main contributor to the rise phase at low force. Only the E phase was analyzable by the worm-like chain model of polymer elasticity. Restrained molecular mechanics simulations on an existing x-ray structure of scallop S2 yielded force spectra with either two or three phases, depending on the mode of stretch. It revealed that coiled-coil chains separate completely near the end of the P phase and the stretching of the unfolded chains gives rise to the E phase. Extensive conformational searching yielded a P phase force near 40 pN that agreed well with the experimental value. We suggest that the flexible and elastic S2 region, particularly the hinge region, may undergo force-induced unfolding and extend reversibly during actomyosin powerstroke.     

白术同源四倍体的诱导和鉴定及其与二倍体过氧化物酶的比较

以白术（Atractylodes macrooephala Koidz.）二倍体组培苗为材料,对其四倍体诱导方法进行研究,共获得45个白术同源四倍体株系,为优良株系的选育提供了材料。此外,还分析比较了其中8个白术四倍体株系与二倍体的过氧化物酶同工酶（POD）的酶谱差异,发现四倍体各株系过氧化物酶同工酶谱比二倍体的均多了Rf0.310的谱带,且总过氧化物酶比活力也发生了很大改变,对探讨白术四倍体优良株系的生理生化机理具有一定的参考价值。     

Synthesis of hapten and conjugates of coumestrol and development of immunoassay

3-O-Carboxymethylcoumestrol was prepared as the hapten for immunoassay by a partial alkylation of coumestrol with ethyl chloroacetate in acetone alkalized with potassium carbonate. 3-O-Ethoxycarbonylmethylcoumestrol was separated by column chromatography and finally was hydrolyzed with formic acid. 1H and 13C NMR data (APT, COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) revealed that the reaction was regioselective, as 3-O-ethoxycarboxymethylcoumestrol was the only monosubstituted derivative. The hapten was then conjugated to bovine serum albumin and used for immunization of rabbits. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) system was established based on the polyclonal antiserum and a 125I-labeled hapten-tyrosine methyl ester conjugate as the radioligand. Parameters of the RIA: sensitivity: 12 pg per tube, 50% intercept: 140 pg per tube, working range: 20-4000 pg per tube. The cross-reactivity of a panel isoflavonoid and lignan phytoestrogens was either negligible (e.g. formononetin 0.07%; biochanin A 0.06%) or not detectable at all. The major immunoreactive peak in HPLC fractions from an alfalfa extract had the same retention time as coumestrol standard and represented 94.8% of the signal. The remaining 5.2% of immunoreactivity was distributed between five minor peaks. We conclude that after the validation for particular matrices, the method will be a useful tool for analysis of coumestrol, especially in low volume and low concentration samples.     

Morphology and putative function of the colon and cloaca of marine and freshwater snakes

Among tetrapods, evidence for postrenal modification of the urine by the distal digestive tract (including the colon and cloaca) is highly variable. Birds and bladderless reptiles are of interest because the colon and cloaca represent the only sites from which water and ions can be reclaimed from the urine secreted by the kidney. For animals occupying desiccating environments (e.g., deserts and marine environments), postrenal modification of the urine may directly contribute to the maintenance of hypo‐osmotic body fluids. We compared the morphology and distribution of key proteins in the colon, cloaca, and urogenital ducts of watersnakes from marine (Nerodia clarkii clarkii) and freshwater (Nerodia fasciata) habitats. Specifically, we examined the epithelia of each tissue for evidence of mucus production by examining the distribution of mucopolysaccharides, and for evidence of water/ion regulation by examining the distribution of Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase (NKA), Na⁺/K⁺/Cl^? cotransporter (NKCC), and aquaporin 3 (AQP3). NKCC localized to the basolateral epithelium of the colon, urodeal sphincter, and proctodeum, consistent with a role in secretion of Na⁺, Cl^?, and K⁺ from the tissue, but NKA was not detected in the colon or any compartment of the cloaca. Interestingly, NKA was detected in the basolateral epithelium of the ureters, suggesting the urothelium may play a role in active ion transport. AQP3 was detected in the ureters and coprodeal complex, consistent with a role in urinary and fecal dehydration or, potentially, in the production of the watery component of the mucus secreted by the coprodeal complex. Since no differences in general cloacal morphology, production of mucus, or the distribution of ion transporters/water channels were detected between the two species, cloacal osmoregulation may either be regulated by proteins not examined in this study or may not be responsible for the differential success of N. c. clarkii and N. fasciata in marine habitats. J. Morphol. 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.