外源MeJA胁迫对盐生杜氏藻生理生化特性的影响

研究外源茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)对盐生杜氏藻细胞β-胡萝卜素含量、叶绿素含量、过氧化物酶(POD)活性和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的影响。结果表明,当外源MeJA浓度为0～100μmol/L时,随着MeJA浓度的升高,β-胡萝卜素和叶绿素含量呈上升趋势,当MeJA浓度为100μmol/L时,盐生杜氏藻β-胡萝卜素和叶绿素含量最高,当MeJA处理浓度大于100μmol/L时,盐生杜氏藻β-胡萝卜素和叶绿素含量逐渐降低。生理生化结果分析表明,外源MeJA处理可提高盐生杜氏藻POD酶和SOD酶活性,随着MeJA浓度的增加,SOD酶活性呈逐渐上升的趋势,POD酶活性呈先上升后下降的趋势,与β-胡萝卜素含量、叶绿素含量的变化趋势基本一致,说明外源MeJA处理可诱导盐生杜氏藻β-胡萝卜素积累可能与叶绿素含量、过氧化物酶(POD)活性和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性有关。     

一株杜氏藻的分子鉴定与耐盐特性

杜氏藻属（Dunaliella）是绿藻门的一类极端耐盐的单细胞藻。本文通过核基因ITS序列和叶绿体基因rbcL序列确定了一株分离自舟山群岛的杜氏藻D3的分类地位,并比较了4种NaCl浓度对该藻的生长、蛋白质含量、总脂含量和叶绿素荧光参数的影响,以期为该藻在今后的科研与应用提供基础资料。结果表明,该藻与23株杜氏藻的ITS序列之间的遗传距离在0．026—0．136之间,与21株同属藻rbcL序列之间的遗传距离在0．005～0．060之间,由遗传距离和聚类图推断该杜氏藻D3属于D．viridis。不同NaCl浓度对该藻D3生长影响表明1．00mol·L^-1NaCl培养藻生长最快,培养至10d时,0．44mol·L^-1、2．00mol·L^-1和3．00mol·L^-1NaCl培养藻细胞数分别是它的85．9％、93．2％和80．7％;该藻可溶性蛋白含量在1．00mol·L^-1 NaCl培养最高;藻细胞总脂含量在0．44-2．00mol·L^-1NaCl浓度范围内随盐度升高总脂含量增加,2．00mol·L^-1 NaCl培养最高（占干重的22．3％）;叶绿素荧光参数（F√Fm、ФPSII qp）在高盐（3．00mol-LL^-1 NaCl）培养显著降低,而NPQ则升高。     

杜氏盐藻DsKASⅢ基因的分离鉴定及其在氮胁迫下的表达分析

分离鉴定杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)β-酮脂酰-ACP合酶Ⅲ(β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase Ⅲ,DsKASⅢ)基因并解析其编码蛋白理化特征及功能。依据同源克隆,分离杜氏盐藻DsKASⅢ基因编码序列,采用生物信息学方法解析DsKASⅢ编码蛋白的理化特性及功能,qRT-PCR检测缺氮条件下DsKASⅢ的表达谱,并检测细胞总油脂和β-胡萝卜素含量的变化。结果表明,杜氏盐藻KASⅢ基因含有9个外显子,ORF为960 bp,编码蛋白为319 aa。DsKASⅢ蛋白理论等电点pI为6.21,分子量为33.3 kD。亚细胞定位预测DsKASⅢ蛋白呈镶嵌状锚定在叶绿体内膜上,这种构象有助于利用能量高效率催化生化反应。DsKASⅢ蛋白二级结构主要由α-螺旋(35.11%)、β片层(25.71%)和无规则卷曲(27.90%)组成。三维模拟显示,DsKASⅢ蛋白以同源二聚体形式发挥催化功能的。系统发育分析表明,DsKASⅢ蛋白与莱茵衣藻KASⅢ蛋白亲缘关系最近,暗示其可能有共同的进化来源。qRT-PCR分析揭示,氮胁迫培养条件下,DsKASⅢ基因的表达显著升高,且在缺氮第3天时,表达量达峰值,比正常氮充足培养高1.1倍。氮胁迫培养的藻细胞总脂含量和β-胡萝卜素含量分别比正常氮充足培养的藻细胞提高49.05%和33.20%。氮胁迫能诱导DsKASⅢ基因的上调表达,进而促进杜氏盐藻细胞合成和积累高量油脂和β-胡萝卜素。研究为全面阐明氮胁迫条件下杜氏盐藻油脂及β-胡萝卜素合成及调控机制提供了科学依据。     

盐生杜氏藻3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶基因克隆及其蛋白质结构预测

本文通过对盐生杜氏藻（Dunaliella salina）cDNA文库进行大规模EST测序并结合RACE实验克隆了盐生杜氏藻3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶基因,并且通过Southern blotting实验确定了该基因在这个物种中拷贝数。通过生物信息学的方法,预测该基因所编码的蛋白质结构,验证了该蛋白质具有3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶完整的功能性结构域和磷酸水解酶类结构域。本实验为解释盐生杜氏藻在面临高渗胁迫下快速合成甘油的机制提供了帮助。     

盐生杜氏藻3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶基因克隆及其蛋白质结构预测

本文通过对盐生杜氏藻(Dunaliella salina) cDNA文库进行大规模EST测序并结合RACE实验克隆了盐生杜氏藻3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶基因, 并且通过Southern blotting实验确定了该基因在这个物种中拷贝数。通过生物信息学的方法, 预测该基因所编码的蛋白质结构, 验证了该蛋白质具有3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶完整的功能性结构域和磷酸水解酶类结构域。本实验为解释盐生杜氏藻在面临高渗胁迫下快速合成甘油的机制提供了帮助。     

杜氏盐藻β-酮酯酰-ACP合酶(DsKASⅡ)基因的分离及功能分析

酮脂酰-ACP合成酶Ⅱ(KASⅡ)是催化棕榈酸(16∶0-ACP)延伸为硬脂酸(18∶0-ACP)的关键酶,其活性强弱决定着18碳脂肪酸含量的高低。本文以杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)为试材,分离鉴定杜氏盐藻DsKASⅡ基因编码序列,采用生物信息学工具解析DsKASⅡ酶蛋白的亚细胞定位、高级结构、理化性质及系统发育等特性。检测氮胁迫下的DsKASⅡ表达量,以及藻细胞脂肪酸、叶绿素和β-胡萝卜素的含量。结果表明,DsKASⅡ编码的酶蛋白长度为476 aa,pI为6. 99,含叶绿体靶向肽和较多亲水区。二级结构主要由α-螺旋(22. 48%),β-片层(22. 06%)和无规则卷曲(55. 46%)组成。三级结构预测表明该蛋白整体呈紧密的心形结构,活性酶蛋白为同源二聚体。系统发育分析表明,DsKASⅡ氨基酸序列与莱茵衣藻CrKASⅡ同源性达99%,可能二者有着共同的进化祖先。qRT-PCR揭示,与正常培养的杜氏盐藻相比,DsKASⅡ在氮胁迫条件下的表达量明显上调,第3天时的表达量比正常培养的高4. 5倍。氮胁迫下藻细胞总油脂、油酸(C18∶1)和类胡萝卜素含量显著提高,然而棕榈酸(C16∶0)和叶绿素的含量明显降低。这表明,氮胁迫诱导杜氏盐藻DsKASⅡ基因上调表达,将更多的棕榈酸催化为硬脂酸,进而提高了单不饱和油酸的富集以及类胡萝卜素的积累。本研究为后续进一步解析杜氏盐藻氮胁迫条件下,油脂与胡萝卜素合成积累及藻细胞响应胁迫机制和优质富油藻种培育提供了科学参考。     

杜氏盐藻促生菌株的分离与鉴定

拟通过探究藻际微生物对微藻生长及代谢产物积累的影响,筛选出促进微藻生长的促生菌株。以杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)Ds-SXYC-2为试材,分离鉴定盐藻藻际环境中的共生菌株,进一步构建藻菌(1∶1)共培养体系、测试盐藻生长及代谢产物积累等表型。结果显示,从杜氏盐藻藻际环境分离获得5株共生菌株,经16S rDNA分子鉴定,属于3个菌属。菌株B1与B2为涅斯捷连科氏菌(Nesterenkonia),菌株B3与B4为盐单胞菌(Halomonas),菌株B5为海杆菌(Marinobacter)。5株共生菌株对杜氏盐藻的生长均有促进作用,菌株B3能显著促进杜氏盐藻生长及代谢产物的积累。共培养15 d后,杜氏盐藻生物量达到2.3 g/L,比对照组增加了28.9%,叶绿素a的含量达到4.61 mg/L,比对照组增加了36.3%,β-胡萝卜素比对照组提高了56.4%。盐藻多糖、蛋白质、总脂含量分别比对照组增加了34.8%、71.2%和37.6%。菌株B3盐单胞菌可以作为促进杜氏盐藻生长及代谢产物累积的优势菌株,进一步构建共培养体系可应用于杜氏盐藻的商业生产。     

不同浓度NaCl和光照强度对杜氏藻体内β-胡萝卜素含量的影响

以2种杜氏藻即巴氏杜氏藻和盐生杜氏藻为实验材料,在不同NaCl胁迫和光照(紫外线和高光照强度)进行培养的结果表明,细胞生长的最适盐度是2.0mol·L-1,高产β-胡萝卜素的最适盐度是3.5mol·L-1;紫外线下诱导的藻株环境适应能力较强,β-胡萝卜素含量较高;高光照强度(1080μmol·m-2·s-1)下诱导的杜氏藻β-胡萝卜素含量高;二步法培养的β-胡萝卜素含量比正常培养的提高2倍以上。     

邻苯二甲酸二乙酯和壬基酚联合暴露对杜氏盐藻生长的影响

为了探讨环境激素类物质邻苯二甲酸二乙酯(DEP)和壬基酚(NP)对海洋微藻的联合毒性效应,选取杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)为受试生物,以环境激素对杜氏盐藻单一暴露的96h EC₅₀的毒性效应作为一个毒性单位(IU),采用毒性单位法比较研究了DEP和NP单一暴露以及两者以三种不同混合比例(毒性单位比:1:1、1:4和4:1)暴露对杜氏盐藻的细胞生长、叶绿体色素含量、可溶性蛋白含量、SOD活性以及最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)的影响.实验结果表明:DEP和NP单一暴露对杜氏盐藻的96h EC₅₀分别为69.54 mg/L和1.47 mg/L,两种环境激素对杜氏盐藻均有抑制作用,且NP较DEP对杜氏盐藻的毒性更强.DEP和NP联合暴露较单一暴露对杜氏盐藻的细胞生长、叶绿体色素和可溶性蛋白的合成有较强的抑制作用,两种环境激素在毒性单位比为1:1、1:4、4:1三个比例水平上的联合毒性效应均表现为协同效应,其中比例为1:1的协同效应最强.     

渗透胁迫对杜氏盐藻胞内甘油含量及相关酶活性影响

杜氏盐藻（Dunaliella salina）是一种抗渗透能力强的单细胞绿藻,甘油在其渗透调节过程中发挥重要作用。本实验对5种不同NaCl浓度条件下,盐藻的生长、细胞内甘油含量及甘油代谢相关酶的活性变化进行了测定。结果表明,NaCl浓度过高或过低均影响盐藻的生长;高渗胁迫条件下甘油含量迅速增加,3-磷酸甘油磷酸酶的活性和二羟丙酮还原酶催化二羟丙酮转化为甘油的活性明显增加;而低渗胁迫条件下的甘油含量会迅速降低,3-磷酸甘油磷酸酶的活性丧失,二羟丙酮还原酶催化甘油转化为二羟丙酮的活性增加。基于此实验结果,我们对盐藻渗透胁迫条件下细胞内的甘油代谢过程与其抗渗透胁迫能力的相关性进行了探讨。     

渗透胁迫对杜氏盐藻胞内甘油含量及相关酶活性影响

杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)是一种抗渗透能力强的单细胞绿藻, 甘油在其渗透调节过程中发挥重要作用。本实验对5种不同NaCl浓度条件下, 盐藻的生长、细胞内甘油含量及甘油代谢相关酶的活性变化进行了测定。结果表明, NaCl浓度过高或过低均影响盐藻的生长; 高渗胁迫条件下甘油含量迅速增加,3-磷酸甘油磷酸酶的活性和二羟丙酮还原酶催化二羟丙酮转化为甘油的活性明显增加; 而低渗胁迫条件下的甘油含量会迅速降低, 3-磷酸甘油磷酸酶的活性丧失, 二羟丙酮还原酶催化甘油转化为二羟丙酮的活性增加。基于此实验结果, 我们对盐藻渗透胁迫条件下细胞内的甘油代谢过程与其抗渗透胁迫能力的相关性进行了探讨。     

ACCUMULATION OF β-CAROTENE IN HALOTOLERANT ALGE: PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF β-CAROTENE-RICH GLOBULES FROM DUNALIELLA BARDAWIL (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

Dunaliella bardawil Ben-Amotz & Avron, but not most other Dunaliella species, has a unique property of being able to accumulate, in addition to glycerol, large amounts of β-carotene when cultivated under appropriate conditions. These include high light intensity, a high sodium chloride concentration, nitrate deficiency and extreme temperatures. Under conditions of maximal carotene accumulation D. bardawil contains at least 8% of its dry weight as β-carotene while D. salina grown under similar conditions contains only about 0.3%. Electron micrographs of D. bardawil grown under conditions of high β-carotene accumulation show many β-carotene containing globules located in the interthylakoid spaces of the chloroplast. The same algae grown under conditions where β-carotene does not accumulate, contain few to no β-carotene globules. The β-carotene-rich globules were released from the algae into an aqueous medium by a two-stage osmotic shock technique and further purified by centrifugal ion on 10% sucrose. The isolated purified globules were shown by electron microscopy to be free of significant contamination and composed of membrane-free osmiophilic droplets with an average diameter of 150 nm. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography of a total pigment extract of the cells revealed the presence of β-carotene as the major pigment, together with chlorophylls a and b, α-carotene and the xanthophylls lutein, neoxauthin and zeaxanthin. β-Carotene accounted for essentially all the pigment in the purified globules. Analysis of the algal and globule β-carotene fractions by HPLC showed that the β-carotene was composed of approximately equal amounts of all-trans β-carotene and of its 9-cis isomer. Intact D. bardawil cells contained on a dry weight basis about 30% glycerol, 30% protein, 18% lipid, 11% carbohydrate, 9%β-carotene and 1% chlorophyll. The β-carotene globules were composed of practically only neutral lipids, more than half of which was β-carotene. It is suggested that the β-carotene globules may serve to protect D. bardawil against injury by the high intensity irradiation to which this alga is usually exposed in nature.     

DNA fingerprinting differentiation between β-carotene hyperproducer strains of Dunaliella from around the world

Background

Dunaliella salina is the most important species of the genus for β-carotene production. Several investigations have demonstrated that D. salina produces more than 10% dry weight of pigment and that the species grows in salt saturated lagoons. High plasticity in the green stage and the almost indistinguishable differences in the red phase make identification and differentiation of species and ecotypes very difficult and time consuming.

Results

In this work, we applied our intron-sizing method to compare the 18S rDNA fingerprint between D. salina (CCAP 19/18), D. salina/bardawil (UTEX LB2538) and β-carotene hyperproducing strains of Dunaliella isolated from salt saturated lagoons in Baja, Mexico. All hyperproducer strains reached β-carotene levels of about 10 pg/cell. Optical microscopy did not allow to differentiate between these Dunaliella strains; however, 18S rDNA fingerprinting methodology allowed us to differentiate D. salina from D. salina/bardawil.

Conclusion

In Baja Mexico we found D. salina and D. salina/bardawil species by using intron-sizing-method. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Dunaliella 18S rDNA gene sequences were analyzed with our methodology and extraordinary correlation was found with experimental results.     

Predictive modeling of β-carotene accumulation by Dunaliella salina as a function of pH,NaCI, and irradiance

Predictive modeling of β-carotene accumulation by Dunaliella salina as a function of NaCI, pH, and irradiance was studied. Modified Logistic, Gompertz, Schnute, Richards, and Stannard models were fitted to describe β-carotene accumulation by the alga under various environmental conditions. Lag time (λ, days), maximum accumulation (A, pg/cell), and the maximum production rate (μ, 1/day) for β-carotene accumulation were calculated by modified Logistic and Gompertz models. Values of λ, A, and μ for β-carotene accumulation varied between 0.26 and 20.14 days, 57.48 to 198.76 pg β-carotene/cell, and 1.80 to 3.68 1/day, respectively. Results revealed that Logistic and Gompertz models could be used to describe the accumulation of β-carotene by D. salina as a function of salt concentrations, pH, and irradiance. The highest asymptotic value was predicted from Logistic and Gompertz models at pH 9.0, 48 kerg/(cm² s) light intensity, and 20% NaCl concentration.     

Osmoregulation in Dunaliella, Part I: Effects of osmotic stress on photosynthesis, dark respiration and glycerol metabolism in Dunaliella tertiolecta and its salt-sensitive mutant (HL 25/8).

The photosynthetic oxygen evolution increased by about 30% over control when Dunaliella tertiolecta and its salt-sensitive mutant (HL 25/8) were stressed by raising NaCl concentration from 0.17 to 0.4M, however, during the dilution stress the photosynthetic oxygen evolution was progressively decreased with increasing dilution (decreasing the salinity). The photosynthetic oxygen evolution is affected by the water potential of the medium rather than by the ionic strength. Mitochondrial dark respiration was unaffected by salt stress, however, it was increased by about 50% (parent strain) and 35% (the mutant) upon dilution as if reduced pyridine nucleotide generated during glycerol dissimilation reaction were continuously oxidized by the mitochondria. The salt stress-induced changes in photosynthetic (14)CO(2) fixation were consistent with the observed rates of photosynthetic oxygen evolution. The mutant strain showed about one-half the capability for photosynthesis, and glycerol synthesis compared to the parent strain. However, the proportion of photosynthetically newly fixed carbon during salt stress in glycerol was similar in both strains. The glycerol dissimilation capabilities of both strains were also similar. It is suggested that the salt sensitivity of the mutant is probably due to its reduced dissolved inorganic carbon transport, photosynthetic and starch metabolism capabilities to provide carbon for glycerol synthesis in the time frame of adaptation process.     

Comparative analysis on the key enzymes of the glycerol cycle metabolic pathway in Dunaliella salina under osmotic stresses

The glycerol metabolic pathway is a special cycle way; glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3pdh), glycerol-3-phosphate phosphatase (G3pp), dihydroxyacetone reductase (Dhar), and dihydroxyacetone kinase (Dhak) are the key enzymes around the pathway. Glycerol is an important osmolyte for Dunaliella salina to resist osmotic stress. In this study, comparative activities of the four enzymes in D. salina and their activity changes under various salt stresses were investigated, from which glycerol metabolic flow direction in the glycerol metabolic pathway was estimated. Results showed that the salinity changes had different effects on the enzymes activities. NaCl could stimulate the activities of all the four enzymes in various degrees when D. salina was grown under continuous salt stress. When treated by hyperosmotic or hypoosmotic shock, only the activity of G3pdh in D. salina was significantly stimulated. It was speculated that, under osmotic stresses, the emergency response of the cycle pathway in D. salina was driven by G3pdh via its response to the osmotic stress. Subsequently, with the changes of salinity, other three enzymes started to respond to osmotic stress. Dhar played a role of balancing the cycle metabolic pathway by its forward and backward reactions. Through synergy, the four enzymes worked together for the effective flow of the cycle metabolic pathways to maintain the glycerol requirements of cells in order to adapt to osmotic stress environments.     

The salt relations of marine and halophilic species of the unicellular green alga,Dunaliella

1. Comparisons were made of the effects of salt on the exponential growth rates of two unicellular algae,Dunaliella tertiolecta (marine) andDunaliella viridis (halophilic).
2. The algae contained glycerol in amounts which varied directly with the salt concentration of the growth media. The highest measured glycerol content ofD. tertiolecta was approximately equivalent to 1.4 molal and occurred in algae grown in 1.36 M sodium chloride. The highest glycerol content measured inD. viridis was approximately equivalent to 4.4 molal and occurred in algae grown in 4.25 M sodium chloride. Lower concentrations of free glucose, which varied inversely with extracellular salt concentration, were also detected.
3. It is inferred that Na⁺ is effectively excluded from the two algae. There was some evidence of a moderate uptake of K⁺.
4. Comparisons were made of erude preparations of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and an NADP-specific glycerol dehydrogenase from each species and of the effects of salt and glycerol on the activities of these enzymes. It is concluded that the different salt tolerances of the two algae cannot be explained by generalized differences between their enzyme proteins.
5. Although intracellular glycerol must necessarily contribute to the osmotic status of the algae, its primary function in influencing their salt relations is considered to be that of a compatible solute, whereby glycerol maintains enzyme activity under conditions of high extracellular salt concentration and hence low (thermodynamic) water activity.

     

PRODUCTION AND SELECTION OF HIGH β-CAROTENE MUTANTS OF DUNALIELLA BARDAWIL (CHLOROPHYTA)1

We describe a procedure for the selection of β-carotenerich mutants of the halotolerant alga Dunaliella bardawil Ben-Amotz & Avron. Under normal growth conditions the isolated mutants had a several-fold higher content of β-carotene than the wild type. Under carotene-induction conditions, the mutants also possessed a higher β-carotene content than the wild type. Both the production rate of phytoene and the conversion rate of phytoene to lycopene and β-carotene were accelerated in the mutants. Cycloheximide, which (in the wild type) inhibits the inductive synthesis of the proteins required for β-carotene production, had a much smaller effect on β-carotene biosynthesis in the mutants. We suggest that the mutants are affected in the regulatory path, which controls the induction of high β-carotene production in Dunaliella.