The synthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) by cultured, symbiotic dinoflagellates

We tested the hypothesis that there is a relation between phylotypes (phylogenetic types, as determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and partial sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSUrDNA)) and the synthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) by symbiotic dinoflagellates under the influence of ultraviolet radiation (UV-B/A) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). We exposed 27 isolates of symbiotic dinoflagellates simultaneously to UV-B/A and PAR, and subsequently determined the MAAs present in cell extracts and in the media. The algae used included 24 isolates of Symbiodinium spp. originating from jellyfishes, sea anemones, zoanthids, scleractinians, octocorals, and bivalves, and three others in the genera Gymnodinium, Gloeodinium and Amphidinium from a jellyfish, an hydrocoral and a flatworm, respectively. In this study, all of the phylotype A Symbiodinium spp. synthesized up to three identified MAAs. None of the 11 cultured phylotypes B and C Symbiodinium spp. synthesized MAAs. The three non-Symbiodinium symbionts also synthesized up to three MAAs. The results support a conclusion that phylotype A Symbiodinium spp. have a high predilection for the synthesis of MAAs, while phylotypes B and C do not. Synthesis of MAAs by symbiotic dinoflagellates in culture does not appear to relate directly to depths or to the UV exposure regimes from which the consortia were collected.     

CC to TT mutation in the mitochondrial DNA of normal skin: relationship to ultraviolet light exposure

We have previously reported that ultraviolet (UV)-specific (CC to TT) mutations in p53 gene can be detected in normal skin. This, however, cannot be used as a cumulative marker of UV exposure, since cells with the p53 mutation acquire a clonal growth advantage. Moreover, a large skin biopsy is necessary for each assay. In order to circumvent these problems, we have measured mitochondrial (Mt) DNA mutations; there are more than 1000 copies of the Mt genome per cell, and Mt genes are not directly involved in cell growth. We have established a sensitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) assay capable of detecting one CC to TT mutation in Mt DNA among 10(7) wild-type genes using a mismatch allele-specific primer. With this assay, we found no mutation-positive samples from internal non-exposed tissue (stomach, colon, and blood) (0/50). In contrast, 17 out of 111 skin samples were positive: the mutation frequency in positive samples was around 10(7)-10(-6) (10-100 copies of mutant in 10(8) wild-type Mt DNA). In normal skin tissue, the prevalence of positive samples was higher in those from exposed sites (13/51) than in those from less-exposed sites (1/26) (p<0.05). However, a quantitative correlation between sunlight exposure and the accumulation of mutations was not found. We conclude that the UV exposure-associated CC to TT mutation in Mt DNA can be detected in normal skin, but that further studies are required to develop this as a quantitative marker for UV exposure.     

芳香聚酮早期后修饰环化酶的结构分类和功能分析

聚酮是一类结构和生物活性多样的天然产物,根据结构特点可以分为芳香聚酮和复合聚酮两大类。芳香聚酮环化酶是芳香聚酮生物合成过程中一种非常重要的早期后修饰酶,是决定芳香聚酮骨架结构的主要影响因素。根据序列和结构的相似性,芳香聚酮环化酶可以分为不同的种类。本文主要对其中3类芳香聚酮环化酶结构和功能进行了简要总结,从晶体结构、催化反应和催化机制等方面对它们进行了分类描述和功能分析,并结合自己实验室工作介绍了杰多霉素B环化酶催化机制的研究方法。     

博斯腾湖枝角类群落结构特征及其影响因子

2010—2013年对博斯腾湖17个站位的枝角类及其影响因子进行了11次季度采样调查,阐述了枝角类群落结构特征及其演替动态,分析了博斯腾湖枝角类物种和多样性对环境变量的响应.结果表明： 1)调查期间共鉴定枝角类14种,其中优势种3种.与历史数据比较,喜贫营养型水体的种类减少甚至消失,喜富营养型水体的种类逐步占据群落优势地位.2)枝角类密度时空变动较大,调查期间各站位密度变幅为0～567.0 ind·L^-1,总平均为30.0 ind·L^-1;年际变动上2011年最高(82.5 ind·L^-1),之后逐年递减;水平分布上密度差异显著,主要呈沿岸浅水区高、中心深水区低的特点.3)水温是影响枝角类群落最重要的生态因子;种类分布对水深的响应表现在长刺溞在深水区分布较多,长额象鼻溞多集中在浅水区;食物限制和食浮游动物鱼类的捕食可能是影响博斯腾湖枝角类群落结构变动的重要原因.     

绿色糖单孢菌木质素过氧化物酶的分离纯化及鉴定

木质素过氧化物酶是一种重要的具有工业应用前景的木质素降解酶,但已报道真菌来源的木质素过氧化物酶只能在酸性低温条件下发挥作用,限制了其进一步的工业应用.通过培养一株耐热耐碱放线茵——绿色糖单孢茵发酵产酶,采用DEAE-Cellulose,CM-Cellulose和Superdex 75凝胶过滤层析等分离纯化方法,得到一种具有耐热耐碱特性的木质素过氧化物酶.经凝胶电泳检测其为单一蛋白,分子量为41 kD.最终纯化倍数达到20倍,活性回收率为6％.采用LTQ法对纯酶进行蛋白质归类鉴定,得到其部分氨基酸片段,为该酶的进一步分子生物学研究奠定基础.     

微生物制氢技术研究进展

氢气是一种清洁高效的可再生能源.该文比较分析了常用于氢气制取的方法,讨论了生物制氢的微生物种类以及发酵产氢的诸多影响因素,对目前生物制氢的研究进展进行了综述.     

干旱胁迫对小麦幼苗抗氰呼吸和活性氧代谢的影响

研究了干旱胁迫对抗旱性强弱不同的两种小麦幼苗的抗氰呼吸和活性氧代谢的影响。干旱胁迫导致了两种小麦抗氰呼吸活性及基因转录水平的下降,但抗旱品种在轻度干旱胁迫下表现出一定的适应能力,其抗氰呼吸活性及基因转录水平均高于不抗旱品种。干旱胁迫下,对干旱敏感的小麦幼苗叶片中活性氧含量高于抗旱小麦;3种抗氧化酶的活性低于抗旱小麦的3种抗氧化酶的活性。据此认为,严重的干旱胁迫引起活性氧含量的增加扰动了活性氧与抗氰呼吸之间的应答平衡,但抗氰呼吸可能通过清除活性氧等机制而起了抗旱的作用。