RNA editing of 10 Didymium iridis mitochondrial genes and comparison with the homologous genes in Physarum polycephalum

Regions of the Didymium iridis mitochondrial genome were identified with similarity to typical mitochondrial genes; however, these regions contained numerous stop codons. We used RT-PCR and DNA sequencing to determine whether, through RNA editing, these regions were transcribed into mRNAs that could encode functional proteins. Ten putative gene regions were examined: atp1, atp6, atp8, atp9, cox1, cox2, cytb, nad4L, nad6, and nad7. The cDNA sequences of each gene could encode a functional mitochondrial protein that was highly conserved compared with homologous genes. The type of editing events and editing sequence features were very similar to those observed in the homologous genes of Physarum polycephalum, though the actual editing locations showed a variable degree of conservation. Edited sites were compared with encoded sites in D. iridis and P. polycephalum for all 10 genes. Edited sequence for a portion of the cox1 gene was available for six myxomycetes, which, when compared, showed a high degree of conservation at the protein level. Different types of editing events showed varying degrees of site conservation with C-to-U base changes being the least conserved. Several aspects of single C insertion editing events led to the preferential creation of hydrophobic amino acid codons that may help to minimize adverse effects on the resulting protein structure.     

Foraging strategies of the acellular slime moulds Didymium iridis and Didymium bahiense

Organisms can increase their foraging efficiency by modifying their behaviour according to information about the quality of currently exploited resource patches. Here we examine the effect of food concentration on the foraging strategies of two previously unstudied species of slime mould: Didymium iridis and Didymium bahiense. We studied two main foraging decisions: how long to wait before commencing exploration of the surrounding environment (exploitation strategy) and how intensely to search the environment for new opportunities (exploration strategy). Food concentration did not affect exploitation behaviour in either D. iridis or D. bahiense. Food concentration did affect exploration behaviour in D. iridis, but not in D. bahiense. Encounters with food resources, irrespective of concentration, resulted in increased exploitation and decreased exploration in D. iridis but did not influence foraging behaviour in D. bahiense. We suggest that the varying foraging strategies of slime moulds may have evolved to exploit different resource distributions in their natural environments. We also discuss the potential impact of microbial contamination and differences in handling regimes.     

黄柄钙皮菌的生活史

利用基物培养、燕麦-琼脂培养技术及扫描电镜技术研究了黄柄钙皮菌的个体发育过程,在燕麦琼脂培养基上完成了从孢子到孢子的生活史。结果表明,生活史包括单核的黏变形体或游动胞、多核的营养体原质团以及孢子形成阶段。孢子球形,表面具疣突。孢子萌发为裂式,释放1黏变形体。黏变形体行变形运动,在有水的条件下,可转变为游动胞并游动。可观察到1长具极性的鞭毛。合子形成原质团。成熟原质团棕色。原质团类型为显型,具有扇形网络状菌脉。琼脂培养基上获得的黄柄钙皮菌孢子与野生型相似,并具有可育性。     

Invalidation of Hyperamoeba by Transferring its Species to Other Genera of Myxogastria

ABSTRACT. The genus Hyperamoeba Alexeieff, 1923 was established to accommodate an aerobic amoeba exhibiting three life stages—amoeba, flagellate, and cyst. As more species/strains were isolated, it became increasingly evident from small subunit (SSU) gene phylogenies and ultrastructure that Hyperamoeba is polyphyletic and its species occupy different positions within the class Myxogastria. To pinpoint Hyperamoeba strains within other myxogastrid genera we aligned numerous myxogastrid sequences: whole small subunit ribosomal (SSU or 18S rRNA) gene for 50 dark‐spored (i.e. Stemonitida and Physarida) Myxogastria (including a new “Hyperamoeba”/Didymium sequence) and a ～400‐bp SSU fragment for 147 isolates assigned to 10 genera of the order Physarida. Phylogenetic analyses show unambiguously that the type species Hyperamoeba flagellata is a Physarum (Physarum flagellatum comb. nov.) as it nests among other Physarum species as robust sister to Physarum didermoides. Our trees also allow the following allocations: five Hyperamoeba strains to the genus Stemonitis; Hyperamoeba dachnaya, Pseudodidymium cryptomastigophorum, and three other Hyperamoeba strains to the genus Didymium; and two further Hyperamoeba strains to the family Physaridae. We therefore abandon the polyphyletic and redundant genus Hyperamoeba. We discuss the implications for the ecology and evolution of Myxogastria, whose amoeboflagellates are more widespread than previous inventories supposed, being now found in freshwater and even marine environments.     

实验室培养条件下绒泡菌科四种黏菌个体发育比较研究

本文应用悬滴培养、燕麦-琼脂培养等方法及显微成像技术对绒泡菌科Physaraceae 4种黏菌（黄头绒泡菌Physarum flavicomum、淡黄绒泡菌Physarum melleum、垂头绒泡菌Physarum album、针箍菌Physarella oblonga）的个体发育特征进行比较研究,首次实现了垂头绒泡菌在实验室条件下的完整生活循环。4种黏菌孢子萌发均为V-型开裂,但萌发时间有所不同,黄头绒泡菌萌发所需时间最短,仅需5h,而针箍菌萌发所需时间最长,需要2d;针箍菌和淡黄绒泡菌形成的黏变形体均可转变为游动胞,而相同条件下黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌并未有游动胞形成;4种黏菌原生质团的生长速率不同,在光照刺激下针箍菌、淡黄绒泡菌、黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌的原生质团分别经过2-3d、2-3d、7d和13d,发育成子实体;完成孢子到孢子的整个生活史,针箍菌和淡黄绒泡菌需要25-30d,黄头绒泡菌和垂头绒泡菌需要40-45d。     

扁绒泡菌Physarum compressum原质团细胞核核骨架制备技术的研究

以扁绒泡菌显型原质团为材料,进行细胞核的提纯、核骨架的制备及电镜观察。结果表明：用2mol/L NaCl+TritonX-100/NP40可得到具有复合纤维的核骨架,而用Lis + TritonX-100/NP40得到的核骨架具有核纤层,不使用RNase得到了具有网状的细胞核骨架,RNA在核骨架的结构形态中起重要作用。阐述了原质团中游离细胞核在细胞生物学研究中的意义。     

Patterns of occurrence of corticolous myxomycetes on white oak trees of two different size classes

Data were obtained on the assemblages of corticolous myxomycetes (plasmodial slime moulds or myxogastrids) associated with the bark surface of living white oak (Quercus alba) trees from two different size classes. Bark samples obtained from larger trees were characterized by higher values for both species richness and diversity when compared to those collected from smaller trees. This might have been expected since the former possess a larger surface area and presumably have persisted over a longer period of time. However, the myxomycete assemblage associated with smaller trees was appreciably different and did not simply represent a depauperate version of the assemblage associated with larger trees. This suggests that the differences observed between size classes cannot be simply attributed to size alone.     

小绒泡菌生活史及其形态建成期显微结构的观察

在完成小绒泡菌Physaum pusillum生活史的同时,观察了小绒泡菌P. pusillum生活史不同阶段显微结构的形成。生活史研究结果表明：小绒泡菌P. pusillum的孢子萌发方式为裂式,黏变形体具两根鞭毛,较短一根不易观察到,原质团类型为显型原质团,子实体形态建成过程约需12-13h。显微结构观察结果表明：石灰结和孢丝结构在原质团隆起约6h后开始形成,孢子在原质团隆起约9h后开始形成,石灰结和孢丝先于孢子形成。     

TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON PHYSARUM FROM CHINA I. THREE NEW SPECIES FROM NORTHEASTERN CHINA

在近年来对中国绒泡菌属粘菌的分类学研究中,观察到许多不寻常和有趣的标本,其中一些与目前已知的绒泡菌均不吻合,形态学研究表明它们是新种。本文报告了３个产自我国东北的绒泡菌属新种,它们是：产自吉林省的环柄绒泡菌Ｐｈｙｓａｒｕｍａｎｎｕｌｉｐｅｓ和青灰绒泡菌Ｐｈｙｓａｒｕｍｃａｅｓｉｕｍ及产自内蒙古自治区的木生绒泡菌Ｐｈｙｓａｒｕｍｘｙｌｏｐｈｉｌｕｍ。环柄绒泡菌的孢囊柄具有环带,较为特殊;青灰绒泡菌的囊被有一粉状物质层,但其中的钙含量远低于其它大多数绒泡菌;木生绒泡菌的球形白色的孢囊有柄、群生、直立,具纵皱的柄褐色而不透明,囊基盘状,石灰结较小、多角形或伸长,孢子匀生小疣但一侧色浅。文中对它们进行了形态学描述和讨论,并附有扫描电镜下的特征照片,模式标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室（ＨＭＡＳ）。     

Alkaline phosphatase of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Physarum polycephalum</Emphasis> is insoluble

The plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum grow as multinucleated cells in the presence of sufficient humidity and nutriment. Under non-illuminating conditions, stresses such as low temperature or high concentrations of salts transform the plasmodia into spherules whereas dehydration induces sclerotization. Some phosphatases including protein phosphatase and acid phosphatase have been purified from the plasmodia, but alkaline phosphatase remains to be elucidated. Phosphatase of the plasmodia, spherules and sclerotia was visualized by electrophoresis gel-staining assay using 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate. Insoluble fractions of the sclerotia were abundant in phosphatase activity. The phosphatase which was extracted by nonionic detergent was subjected to column chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. Purified phosphatase showed the highest activity at pH 8.8, indicating that this enzyme belongs to alkaline phosphatase. The apparent molecular mass from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-reducing condition was estimated to be 100 kDa whereas that under reducing was 105 kDa. An amount of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate or 0.5 M NaCl had no effects on the activity although the phosphatase showed heat instability, Mg²⁺-dependency and sensitivity to 2-glycerophosphate or NaF. The extracting conditions and enzymatic properties suggest that this alkaline phosphatase which is in a membrane-bound form plays important roles in phosphate metabolism.