Cloning and Functional Analysis of Histones H3 and H4 in Nuclear Shaping during Spermatogenesis of the Chinese Mitten Crab,Eriocheir sinensis

During spermatogenesis in most animals, the basic proteins associated with DNA are continuously changing and somatic-typed histones are partly replaced by sperm-specific histones, which are then successively replaced by transition proteins and protamines. With the replacement of sperm nuclear basic proteins, nuclei progressively undergo chromatin condensation. The Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is also known as the hairy crab or river crab (phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Crustacea, order Decapoda, and family Grapsidae). The spermatozoa of this species are aflagellate, and each has a spherical acrosome surrounded by a cup-shaped nucleus, peculiar to brachyurans. An interesting characteristic of the E. sinensis sperm nucleus is its lack of electron-dense chromatin. However, its formation is not clear. In this study, sequences encoding histones H3 and H4 were cloned by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Western blotting indicated that H3 and H4 existed in the sperm nuclei. Immunofluorescence and ultrastructural immunocytochemistry demonstrated that histones H3 and H4 were both present in the nuclei of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and mature spermatozoa. The nuclear labeling density of histone H4 decreased in sperm nuclei, while histone H3 labeling was not changed significantly. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of histones H3 and H4 were higher at mitotic and meiotic stages than in later spermiogenesis. Our study demonstrates that the mature sperm nuclei of E. sinensis contain histones H3 and H4. This is the first report that the mature sperm nucleus of E. sinensis contains histones H3 and H4. This finding extends the study of sperm histones of E. sinensis and provides some basic data for exploring how decapod crustaceans form uncondensed sperm chromatin.     

中华绒螯蟹肉碱乙酰转移酶（CAT）基因表达分析

肉碱乙酰转移酶（CAT）是一种作用于短链脂肪酸的酶。本研究克隆了中华绒螯蟹（Eriocheir sinensis）CAT基因的开放阅读框序列（ORF）,并采用实时荧光定量PCR（q-PCR）分析其在雌雄不同组织中的表达模式以及不同卵巢发育时期肝胰腺和卵巢的表达变化。结果表明,CAT的ORF长为1 929 bp,编码642个氨基酸,无跨膜域和信号肽,预测的蛋白含有一个Acyltransferases ChoActase保守结构域（40 ~ 56 aa）,和一个Carn-acyltransf superfamily典型结构域（43 ~ 626 aa）。CAT在雌雄蟹所有组织中均有表达,雄蟹中肝胰腺和肌肉组织的表达量较高,在其他组织中的表达量相对较低;雌蟹中肝胰腺的表达量最高,其次为卵巢和肌肉。肝胰腺以及卵巢的CAT表达量在不同卵巢发育时期之间差异显著（P < 0.05）,表明CAT在卵巢发育过程中起着重要作用。     

十足目甲壳动物精子发生过程顶体形成和细胞核变化

十足目甲壳动物精子发生对于细胞学家是一个长期有趣的主体,早期对十足目甲壳动物精子发生的研究结果,往往把无鞭毛的精子细胞器与可运动精子的归为同类.McCroan使用孚尔根(Feulgen)染色方法观察绿螯虾(Cambarus viridis)的精子发生,首次发现在其辐射臂观察到有核物质[1].     

养殖中华绒螯蟹肠道内优势细菌群组成分析

采用荧光染色计数法对养殖中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)肠道内微生物进行定量分析。结果表明肠道内细菌数量为(2.5±0.9)×106/μL。同时采用分离培养与16S rDNA基因克隆测序相结合的方法对其进行多样性分析,旨在揭示其中可培养细菌的组成结构。结果发现,分离自养殖中华绒螯蟹肠道内的49株代表性细菌均属于γ-变形菌纲(Gammaproteobacteria),其中假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、气单胞菌属(Aeromonas)和肠杆菌科(Enterobacteriales)为优势菌群。     

Symbiotic Bacteria in Gills and Guts of Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) Differ from the Free-Living Bacteria in Water

Aquatic animals have a close relationship with water, but differences in their symbiotic bacteria and the bacterial composition in water remains unclear. Wild or domestic Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) and the water in which they live were collected from four sampling sites in Jiangsu and Shanghai, China. Bacterial composition in water, gills or guts of E. sinensis, were compared by high-throughput sequencing using 16S rRNA genes. Analysis of >660,000 sequences indicated that bacterial diversity was higher in water than in gills or guts. Tenericutes and Proteobacteria were dominant phyla in guts, while Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were dominant in gills and water. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated that microbiota from gills, guts or water clearly separated into three groups, suggesting that crabs harbor a more specific microbial community than the water in which they live. The dominant OTUs in crab gut were related to Mycoplasmataceae, which were low in abundance in gills, showing that, like mammals, crabs have body-site specific microbiota. OTUs related to Ilumatobacter and Albimonas, which are commonly present in sediment and seawater, were dominant in gills but almost absent from the sampled water. Considering E. sinensis are bottom-dwelling crustacean and they mate in saline water or seawater, behavior and life cycle of crabs may play an important role in shaping the symbiotic bacterial pattern. This study revealed the relationship between the symbiotic bacteria of Chinese mitten crab and their habitat, affording information on the assembly factors of commensal bacteria in aquatic animals.     

中华绒螯蟹胚胎发育过程中主要生化成分的变化

中华绒螯蟹胚胎发育过程中三种主要生化成分中以蛋白质含量最高（44．56％－67．76％）,脂类次之（21．32％－34．07％）,碳水化合物含量最低（0．47％－3．03％）。从胚胎发育开始至结束,蛋白质降低了23．20％,脂类和碳水化合物均没有明显变化。结果表明,蛋白质是中华绒螯蟹胚胎发育过程中的主要能源物质。     

Gene expression pattern of myosin Va during spermatogenesis of Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis

Myosin Va is an F-actin dependent molecular motor with multiple functions that are essential for acrosome formation in mouse spermiogenesis. The spermatozoon of the crab has a complicated acrosome surrounded by a cup-shaped nucleus. In the present study, the myosin Va cDNA was cloned from the testis of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis using degenerate PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The myosin Va cDNA consists of a 125bp 5'-untranslated region (5' UTR), a 5331bp open reading frame (ORF) and a 590bp 3' UTR. The putative myosin Va protein contains the head domain, neck domain and tail domain. Multiple alignment and phylogenetic tree showed that E. sinensis myosin Va is more closely related to the vertebrate myosin Va than to the invertebrate myosin V. E. sinensis myosin Va was expressed in various tissues. In situ hybridization demonstrated that myosin Va mRNA is located in the entire process of spermatogenesis. Quantitative real-time PCR indicated that the expression level at the mitotic and meiotic phases is higher than the spermiogenesis phase. Taken together, our work suggests that myosin Va may function in E. sinensis spermatogenesis.     

中华绒螯蟹蜕壳生长及其与相关基因表达的关联分析

蜕壳是甲壳动物常见的生长发育现象,但对调控蜕壳与生长的内在机制尚缺乏足够了解。本研究在室内条件下,对中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)一个蜕壳周期内的个体蜕壳与生长现象进行了连续观察,分析了2个蜕壳相关基因,即蜕皮激素受体基因(Ec R)和维甲类X受体基因(RXR),以及1个生长相关基因肌肉生长抑制素基因(MSTN)的表达及其与生长性状的相关性。结果发现,中华绒螯蟹在蜕壳后会出现一个跳跃式生长期,之后进入了一个缓慢持续上升过程,当营养物质积累到一定程度(肥满度达60%左右时)时启动下一次蜕壳;MSTN基因的表达与壳长(r=﹣0.450,P0.05)、壳宽(r=﹣0.410,P0.05)增长率呈显著负相关,而与肥满度呈显著正相关(r=0.450,P0.05),Ec R和RXR基因的表达与体重、壳长和壳宽的增长率均没有显著相关性;相对来说,MSTN在蜕壳后的表达量越高,则增重率越小;而Ec R和RXR在蜕壳后表达量越高,其增重率越大。本研究结果表明,中华绒螯蟹在蜕壳后其生长具有一定的规律性,肥满度可以作为衡量中华绒螯蟹体内营养积累启动蜕壳的指标,Ec R、RXR及MSTN基因表达与生长表型具有一定的相关性。     

Bacterial Community Associated with the Intestinal Tract of Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) Farmed in Lake Tai,China

Chinese mitten crab (CMC, Eriocheir sinensis) is an economically valuable species in South-East Asia that has been widely farmed in China. Characterization of the intestinal bacterial diversity of CMC will provide insights into the aquaculturing of CMCs. Based on the analysis of cloned 16S rRNA genes from culture-independent CMC gut bacteria, 124 out of 128 different clones reveal ＞95% nucleotide similarity to the species belonging to the four phyla of Tenericutes, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria; one clone shows 91% sequence similarity to the member of TM7 (a candidate phylum without cultured representatives). Fluorescent in situ hybridization also reveals the abundance of Bacteroidetes in crab intestine. Electron micrographs show that spherical and filamentous bacteria are closely associated with the microvillus brush border of the midgut epithelium and are often inserted into the space between the microvilli using a stalk-like cell appendage. In contrast, the predominant rod-shaped bacteria in the hindgut are tightly attached to the epithelium surface by an unusual pili-like structure. Both 16S rRNA gene denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis and metagenome library indicate that the CMC Mollicutes group 2 appears to be present in both the midgut and hindgut with no significant difference in abundance. The CMC Mollicutes group 1, however, was found mostly in the midgut of CMCs. The CMC gut Mollicutes phylotypes appear to be most closely related to Mollicutes symbionts detected in the gut of isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda). Overall, the results suggest that CMCs harbor diverse, novel and specific gut bacteria, which are likely to live in close relationships with the CMC host.     

中华绒螯蟹一龄早熟和二龄成熟家系生长规律的比较研究

中华绒螯蟹(Eridcheir sinensis)1龄性早熟是扣蟹养殖过程中的一个重要问题,尚不清楚1龄性早熟和2龄正常性成熟后代的生长发育规律是否存在差异,本研究通过构建1龄性早熟和正常性成熟中华绒螯蟹家系,综合比较了单养条件下两种家系子一代(以下简称早熟F1和正常F1)在扣蟹和成蟹阶段的生长蜕壳规律、雌蟹腹脐覆盖腹甲宽度比例、成熟后的性腺指数(GSI)和肝胰腺指数(HSI)。结果显示:(1)早熟F1雄体在第1、2次和第7、8次蜕壳后的体重显著大于正常F1雄体(P0.05);而早熟F1雌体在第1~5次和第7次蜕壳后的体重显著大于正常F1雌体(P0.05);(2)第1和2次蜕壳后早熟F1的增重率较高,正常F1在第3~8次蜕壳后的增重率略高于早熟F1,两群体在扣蟹阶段的特定生长率均呈下降趋势,且正常F1高于早熟F1,其中雌雄个体在第3~4次蜕壳后的特定生长率均存在显著差异(P0.05);(3)早熟F1在第1~5次蜕壳间隔较长,而第6~8次蜕壳间隔较短;两种家系在扣蟹养殖阶段蜕壳4~6次,成蟹养殖阶段蜕壳2~4次,其中早熟F1在扣蟹阶段的平均蜕壳次数低于正常F1,而在成蟹阶段的平均蜕壳次数高于正常F1;(4)早熟F1腹脐覆盖腹甲宽度比例一直高于正常F1,但二者无显著差异(P0.05);(5)无论雌体还是雄体,早熟F1和正常F1的性腺指数和肝胰腺指数均无显著差异,单养条件下性腺均可发育成熟(P0.05)。综上,单养条件下,中华绒螯蟹早熟F1和正常F1的生长模式存在显著差异,两者都可以完成生殖蜕壳和性腺发育成熟,这为今后深入研究中华绒螯蟹个体生物学提供了理论依据和参考资料。     

中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)肌肉中不饱和脂肪酸含量与越冬死亡、产卵关系

本文报道了中华绒螯蟹越冬时和越冬后不同性别,不同生活状态粗脂肪中不饱和脂肪酸及肌肉中不饱和脂肪酸含量及变化,分析了不饱和脂肪酸含量与越冬死亡,越冬后交配,产卵和孵化关系。越冬前雌,雄河蟹粗脂肪中不饱和脂肪酸碘（I2）值为57和48。越冬（越冬时,越冬后）死亡雌,雄河蟹粗脂肪中不饱和脂肪酸I2值分别低于28和10;而其肌肉中不饱和脂肪酸的I2值分别低于1．25和0．83。越冬后能成功交配的雄河蟹粗脂肪中不饱和脂肪酸I2值高于33。越冬后交配产卵雌河蟹粗脂肪中不饱和脂肪酸I2值高于42,抱卵并使卵正常孵化的雌河蟹粗脂肪中不饱和脂肪酸I2值大于47。脂肪酸在河蟹的细胞内氧化分解,为越冬提供了能量。     

饲料中添加雨生红球藻粉对中华绒螯蟹成体雄蟹生化组成的影响

为研究饲料中添加雨生红球藻(Haematococcus pluvialis)粉对中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)成体雄蟹成活、增重和生化组成的影响,分别在饲料中添加0、0.2%、0.4%和0.6%的雨生红球藻粉,配制4种等氮等脂的育肥饲料,投喂生殖蜕壳后雄蟹60 d,计算各组成活率、增重率、特定生长率和肥满度,同时测定了组织中的常规营养成分、脂肪酸组成和类胡萝卜素含量,并对实验数据进行方差分析。结果显示:(1)饲料中添加雨生红球藻粉对成体雄蟹的成活率、增重率、特定生长率和肥满度均无显著影响。(2)雄蟹性腺中的粗蛋白及肝胰腺总脂含量均以雨生红球藻粉0.4%组最高,而肌肉水分含量随饲料中雨生红球藻粉含量的升高整体呈上升趋势(P0.05)。(3)性腺中的脂肪酸C20:0含量随饲料雨生红球藻粉添加水平的升高而显著上升,而C16:1n7、C18:2n6和C18:3n3含量分别在雨生红球藻粉0.6%组、0.4%组和0组最高(P0.05)。(4)肝胰腺中的脂肪酸C14:0、C18:0和C18:1n7含量均以雨生红球藻粉0.2%组最高,而C18:1n9和总单不饱和脂肪酸(∑MUFA)含量均以雨生红球藻粉0.6%组最高(P0.05)。(5)肌肉中的脂肪酸C14:1n5和C20:2n6含量在雨生红球藻粉0.2%组最高(P0.05),C16:0含量及二十二碳六烯酸/二十碳五烯酸(DHA/EPA)比例以雨生红球藻粉0.4%组最高,而C22:6n3、总多不饱和脂肪酸(∑PUFA)、∑n-3 PUFA和总高度不饱和脂肪酸(∑HUFA)含量均以雨生红球藻粉0.6%组最高(P0.05)。(6)肝胰腺中的虾青素、β-胡萝卜素和头胸甲中的虾青素、叶黄素、玉米黄素含量随饲料中雨生红球藻粉含量的升高而显著上升(P0.05)。综上,饲料中添加雨生红球藻粉对成体雄蟹成活率、增重率和肥满度无显著影响,但可提高性腺粗蛋白、肌肉总多不饱和脂肪酸、肝胰腺和头胸甲中的类胡萝卜素含量,雄蟹育肥饲料中适宜的雨生红球藻粉添加量建议为0.4%左右。     

Functional Analysis of KIF3A and KIF3B during Spermiogenesis of Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis

Background

Spermatogenesis represents the transformation process at the level of cellular development. KIF3A and KIF3B are believed to play some roles in the assembly and maintenance of flagella, intracellular transport of materials including organelles and proteins, and other unknown functions during this process. During spermatogenesis in Eriocheir sinensis, if the sperm shaping machinery is dependent on KIF3A and KIF3B remains unknown.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The cDNA of KIF3A and KIF3B were obtained by designing degenerate primers, 3′RACE, and 5′RACE. We detected the genetic presence of kif3a and kif3b in the heart, muscle, liver, gill, and testis of E. sinensis through RT-PCR. By western blot analysis, the protein presence of KIF3A and KIF3B in heart, muscle, gill, and testis reflected the content in protein level. Using in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence, we could track the dynamic location of KIF3A and KIF3B during different developmental phases of sperm. KIF3A and KIF3B were found surrounding the nucleus in early spermatids. In intermediate spermatids, these proteins expressed at high levels around the nucleus and extended to the final phase. During the nuclear shaping period, KIF3A and KIF3B reached their maximum in the late spermatids and were located around the nucleus and concentrated in the acrosome to some extent.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results revealed that KIF3A and KIF3B were involved in the nuclear and cellular morphogenesis at the levels of mRNA and protein. These proteins can potentially facilitate the intracellular transport of organelles, proteins, and other cargoes. The results represent the functions of KIF3A and KIF3B in the spermatogenesis of Crustacea and clarify phylogenetic relationships among the Decapoda.     

三种饵料模式对中华绒螯蟹蟹种早期养殖性能、非特异免疫性能及抗病力的影响

为评估不同投喂模式对中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)蟹种质量的影响,采用养殖实验、非特异性免疫指标分析和攻毒实验方法,比较了配合饲料、传统饵料和混合投喂模式培育扣蟹在成蟹养殖早期的养殖性能、免疫性能和攻毒后死亡率的变化。所检测的非特异性免疫指标包括碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、γ-谷氨酰转移酶(γ-GT)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、酚氧化酶(PO)、过氧化物酶(POD)、丙二醛(MDA)、一氧化氮(NO)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)及血蓝蛋白(Hc)活性或含量。采用毒力较强的嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophilia)Y-2-L-1菌株进行攻毒实验。结果显示:(1)无论雄蟹还是雌蟹,配合饲料组第一次蜕壳间期均短于传统投喂和混合投喂模式,且配合饲料组增重率(WGR)及体重特定增长率(SGR)均显著高于另外两组(P0.05);(2)就肝胰腺中非特异性免疫指标而言,无论雄蟹还是雌蟹,配合饲料组γ-谷氨酰转移酶(γ-GT)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均高于另外两组,其中γ-谷氨酰转移酶(γ-GT)差异显著;传统投喂组酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、丙二醛(MDA)、一氧化氮(NO)和过氧化物酶(POD)含量均高于另外两组,其中酸性磷酸酶(ACP)和一氧化氮(NO)含量差异显著;(3)就血清中各免疫指标而言,配合饲料组谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)活性高于另外两组,但差异均不显著(P0.05),传统投喂组碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、丙二醛(MDA)及血蓝蛋白(Hc)等指标含量均高于另外两组,其中丙二醛(MDA)差异显著;(4)无论雄蟹还是雌蟹,传统投喂组扣蟹攻毒后12~96 h的累计死亡率一直高于配合饲料组和混合投喂组,配合饲料组和混合投喂组雄体攻毒后的累计死亡率接近,混合投喂组雌体累计死亡率居于传统投喂组和配合饲料组之间。综上,投喂配合饲料可以提高扣蟹在成蟹早期的养殖性能、免疫性能和攻毒后的成活率,有利于提高蟹种质量。     

Molecular Cloning and Gene Expression Analysis of the Leptin Receptor in the Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis

Background

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone with multiple functions that regulates energy homeostasis and reproductive functions. Increased knowledge of leptin receptor function will enhance our understanding of the physiological roles of leptin in animals.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In the present study, a full-length leptin receptor (lepr) cDNA, consisting of 1,353 nucleotides, was cloned from Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) following the identification of a single expressed sequence tag (EST) clone in a cDNA library. The lepr cDNA consisted of a 22-nucleotide 5′-untranslated region (5′ UTR), a 402-nucleotide open reading frame (ORF) and a 929-nucleotide 3′ UTR. Multiple sequence alignments revealed that Chinese mitten crab lepr shared a conserved vacuolar protein sorting 55 (Vps55) domain with other species. Chinese mitten crab lepr expression was determined in various tissues and at three different reproductive stages using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Lepr expression was highest in the intestine, thoracic ganglia, gonad, and accessory gonad, moderate in hepatopancreas and cranial ganglia, and low in muscle, gill, heart, haemocytes, and stomach. Furthermore, lepr expression was significantly higher in the intestine, gonad and thoracic ganglia in immature crabs relative to precocious and mature crabs. In contrast, lepr expression was significantly lower in the hepatopancreas of immature crabs relative to mature crabs.

Conclusions/Significance

We are the first to identify the lepr gene and to determine its gene expression patterns in various tissues and at three different reproductive stages in Chinese mitten crab. Taken together, our results suggest that lepr may be involved in the nutritional regulation of metabolism and reproduction in Chinese mitten crabs.