黄孢原毛平革菌抗营养阻遏产漆酶诱变育种及其产酶特性

【目的】筛选能抗营养阻遏产漆酶的黄孢原毛平革菌,论证其产漆酶的确定性及抗营养阻遏产木质素酶的可行性,为白腐菌产酶代谢调控、木质素降解机理的研究奠定基础。【方法】利用重复紫外诱变法,以愈创木酚富氮鉴别培养基筛选目标菌株;比较不同营养条件下菌体生长与产酶动力学差异研究产酶营养调控机理;通过热处理、排除锰离子和加入过氧化氢酶等不同措施论证黄孢原平毛平革菌能否产生漆酶。【结果】3种不同方法均证实选育到的pcR5305和pcR5324菌株在限氮与富氮条件下均能产生漆酶,pcR5305和pcR5324在限氮条件下产漆酶分别达到203.5、187.6 U/L;在富氮条件下为220.6、183.9 U/L,而原菌株pc530在两种条件下都基本不产生漆酶。二菌株产漆酶调控方式不同,pcR5305漆酶产生与菌体生长同步,而pcR5324漆酶产生却受营养氮阻遏。二菌株同时具有抗营养阻遏高产木质素过氧化物酶(LiP)和锰过氧化物酶(MnP)(分别为LiP 1343.2、MnP 252.2 U/L;LiP 1169.5、MnP 172.4 U/L)的能力。【结论】筛选到的黄孢原毛平革菌变异菌株能产漆酶,同时表现了抗营养阻遏产漆酶、木质素过氧化物酶和锰过氧化物酶的能力,具有重要的生产应用与理论研究价值,为白腐菌产酶代谢调控机理研究提供了原始菌株并奠定了良好的基础。     

黄孢原毛平革菌突变株抗碳氮营养阻遏产漆酶碳氮生理调控机理

【目的】通过比较不同碳氮营养及其消耗对产漆酶的影响,了解白腐菌模式种黄孢原毛平革菌解除营养阻遏产漆酶代谢的生理生态特性,揭示白腐菌合成漆酶的碳氮生理调控机理。【方法】分别利用限碳限氮(CL-NL)、限碳富氮(CL-NS)、富碳限氮(CS-NL)与富碳富氮(CS-NS)4种条件培养黄孢原毛平革菌野生型(WT)与突变株,比较两者产漆酶动力学、菌体生长、葡萄糖与氨氮消耗差异及其相关性来揭示解除营养阻遏产漆酶调控生理特性,明确C、N营养对产漆酶的生理调控途径。【结果】突变菌株除消耗速率比野生型略慢外,两者氨消耗趋势一致,但对葡萄糖的消耗比野生型快且氨氮浓度对葡萄糖的消耗影响不大。在CL-NL、CL-NS、CS-NL、CS-NS 4种培养条件下,野生型分别在培养后期的第11、14、19和19天的次生代谢时期产生0.107、0.029、12.84和18.05U/L漆酶,启动漆酶合成及酶峰值出现的时间与基质中葡萄糖耗尽或接近耗尽的时刻,或同氨氮消耗至最低值的时刻相对应;与WT产漆酶特性不同,突变株产漆酶伴随整个培养过程且均有两个产酶高峰,分别在培养的第8、7、12天和12天出现298.83、343.14、271.22、251.49U/L漆酶第一个产酶高峰,在培养的第12、13、19和19天产生257.69、298.78、213.81、216.93U/L漆酶的第二个产酶高峰。碳氮营养对产酶的影响显示:两菌株只要初始碳源浓度相同(限碳或富碳),各自产酶动力学趋势基本一致;相反,即使初始氮源浓度相同但其产酶动力学趋势却不同,说明碳源对黄孢原毛平革菌产漆酶的影响比氮源更为重要。【结论】野生型黄孢原毛平革菌产漆酶受碳或氮饥饿调控,碳、氮各自独立发挥作用且在不同的营养条件下由不同营养素所调控,如在限碳条件下产漆酶主要由葡萄糖饥饿启动,而在富碳条件下则由氨氮饥饿所激发,以碳或氮菌体负荷表示是否达到启动酶合成的调控阀值比单纯碳或氮浓度更为合理。突变菌株漆酶合成的启动不受碳、氮营养所阻遏,可能涉及一个全局调控的改变,解除了漆酶合成的营养阻碍。     

一氧化氮在启动黄孢原毛平革菌木质素降解酶合成中的作用

[目的]通过了解一氧化氮在启动黄孢原毛平革菌合成木质素过氧化物酶(LiP)中的作用及其作用机制,弄清白腐菌启动次生代谢的调控机制.[方法]以黄孢原毛平革菌原种pc530及突变种pcR5305为研究对象,弄清在不同营养条件下NO含量的动态变化及其与合成LiP之间的关系,再通过添加外源NO供体SNP、NO淬灭剂cPTIO对两菌株合成LiP的影响分析,揭示NO在白腐菌启动合成LiP中的作用和作用机理.[结果]两菌株均能在两种不同营养条件下产生NO,但NO的产生量与菌株及其营养状况有关,富营养使pc530产生NO量低且严重延后,而pcR5305产生NO并不需要营养饥饿激发且产生量显著高于pc530.除了LiP峰值出现时间迟于NO峰值时间外,NO含量与LiP合成呈正相关性;外施SNP对合成LiP有促进作用,但对pcR5305的促进作用没有pc530明显;15 mmol/L cPTIO使黄孢原毛平革菌合成LiP均大为降低,但并没有完全抑制产生LiP.[结论]黄孢原毛平革菌可能通过产生NO启动LiP的合成,但NO并不直接参与或影响合成LiP,NO更可能是作为一种上游的信号分子起作用.除了NO外,可能还有其它与NO有相互促进作用的信号分子也参与了LiP合成的调控.与pc530具有不同的产生NO的机制可能就是pcR5305抗营养阻遏合成木质素降解酶的机理.     

端梗霉Z45产漆酶培养基的优化及其对染料的脱色

菌株Acrophialophora sp.Z45是一株产漆酶的端梗霉属真菌,本文依据不同培养基中菌株Z45对愈创木酚的氧化圈大小探究了影响该菌株产漆酶的因素并设计正交试验优化其产漆酶培养基,进而比较了菌株Z45在土豆葡萄糖培养基和优化后的产漆酶培养基中的漆酶活力差异,最后基于漆酶与染料脱色的相关性评价了菌株Z45对8种合成染料的脱色能力。结果表明,单因素及正交试验确定了菌株Z45优化后的产漆酶培养基为：基础产酶培养基中以蔗糖为碳源、硝酸钠为氮源、C/N比为45∶1、pH为5.0;在优化后的产漆酶培养基中菌株Z45的漆酶活性显著提高;菌株Z45对溴酚蓝、中性红、亚甲基蓝、甲基蓝和结晶紫等5种染料均有一定的脱色能力,其中对三苯甲烷染料甲基蓝的脱色能力最强,菌株Z45的粗酶液能使甲基蓝快速脱色。在较低甲基蓝浓度的固体培养基上,甲基蓝完全脱色的时间不受染料浓度的影响;而较高甲基蓝浓度下,甲基蓝完全脱色的时间随染料浓度升高逐渐延长。     

稀土离子钇促进一株栓菌产漆酶及相关蛋白质组学分析

研究了稀土离子钇（Y³⁺）对栓菌Trametes sp. 菌株LS-10C发酵产漆酶的影响。结果表明,钇元素对该菌株发酵产漆酶有显著的促进作用,当培养基中Y³⁺浓度达到12mmol/L时,漆酶活力达到最高为70.25U/mL,是不添加Y³⁺发酵产漆酶活力的5.3倍。蛋白质组学研究结果表明,Y³⁺促进了细胞膜组分相关蛋白的表达上调,上调蛋白数占细胞组分富集上调蛋白总数的70.5%。此外在碳水化合物代谢,草酸代谢过程上调蛋白也有明显的富集。该研究明确了稀土元素Y³⁺对栓菌产漆酶的促进作用,并初步分析了稀土元素Y³⁺作用下栓菌Trametes sp. LS-10C的蛋白质组的变化规律,为研究稀土元素促进栓菌产漆酶的分子机理奠定了基础。     

粗毛栓菌诱变菌株SAH-12漆酶的分离纯化及酶学性质研究

粗毛栓菌Trametes gallica诱变菌株SAH-12是通过紫外诱变选育所得的漆酶高产菌株,Active-PAGE分析表明SAH-12在高氮低碳无机盐培养液（LM3）中至少分泌3种漆酶同工酶（Lac1、Lac2、Lac3）。采用硫酸铵盐析、透析和Sephadex-G75分子筛层析从其培养液中分离纯化得到电泳纯的Lac1,纯化倍数6.54,酶活性回收59.7%。Lac1经SDS-PAGE验证为一条带,其表观分子量为61.5kDa。Lac1为一种糖蛋白,含糖量11.6%,等电点pI 4.40,催化氧化底物ABTS的最适反应温度为60℃,最适pH为2.6,Km值为25μmol/L。Lac1在40℃（pH4.0）以下和pH1.5～5.0（28℃）范围内稳定。金属离子Fe²⁺、Ag⁺、Hg²⁺和Cr³⁺与抑制剂DTT、SDS、EDTA和DMSO对Lac1有抑制作用,其中Fe²⁺和DTT完全抑制酶活,而Cu²⁺对酶有明显激活作用,Mn²⁺、Zn²⁺对酶活影响不大。Lac1不仅可使一些合成染料明显脱色,而且对苹果汁多酚祛除也有较好效果。40℃用该酶（1U/mL）处理苹果汁5h,其多酚含量可降低40%。     

粗毛栓菌诱变菌株SAH-12漆酶的分离纯化及酶学性质研究

粗毛栓菌Trametes gallica诱变菌株SAH-12是通过紫外诱变选育所得的漆酶高产菌株,Active-PAGE分析表明SAH-12在高氮低碳无机盐培养液（LM3）中至少分泌3种漆酶同工酶（Lac1、Lac2、Lac3）。采用硫酸铵盐析、透析和Sephadex-G75分子筛层析从其培养液中分离纯化得到电泳纯的Lac1,纯化倍数6.54,酶活性回收59.7%。Lac1经SDS-PAGE验证为一条带,其表观分子量为61.5kDa。Lac1为一种糖蛋白,含糖量11.6%,等电点pI 4.40,催化氧化底物ABTS的最适反应温度为60℃,最适pH为2.6,Km值为25μmol/L。Lac1在40℃（pH4.0）以下和pH1.5～5.0（28℃）范围内稳定。金属离子Fe²⁺、Ag⁺、Hg²⁺和Cr³⁺与抑制剂DTT、SDS、EDTA和DMSO对Lac1有抑制作用,其中Fe²⁺和DTT完全抑制酶活,而Cu²⁺对酶有明显激活作用,Mn²⁺、Zn²⁺对酶活影响不大。Lac1不仅可使一些合成染料明显脱色,而且对苹果汁多酚祛除也有较好效果。40℃用该酶（1U/mL）处理苹果汁5h,其多酚含量可降低40%。     

影响真菌漆酶表达及其活性的因素

丝状真菌同一菌株中存在动力学、理化特性各异的多个漆酶同工酶。金属离子,碳、氮等培养基成分,培养条件,以及异生物质、热休克处理和共培养的菌株等多种生物和非生物的因素对真菌漆酶同工酶表现出选择性诱导效应。影响真菌漆酶表达及其调控因素的研究能指导漆酶的选择性合成,以满足不同的应用需求。主要阐述影响真菌漆酶表达及其活性的因素的相关研究进展。     

氨氮对3种吸附态亚硝化单胞菌的抑制动力学

[背景] 氨氮浓度会明显影响亚硝化单胞菌的活性,但氨氮浓度对吸附态亚硝化单胞菌菌种的抑制动力学尚缺乏研究。[目的] 研究氨氮浓度对3种吸附态亚硝化单胞菌（Nitrosomonas eutropha CZ-4、Nitrosomonas halophila C-19和Nitrosomonas europaea SH-3）的影响。[方法] 以碳酸钙作为吸附基质,设定氨氮浓度为25-1 000 mg/L,测定3种亚硝化单胞菌（N.eutropha CZ-4、N. halophila C-19和N. europaea SH-3）的亚硝氮积累速率与最大比生长速率,并通过Edwares2模型建立氨氧化的抑制动力学方程。[结果] N. halophila C-19在初始氨氮浓度为50-100 mg/L时的亚硝氮积累最快,N. europaea SH-3的亚硝氮积累则在初始氨氮浓度为50-200 mg/L时最快,而N. eutropha CZ-4则适于在初始氨氮浓度为50-400 mg/L时积累亚硝氮;N. eutropha CZ-4的最大比生长速率出现在初始氨氮浓度为50-400 mg/L时,明显高于N. halophila C-19（25-100 mg/L）,而N. europaea SH-3的生长速度在初始氨氮浓度为50-800 mg/L区间内无显著差异;N. europaea SH-3的K_I（922.76 mg/L）显著高于N. eutropha CZ-4（597.88 mg/L）,而CZ-4的K_I又显著高于N. halophila C-19（186.24 mg/L）,N. europaea SH-3的K_m（72.06 mg/L）显著高于N. halophila C-19（23.23 mg/L）。[结论] 3种吸附态亚硝化单胞菌的生长和氨氧化对氨氮浓度变化的响应存在明显差异,对于认识不同亚硝化单胞菌在不同氨氮浓度污水中的功能并开发相应的工程技术具有重要意义。     

一株高效异养硝化菌的选育、鉴定及其硝化条件

【目的】针对现阶段异养硝化菌硝化速率较低的问题,选育更高效的异养硝化菌,进而鉴定该菌株的种属,了解其硝化特性和硝化条件。【方法】分别从污水处理厂活性污泥、化肥厂土壤以及农田土壤中取样,以柠檬酸钠为碳源,NH4Cl为氮源,采用污泥驯化、驯化过程中驯化液连续梯度稀释、平板划线分离及颜色指示剂快速硝化效果检测等步骤,筛得一株高效的异养硝化菌。经生理生化和16SrDNA序列的系统发育分析鉴定其种属;将该菌接入人工氨氮废水,定时检测水中含氮化合物的变化,了解其硝化特性;通过改变培养基碳源、溶氧量、C/N比、温度和pH考察其硝化条件。【结果】获得的高效异养硝化菌为革兰氏阴性杆菌,不利用葡萄糖发酵,氧化酶、接触酶阳性,不产吲哚,能由有机酸盐产碱;其与产碱菌属菌株Alcaligenessp.ES-SDK-3的16SrDNA同源性高达99.7%。用该菌株处理初始氨氮浓度为182.30mg/L的废水,30h后氨氮去除率为99.8%,指数期平均氨氮去除速率为9.61mg-N/L/h,其在硝化过程中几乎没有亚硝酸盐氮和硝酸盐氮产生;最佳碳源为柠檬酸钠;高的溶氧量和高的C/N比有利于其降解氨氮,当C/N比为12时即可达到较好的效果;该菌株在温度为30℃-35℃,pH为5.0-9.0范围内均能较彻底地降解氨氮。【结论】该菌株为产碱菌属,命名为Alcaligenessp.HN-S;其在硝化速率与处理的氨氮浓度方面均高于目前国内外筛出的大多数异养硝化菌;通过考察其硝化条件,为其走向实际污水脱氮工艺提供了依据。     

Nutritional performance of first and penultimate-final Instar bagworm larvae on two unrelated hosts as influenced by host of origin

Nutritional performance of early and late instar bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis Haworth) larvae was investigated as a function of host of origin and host type, using two taxonomically distant wild hosts, Salix nigra (Marshall) and Juniperus virginiana (L.). First instar growth and survival were higher on S. nigra; overall performance was similar on the two hosts in penultimate-final instars. There was no evidence for host associated differentiation with respect to nutritional performance. There were, however, significant genotype x environment interactions for several characters studied, suggesting that the potential for host associated differentiation exists.     

Natural diets and self-selection: Heliothis zea larvae and maize

Although the first two instars tend to eat the silks, last instar larvae of the corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), prefer to feed on the kernels rather than on the other components of the maize ear. They feed preferentially on the germ of the kernel, but when offered whole kernels also eat some of the endosperm. Larvae that eat cut portions of the kernels that include all of the germ and some endosperm utilize their food for growth more efficiently than do larvae that eat portions of the kernel that include only endosperm. Adults that ate germ portions or endosperm portions of the kernel as larvae do not differ significantly in longevity, number of days on which they oviposit, number of eggs laid per day or the percentage of the eggs that hatched. We suggest that the larvae use self-selection to increase their intake of germ, thus increasing utilization efficiency and decreasing the amount of food that they must eat. When they feed on plants (other than maize) with small fruits, this probably increases their ability to compete for food when it is scarce and minimizes exposure to predation by decreasing the number of foraging trips and the distance that they must travel in search of food.

---

Résumé Bien que les deux premiers stades larvaires d'H. zea (Lepid.: Noctuidae) tendent à consommer les soies, les trois derniers stades préfèrent les grains aux autres parties de l'épi de maïs. La chenille du dernier stade consomme de préférence le germe du grain, mais quand on lui offre l'ensemble du grain, elle consomme aussi une partie de l'albumen. Les chenilles qui coupent des morceaux du grain comprenant la totalité du germe et une fraction d'albumen ont une alimentation permettant une croissance plus efficace que les chenilles qui consomment des portions de grain ne contenant que de l'albumen. Ainsi, les chenilles qui mangent des fractions de germe ont besoin de consommer moins, pour atteindre le même poids que les chenilles qui consomment des morceaux d'albumen. Les longévités, les nombres de jours de ponte, les fécondités quotidiennes et les fertilités des oeufs sont les mêmes pour les papillons provenant des chenilles ayant consomme des morceaux de germe ou des morceaux d'albumien. L'albumen seul est un aliment suboptimal, et H. zea pourrait théoriquement améliorer ultérieurement son régime en mangeant plus de germes. Nous estimons que ceci ne serait pas rentable puisque la durée des stades devrait être prolongée et que la manutention et les rejets d'albumen devraient être accrus. H. zea se serait adapté à une solution de compromis pour l'optimalisation du régime alimentaire. Il réduit le temps de récolte et perd en efficacité en consommant de l'albumin suboptimal; mais il regagne autant que possible en efficacité en mangenat le germe de pratiquement tous les grains attaqués. Cette augmentation de l'efficacité diminue la quantité d'aliments qui doit être ingéré, et fournit un potentiel adaptatif quand les chenilles consomment des plantes (autres que le maïs) avec des petits fruits. L'exposition à la prédation est réduite, puisque la distance parcourue pour la recherche des fruits est diminuée.

     

Variability of globulin composition in cultivars and individually tested seeds of yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.)

A study on globulins, major storage proteins in yellow lupin seeds, called conglutins, was conducted using SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In this paper, an extensive and not yet published list of yellow lupin conglutins is presented. The patterns of subunits of major conglutins in seeds of three yellow lupin cultivars were similar to each other, varying only in the level of some polypeptides. Investigations of seeds of cultivar Parys showed considerable quantitative differences in major subunits. Some minor subunits occurred only in some seeds and were absent in the others. Great differences were shown between single individuals in the amount of subunits of conglutin which is of the most nutritional value due to high content of methionine.     

峨眉山野生金蝉花孢梗束培养试验

为确定峨眉山金蝉花孢梗束培养的最佳工艺条件,对金蝉花孢梗束生长的常用培养基配方进行筛选试验,选用大米、小米、黄豆等原料进行配方试验,采用均匀设计试验法优化培养基配方。结果表明,金蝉花在以无机盐为主要营养成分的Richard琼脂培养基和Czapek琼脂培养基上均能产生孢梗束。在大米等的配方试验中,以大米为营养物质的金蝉花孢梗束生长最快,金蝉花氨基酸含量为23.4%,粗多糖含量为26.5%,蛋白质含量为29.3%,均高于野生金蝉花中该物质的含量。在均匀设计的配方试验中,10号培养基中的金蝉花孢梗束以珊瑚状为主,菌体形态最好,孢梗束产率可达57.4%。10号配方孢梗束中蛋白质的含量高达42.5%,氨基酸含量高达33.3%,均远高于野生金蝉花。     

QTLs for nutritional contents of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) in solution cultures and its implication to tolerance to iron-toxicity

Iron toxicity is one of the major constraints for lowland rice production in highly weathered soils, which are widely distributed in tropics and subtropics and often lack macronutrients such as potassium (K) and phosphorus (P). To analyze the genetic factors for excess iron accumulation under K or P deficiency, a set of seedlings in F₃ and F₈ generations from an Oryza sativa cross between a japonica cultivar ‚Gimbozu’ and an indica cultivar ‚Kasalath’ were raised and exposed to nutritional stresses in a short period under nutritional solutions. In the F₈ lines, contents of K, P, Fe, and Mg in dried shoots were measured. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the iron accumulation and related mineral contents in each plant were analyzed with composite interval mapping. QTLs for the Fe, P and Mg content in shoots were compared in the maps of F₃ and F₈. The QTLs for the Fe content in shoots varied in three types of nutritional conditions, but consistently indicated two overlapping regions on chromosome 3 and 4. The obtained QTLs were crosschecked with those reported before. Some of these QTLs were indicative of iron excluding the power of the root, which was expressed under reduced P content in solution.     

Symbiotic dinoflagellates in marine Cnidaria: diversity and function

Dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium are the most common symbiotic algae in benthic marine Cnidaria. This review addresses our current understanding of the molecular diversity of Symbiodinium and the function of these algae in symbiosis. Ribosomal DNA sequence data indicate that Symbiodinium is a diverse but probably monophyletic group. They also provide a phylogenetic framework for the analysis of the functional diversity of Symbiodinium (i.e. the variation in phenotype among various Symbiodinium genotypes), especially in relation to their nutritional role in the symbiosis. Symbiodinium provides the animal host with photosynthetic carbon and may also recycle animal nitrogenous waste. These interactions are advantageous to animals in shallow, oligotrophic waters. Recent developments in understanding of both photosynthate release and nitrogen relations in the symbiosis are reviewed. They provide the basis to explore the variation in nutritional interactions among different Symbiodinium genotypes. This review highlights areas of current uncertainty and controversy and addressess possible fulture directions of research.     

Iron nutrition of a hydroponic strawberry culture (Fragaria vesca L.) supplied with different Fe chelates

Several indexes are used to determine the iron nutritional status of plants, but their effectiveness depends either on the plant growth conditions in natural environments or on the assay conditions. This research was conducted to test different indexes of the iron nutritional status of a hydroponic strawberry culture where treatments mainly differed in the source of the iron applied: Fe-EDTA, Fe-EDDHA and Fe-polyflavonoid. Macro and micronutrient concentrations in the nutrient solutions, leaf and vascular tissues were measured. Fe concentration in the nutrient solution during the course of the experiment was considered in relation to the stability of the different chelates. Both Fe concentration and total Fe content of leaves reflected the effect of the treatments; Fe/Mn ratio was significant as a diagnosis index. Other element ratios as P/Fe and K/Ca are not well related with the iron nutrition symptoms observed. Fe²⁺ concentration measured in leaves was not directly affected by the different chelate treatments.     

贵州省野生火棘果营养成分与气候因子相关性分析

野生火棘在贵州省的资源分布广泛，由于省内各地区气候因子的不同，导致野生火棘果实的营养性成分存在差异。为探究贵州省野生火棘果的营养性成分差异，明确影响营养成分积累的气候因子，筛选出适宜生长区域，采用硫酸-苯酚法、全自动凯氏定氮仪、索氏提取法和福林-酚比色法对火棘果粗多糖、总蛋白、总脂肪和总多酚含量进行测定，并进行差异性分析、主成分分析和聚类分析；同时结合气候因子，进行灰色关联度的相关性分析。结果显示，不同产地之间4种营养成分含量存在明显差异，可将10个不同产地火棘分成3大类；灰色关联度分析表明，相对湿度是影响贵州野生火棘果营养成分含量的主要影响因子；降低相对湿度利于火棘果中营养性成分的积累。     

Effects of worker manipulation on the sex ratio of a Japanese ant species, Myrmecina nipponica

In order to test the effects of colony size and nutritional condition on the survivorship and sex ratio of ants, Myrmecina nipponica colonies were housed in a laboratory in colony sizes of 10 or 30 individuals and fed either daily or weekly. Under all conditions, most of the larvae successfully grew into adults, which suggests that survivorship was not significantly affected by either colony size or nutritional condition. However, the number of new queens was significantly higher in colonies that were fed daily. These results indicate that workers do not control the proportion of diploid and haploid broods by eliminating some larvae and that nutritional condition exerts a significant effect on sex ratio.     

Impact of boron deficiency on Xenopus laevis: a summary of biological effects and potential biochemical roles

The toxicity of boron has been understood for many years. However, limited data currently exist concerning the nutritional essentiality of B in chordates. Results from an ongoing research program evaluating the nutritional essentiality of B in the South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, found that X. laevis fed a low-B diet in a low-B culture media produced a substantially higher number of necrotic eggs and fertilized embryos than frogs fed a boron-sufficient diet. Markedly decreased embryo cell counts at mid-blastula transition and an increased frequency of abnormal gastrulation were also noted in embryos from adult frogs fed the B-deficient diet. By 96 h of development, none of the larvae collected from the B-deficient adults and maintained in low-boron culture media developed normally. Reproductive effects associated with B deficiency in female Xenopus included ovary atrophy, oocyte necrosis, and incomplete oocyte maturation. In males, a decrease in testis weight and sperm count was noted. These studies suggest that these adverse effects resulting from B deficiency could be found during gametogenesis, gamete maturation embryonic development, and larval maturation. The studies also confirmed that B deficiency was capable of interrupting the X. laevis life cycle. Additional studies evaluating the role of B in the thyroid axis and the oocyte plasma membrane progesterone receptor provide the first line of direct evidence for a biochemical role of boron in X. laevis. Combined together, this research program provides firm evidence that B is nutritionally essential in X. laevis.