几种生物CaCO_3霰石结晶的取向性

ＣａＣＯ３结晶广泛分布于生物界,其主要结晶形式为方解石、霰石及球霰石。用Ｘ－射线衍射法对三角帆蚌及合浦珍珠母贝的珍珠层、墨鱼骨和大黄鱼耳石的ＣａＣＯ３结晶进行测定,发现各样品均有一定取向性,以三角帆蚌和合浦珍珠母贝珍珠层的取向性为最强,墨鱼骨的取向性次之,大黄鱼耳石的取向性最小,以上材料粉末样的衍射分析表明,各样品对应ｄ值间差异极小,均为Ｘ射线衍射卡（５—０４５３）所表征的ＣａＣＯ３霰石结构。     

石首鱼科(Sciaenidae)三种鱼耳石CaCO_3晶相结构分析

软骨及硬骨鱼以及其它高等脊椎动物耳石中,CaCO_3占绝大部分.本文主要以X射线衍射分析对白姑鱼,大黄鱼,小黄鱼三种石首鱼科鱼类耳石作了分析,发现CaCO_3结晶均为霰石结构.依文献,对耳石晶相结构在动物分类上的意义作了初步讨论.     

三角帆蚌Nacrein基因克隆、蛋白提纯及其对珍珠晶体成型的影响

为研究三角帆蚌Nacrein蛋白对珍珠晶体成型的影响,通过巢式及3′-RACE PCR对三角帆蚌基质蛋白Nacrein基因3′端序列进行克隆,得到850bp碱基片段,分析表明其与合浦珠母贝同源基因序列相似度为56%,与马氏珠母贝相似度为50%。试验通过水提法初步分离出珍珠质水溶性基质蛋白,并采用快速蛋白液相色谱(fast protein liquid chromatography,FPLC)分离出分子量约为60kD的Nacrein蛋白。此外,采用配对试验设计,对试验组外套膜组织培养样品加入Nacrein蛋白,研究Nacrein蛋白对晶体成型的影响,结果显示,加入Nacrein蛋白的试验组结晶成棱形状;而未加Nacrein蛋白的对照组结晶成雪花状,而且在晶体形成的时间上,试验组也较之对照组要早。研究表明,Nacrein蛋白能加速外套膜组织分泌的钙质形成棱状结晶,从而对晶体成型产生影响。本研究为进一步研究基质蛋白对生物矿化的作用提供试验依据,对珍珠培育生产有一定指导意义。     

水体Ca2+对三角帆蚌珍珠质沉积的影响

为研究不同水体Ca2+浓度(10-80 mg/L)下三角帆蚌生长和珍珠质沉积量和晶体结构的变化, 采用鱼蚌混养的养殖模式养殖10周。结果表明, 1龄幼蚌生长的适宜Ca2+浓度为40 mg/L, 2龄未植片三角帆蚌生长的适宜Ca2+浓度为40-70 mg/L, 2龄植片三角帆蚌珍珠沉积的适宜Ca2+浓度为40 mg/L。拉曼光谱分析和珍珠层小片的扫描电镜观察结果表明, 适宜Ca2+浓度影响三角帆蚌珍珠质沉积可能是通过促进外套膜组织有机基质分泌从而调节CaCO3晶体形成和生长实现的。研究结果提示, 在三角帆蚌生长快速季节, 养殖水体中添加一定的钙源如生石灰等将有利于蚌体和珍珠的生长。同时研究结果也为加快珍珠培育, 提高珍珠品质提供理论依据和实践操纵手段。     

三角帆蚌贝壳珍珠层颜色遗传规律的初步研究

为了探明三角帆蚌(Hyriopsis cumingii)贝壳珍珠层颜色的遗传规律,为珍珠层颜色的选择育种提供理论指导,利用三角帆蚌紫色和白色选育品系进行自交和正反杂交,建立了白色♂×白色♀、白色♂×紫色♀、紫色♂×白色♀和紫色♂×紫色♀4个交配组合,统计分析了每个交配组合子代的珍珠层颜色分离情况.结果显示,白色自交组合的子代贝壳珍珠层颜色全部表现为白色,没有发生颜色分离;杂交组合的子代珍珠层颜色出现两种情况,一是全部表现为紫色,二是颜色发生分离,且紫色和白色个体比例符合1∶1的比例关系;紫色自交组合的子代珍珠层颜色也出现两种情况,一是全部表现为紫色,二是颜色分离出紫色和白色,且比例符合3∶1的比例关系.结果表明,三角帆蚌贝壳珍珠层颜色受遗传基因控制,可以稳定遗传,属质量性状.珍珠层紫色性状对白色性状为显性,两种颜色性状均不存在母性遗传.白色个体为隐性纯合体,选育纯化较为容易,而紫色个体既有显性纯合体又有杂合体,选育纯化相对较困难.     

岩溶洞穴微生物沉积碳酸钙——以贵州石将军洞为例

为探讨洞穴微生物沉积碳酸钙作用对洞穴沉积物的影响,利用传统生物学方法,采集贵州中西部地区石将军洞洞穴沉积物表面的微生物样品,结合洞穴监测数据和理化背景资料,利用B-4培养基和B-4C培养基对洞穴细菌进行筛选和纯化,分离出能沉积碳酸钙的菌种,观察和了解洞穴细菌形成的CaCO3晶体,应用X射线衍射分析仪(XRD)分析细菌形成的CaCO3晶体成分,并利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察晶体结构特征。结果表明:1)在B-4培养基下微生物产生的碳酸钙晶体主要为方解石、球霰石和方解石混合物、球霰石,这种变化与培养基pH值的增幅相关;同时,在添加Mg离子的B-4C培养基下形成的碳酸钙晶体主要为方解石,此外,研究中并未检测到文石晶体。2)通过SEM扫描,发现微生物作用形成的碳酸钙晶体存在不规则六方体、柱状体、四方体层状、半球状等,这些晶体形态在化学作用系统下少见,多见于微生物作用形成的方解石。此外,晶体中微生物作用痕迹明显,微生物作用贯穿于整个沉积过程。     

褶纹冠蚌珍珠囊发育的研究

以褶纹冠蚌(Cristaria plicata Leach)为实验对象,应用光学显微技术和扫描电子显微技术研究珍珠囊的发育,结果表明在水温16℃左右时约需30d形成具有单层上皮细胞的珍珠囊,6个月后稳定分泌珍珠质。构成珍珠囊的上皮细胞从高柱状逐渐变成扁平状或立方形,细胞的碳酸酐酶污性也日益增强。大部分移植细胞小片的结缔组织与母蚌的结缔组织共同成层排列在珍珠囊腔外围。游走细胞在珍珠囊的早期发育阶段十分活跃。本文还阐明了珍珠囊液是存在于上皮细胞与珍珠表面之间的一薄层流体状物质。碳酸钙结晶的核化(nucleation)和初期生长都发生在珍珠囊液中。     

三角帆蚌贝壳珍珠层颜色遗传规律初步研究

为了探明三角帆蚌(Hyriopsis cumingii)贝壳珍珠层颜色的遗传规律,为珍珠层颜色的选择育种提供理论指导,利用三角帆蚌紫色和白色选育品系进行自交和正反杂交,建立了白色♂×白色♀、白色♂×紫色♀、紫色♂×白色♀和紫色♂×紫色♀4个交配组合,统计分析了每个交配组合子代的珍珠层颜色分离情况。结果显示,白色自交组合的子代贝壳珍珠层颜色全部表现为白色,没有发生颜色分离;杂交组合的子代珍珠层颜色出现两种情况,一是全部表现为紫色,二是颜色发生分离,且紫色和白色个体比例符合1︰1的比例关系;紫色自交组合的子代珍珠层颜色也出现两种情况,一是全部表现为紫色,二是颜色分离出紫色和白色,且比例符合3︰1的比例关系。结果表明,三角帆蚌贝壳珍珠层颜色受遗传基因控制,可以稳定遗传,属质量性状。珍珠层紫色性状对白色性状为显性,两种颜色性状均不存在母性遗传。白色个体为隐性纯合体,选育纯化较为容易,而紫色个体既有显性纯合体又有杂合体,选育纯化相对较困难。     

三角帆蚌碳酸酐酶Ⅳ基因的克隆及表达分析

三角帆蚌碳酸酐酶Ⅳ(carbonic anhydraseⅣ, HcCA4)基因属于α-CA家族,这是一类含Zn2+的金属酶。α-CA家族加速了CO2和HCO3-之间的相互转化,并对软体动物碳酸钙(CaCO3)的形成、酸碱平衡、钙化和生物矿化起重要作用。本研究通过RACE的方法得到了HcCA4的全长cDNA,共3 043 bp,其中3'与5'端的UTR分别为137 bp、2 021 bp和885 bp的ORF (Open reading frame)区,共编码294个氨基酸,分子量为34.086 kD。对HcCA4的氨基酸序列进行同源性分析之后,发现一个完整的α-CA Superfamily结构域,证明HcCA4属于α-CA家族的基因。qRT-PCR结果表明:CA4基因在前端缘膜、中央膜、后端缘膜、斧足、肝、鳃、性腺和肾脏都有表达,在外套膜的前缘膜和中央膜,鳃中具有高表达。鳃是三角帆蚌呼吸器官,推测CA4参与呼吸作用;外套膜是三角帆蚌分泌矿化物质的关键组织,推测HcCA4参与珍珠层形成。     

碳酸钙对土壤镉吸附及解吸的影响

采用等温吸附法,并以1mol/L KNO3进行解吸试验,研究CaCO3对3种土壤镉吸附和解吸的影响。结果表明,3种土壤的原状土样对镉吸附总趋势为：栗钙土＞棕壤＞淋溶褐土,均符合Langmuir方程、Frenudlich方程和Temink方程,其中以Freumdlich方程最佳。镉的专性吸附量表现为栗钙土＞淋溶褐土＞棕壤。添加CaCO3使3种土壤中镉的吸附量增加,增加幅度棕壤为4％－11％,淋溶褐土2％－11％,栗钙土2％－8％。外界加入的镉浓度越高,增加幅度越大。Freundlich方程（lgX=lgK lgC/n）拟合的参数结果表明：加入CaCO3后,K和n值均下降;Langmuir方程中镉最大吸附值增加,吸附平均常数减小。可以推测,CaCO3的存在之所以能够使土壤体系吸附镉能力增加,除CaCO3本身的吸附作用增加,吸附平衡常数减小。可以推测,CaCO3的存在之所以能够使土壤体系吸附镉能力增加,除CaCO3本身的吸附作用外,还可能影响反应体系的平衡系数。加入CaCO3,土壤对镉的专性吸附明显增加,尤其以棕壤专性吸附的镉最多,淋溶褐土其次,而栗钙土增加较少,栗钙土去除CaCO3后,镉的吸附减少了2.0%-26.0%,土壤专性吸附的镉减少4.0%-38.2%。3种土壤镉的解吸能力表现为：棕壤＞淋溶褐土＞栗钙土。添加CaCO3,土壤镉的解吸量下降。去除CaCO3后,栗钙土匐解吸量明显增加。     

A new matrix protein family related to the nacreous layer formation of Pinctada fucata

We have isolated a new matrix protein family (N16) which is specific to the nacreous layer of the Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata, and have cloned and characterized the cDNAs coding for the components. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that N16 showed no definitive homology with other proteins. The in vitro studies of the crystallization clarified that N16 induced aragonite crystals when fixed on the substrate but inhibited crystal formation without it. The aragonite crystals showed platy morphology different from those formed inorganically, and long intervals of incubation resulted in crystalline layers highly similar to the nacreous layer.     

A Novel Acidic Matrix Protein,PfN44, Stabilizes Magnesium Calcite to Inhibit the Crystallization of Aragonite

Magnesium is widely used to control calcium carbonate deposition in the shell of pearl oysters. Matrix proteins in the shell are responsible for nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate crystals. However, there is no direct evidence supporting a connection between matrix proteins and magnesium. Here, we identified a novel acidic matrix protein named PfN44 that affected aragonite formation in the shell of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata. Using immunogold labeling assays, we found PfN44 in both the nacreous and prismatic layers. In shell repair, PfN44 was repressed, whereas other matrix proteins were up-regulated. Disturbing the function of PfN44 by RNAi led to the deposition of porous nacreous tablets with overgrowth of crystals in the nacreous layer. By in vitro circular dichroism spectra and fluorescence quenching, we found that PfN44 bound to both calcium and magnesium with a stronger affinity for magnesium. During in vitro calcium carbonate crystallization and calcification of amorphous calcium carbonate, PfN44 regulated the magnesium content of crystalline carbonate polymorphs and stabilized magnesium calcite to inhibit aragonite deposition. Taken together, our results suggested that by stabilizing magnesium calcite to inhibit aragonite deposition, PfN44 participated in P. fucata shell formation. These observations extend our understanding of the connections between matrix proteins and magnesium.     

Electron diffraction of mollusc shell organic matrices and their relationship to the mineral phase

Electron diffraction patterns showing orientation of the chitin and protein constituents of the insoluble organic matrix of mollusc shell nacreous layers have been obtained, using low dose conditions and samples cooled to −100°C. Diffraction patterns of the aragonite crystals were also observed. In a gastropod and a bivalve the spatial relationship between the organic matrix constituents and the aragonite crystallographic axes were shown to be the same as was previously observed for a cephalopod using X-ray diffraction, supporting the notion that mineral crystal growth occurs epitaxially upon a matrix template.     

Identification of chitin in the prismatic layer of the shell and a chitin synthase gene from the Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata

The shell of the Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata, consists of two layers, the prismatic layer on the outside and the nacreous layer on the inside, both of which comprise calcium carbonate and organic matrices. Previous studies indicate that the nacreous organic matrix of the central layer of the framework surrounding the aragonite tablet is beta-chitin, but it remains unknown whether organic matrices in the prismatic layer contain chitin or not. In the present study, we identified chitin in the prismatic layer of the Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata, with a combination of Calcofluor White staining with IR and NMR spectral analyses. Furthermore, we cloned a cDNA encoding chitin synthase (PfCHS1) that produces chitin, contributing to the formation of the framework for calcification in the shell.     

Otolith crystals (in Carapidae): growth and habit

The biomineralization of otoliths results mainly from the release of soluble Ca(2+), which is in turn precipitated as CaCO(3) crystals. In some Carapidae, sagittae sections have been shown to reveal a three-dimensional asymmetry with a nucleus close to the sulcal side, an unusual position. This study seeks to understand otolith formation in Carapus boraborensis. The unusual shape of the otolith is partly explained by the distribution of the epithelium cells, and particularly the sensory epithelium. Experimental evidence shows for the first time that aragonite growth takes place along the c-axis. These aragonite needles present two different habits. On the sulcal side is found the acicular form resulting from rapid growth during a short period of time. On the anti-sulcal side, the prismatic form seen there is due to a slower growth speed over longer periods. The otolith surface was observed each hour during a period of 24h in fishes reared in similar conditions. This allowed for the first time the direct observation on the otolith surface of the deposition of the two layers (L-zone and D-zone). In C. boraborensis, the organic-rich layer (D-zone) develops during the day, whereas the CaCO(3) layer (L-zone) seems to be deposited during the night.     

Ultrastructure of lamellae, mineral and matrix components of fish otolith twinned aragonite crystals: implications for estimating age in fish

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the crystalline ultrastructure of otoliths fromPagrus major(Sparidae),Macruronus novaezelandiae(Merlucciidae),Oncorhynchus tshawytscha(Salmonidae),Sebastes alutus(Scorpaenidae), andHoplostethus atlanticus(Trachichthyidae) showed regular deposition of lamellae in the size range 13-490 nm. The orientation of lamellae in the {010} plane was the same as lamellae in crystals of mineral aragonite. Lamellae in mineral aragonite were in the size range 15-45 nm. Lamellae observed in the otolith ofM. novaezelandiaeby transmission electron microscopy showed a range of widths (25-225 nm) similar to lamellae observed by AFM. The observed lamella widths were in the size range that has been described for sub-daily and daily microincrements in otoliths. Observed lamellae widths were also in the size range of alpha-recoil trajectories of(222)Rn and provide a potential diffusion sink correction for the(222)Rn losses in radionuclide method of ageing otoliths. Comparison of the orientations of lamellae to templates based on the Bragg unit cell structure of twinned aragonite indicated that the lamellae resulted from polysynthetic twinning on the {010} aragonite crystal face. Additional cyclic twinning occurred on the {110} face of the aragonite crystal and sometimes led to pseudohexagonal crystals, whose sizes were orders of magnitude larger than lamellae. The organic matrix of the otolith was visible by atomic force and transmission electron microscopy at the nanometer level of resolution, but the organic matrix was confined to the {110} twinning plane of symmetry of the otolith crystal.     

A scanning electron microscopic study of the inorganic and organic matrices comprising the mature shell of Amblema, a fresh-water mollusc

The scanning electron microscope has been used to describe the morphology of the mature shell in a fresh-water bivalve. The structure of the organic and inorganic components within the nacre, the myostracum, and the prismatic layer is described. A transitional or intermediate zone, interposed between the prismatic layer and the nacre, was identified. In demineralized samples, the organic component of the nacre was found to consist of parallel matricial sheets interconnected by irregular transverse bridges. The structure of the mineral component of the nacre was found to vary with the method of specimen preparation. With polished-etched samples, brick-like units were seen. When shells were simply broken and fixed in osmium, the layers of nacreous material consisted of fusing rhomboidal crystals of aragonite which demonstrated subconchoidal fractures. On the inner surface of the shell, the rhomboidal crystals showed an apparent spiral growth pattern. The myostracum was characterized by regions of modified nacreous structure consisting of enlarged aragonite crystals with a pyramidal morphology. The peripheral aspect of the muscle scars was characterized by rhomboidal crystals, the latter fusing to form the typical nacreous laminae. The uniqueness of the anterior adductor scar is exemplified by the presence of pores, each pore walled by pyramidal units, for the insertion of adductor fibres. In most regions of the shell, the prismatic layer consisted of one prism unit thickness with a height of approximately 225–250 μm. However, in two specialized regions of the shell, this layer was seen to consist of multiple layers of stacked prisms. The organic matrices of the prismatic layer are arranged in a honeycomb-like arrangement and packed with mineralized spherical subunits.     

马氏珠母贝(Pinctada fucata martensii)PmHEX基因的功能研究

几丁质是软体动物贝壳有机框架的重要成分,其代谢在贝壳矿化中发挥重要作用。β-N-乙酰-己糖胺酶(HEX, EC3.2.1.52)是几丁质代谢的关键水解酶。为了探究马氏珠母贝β-N-乙酰-己糖胺酶(Pm HEX)(登录号:MF555152)在贝壳形成中的作用,本研究利用原位杂交(ISH)技术检测Pm HEX基因在外套膜的定位,结果显示Pm HEX的mRNA主要分布于外侧褶的外上皮细胞、中褶的内侧上皮细胞和内褶上皮细胞。利用RNAi技术抑制Pm HEX表达后,Pm HEX在边缘区和套膜区的表达量均显著下调;SEM观察发现实验组的棱柱层和珍珠层的微观结构都出现不同程度的紊乱。综上所述,Pm HEX可能通过影响几丁质代谢,参与马氏珠母贝贝壳棱柱层和珍珠层的矿化过程。