Separation and Partial Characterization of Membranes from Prochloron sp.

Two differently colored membrane preparations were separatedfrom the prochlorophyte, Prochloron sp., by mechanical disintegrationof the cells followed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation.An orange-colored preparation, containing zeaxanthin as themajor constituent pigment, seemed to comprise the cytoplasmicmembrane. The other green-colored membrane preparation, containingß-carotene and chlorophyll a and b as major pigmentconstituents, was identified as the thylakoid membrane. Thetwo types of membranes were compared as to their absorptionspectra and buoyant densities. ¹ This work is one of the results of the 8th International Expeditionon Prochloron organized by Dr. R. A. Lewin, University of Californiaat San Diego. ⁵ Present address: Solar Energy Research Group, The Algatron,The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Wako-shi,Saitama 351, Japan. ⁶ Present address: National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki444, Japan. (Received October 19, 1984; Accepted January 7, 1985)     

Carbonic anhydrase activity of Prochloron sp. isolated from an ascidian host

The prokaryotic algal symbiont of ascidians, Prochloron sp., was found to exhibit carbonic anhydrase activity which is largely associated with the cell surface. This extracellular carbonic anhydrase activity was inhibited, while the intracellular activity was not affected, by chloride or bromide. Acetazolamide and ethoxyzolamide inhibited carbonic anhydrase activity with I₅₀ values of 7×10^-4 and 3×10^-4M, respectively. These I₅₀ values are similar to those observed for intracellular carbonic anhydrases of Synechococcus sp. PCC7942, Chlamydomonas reinhardii and spinach.Abbreviations AZA acetazolamide - CA carbonic anhydrase - chl chlorophyll - EZA ethozyzolamide - I₅₀ concentration of an inhibitor required to cause 50% inhibition - Rubisco ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - U unit     

The relatedness of Prochloron sp. Isolated from different didemnid ascidian hosts

The relationship of Prochloron sp. isolated from four different didemnid ascidian hosts, namely Lissoclinum patella, Lissoclinum voeltzkowi, Diplosoma virensand Trididemnum cyclops was elucidated by comparative analysis of their 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA). The oligonucleotide catalogues of the 16S rRNA obtained are almost identical, indicating a very close relationship among the prochlorophytes investigated. Phylogenetically Prochloron is a member of Cyanobacteriales.     

光合膜膜脂双半乳糖二酰基甘油的研究进展

本文综述了光合膜膜脂双半乳糖二酰基甘油（DGDG）的生物合成和生理功能的研究进展。DGDG是光合膜中惟一的双半乳糖脂类,在光合膜的不同膜区均有分布。在高等植物叶绿体中,存在着两条不同的DGDG生物合成途径,即原核合成途径和真核合成途径。原核途径只限于在质体内进行,而真核途径还包括一些在内质网内发生的反应。DGDG在维持光系统II捕光色素蛋白复合体的寡聚体结构、调控光系统II和光系统II核心复合物的放氧活性等方面起着重要作用。     

光合膜膜脂双半乳糖二酰基甘油的研究进展

本文综述了光合膜膜脂双半乳糖二酰基甘油(DGDG)的生物合成和生理功能的研究进展。DGDG是光合膜中惟一的双半乳糖脂类,在光合膜的不同膜区均有分布。在高等植物叶绿体中,存在着两条不同的DGDG生物合成途径,即原核合成途径和真核合成途径。原核途径只限于在质体内进行,而真核途径还包括一些在内质网内发生的反应。DGDG在维持光系统Ⅱ捕光色素蛋白复合体的寡聚体结构、调控光系统Ⅱ和光系统Ⅱ核心复合物的放氧活性等方面起着重要作用。     

Immunological characterization of the Prochlorothrix hollandica and Prochloron sp. chlorophyll a/b antenna proteins

Polyclonal antibodies were prepared against the major antenna chlorophyll (Chl) a/b-binding protein from the prokaryote Prochlorothrix hollandica (Burger-Wiersma et al. (1986) Nature (Lond.) 320, 262-264). Immunoblotting experiments on Triton X-114 phase-partitioned P. hollandica thylakoids revealed that the antibody recognizes intrinsic membrane polypeptides of 33 and 30 kDa, and immunocytochemistry of P. hollandica thin sections showed that the antibody preferentially decorates the thylakoid. The antibody was immunopurified against a LacZ fusion protein produced in Escherichia coli by an immunopositive phage clone retrieved from a lambda ZAP expression library. This purified antibody crossreacted to both the 33 and 30 kDa polypeptides, indicating that these proteins are either structurally related products of different genes, or modified forms of the same gene product. Whereas immunological crossreactivity of Prochlorothrix antibody to the major LHC-II Chl a/b antenna of maize could not be detected, the immunopurified antibody reacted strongly to the major 34 kDa Chl a/b antenna protein from the prokaryote Prochloron sp. (Lewin (1975) Phycologia 14, 153-160). These data confirm the structural similarity of the prochlorophyte photosynthetic antenna systems.     

The Occurrence of Sarcocystis sp. in the Dog

SYNOPSIS. Cysts of Sarcocystis sp. are described from a dog. They are spherical to elongate, 110–250 μ in diameter, and contain numerous crescentic trophozoites measuring 4–5 × 1.5 μ. No septa were seen. This is the first report of Sarcocystis from a domestic carnivore.     

海洋贝类帕金虫及其病害发生

帕金虫属于细胞内寄生的原生生物,是导致海洋贝类大量死亡的最重要的病原物之一,采用传统的FTM检测法和组织切片方法,结合分子检测技术,目前已经在不同的贝类中鉴定了7种帕金虫,并且在帕金虫的生物学特征、对宿主的危害性以及防治等方面取得了许多重要研究成果.本文对危害海洋贝类的帕金虫的分类与系统学、形态和生活史特征、检测鉴定技术、流行病学特征、帕金虫与宿主间的侵害与抵御关系以及帕金虫病的防治方法等方面的研究成果进行了较系统的分析综述,并对贝类帕金虫病未来的研究发展方向进行了分析,以期促进我国海洋贝类帕金虫病的基础理论和实践应用研究.     

Occurrence of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate inAzospirillum sp.

Azospirillum strains isolated from the roots and rhizosphere of some plants growing in West Bengal were subjected to qualitative and quantitative evaluation for poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production. Out of the total 49 isolates, 13 (26%) were confirmed as PHB producers according to staining and chemical assay methods. The majority of these strains belonged toAzospirillum brasilense butA. amazonense andA. lipoferum were also present. When grown in the presence of NH₄Cl in the medium, the PHB content of the strains ranged from 1 to 14% of cell dry mass. The identity of the PHB extracted fromAzospirillum strain 24P-N-72 was confirmed by the characteristic UV and IR absorption peaks at 235 nm and 1730 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

烤烟根粉蚧的发生与防治

烤烟根粉蚧Ｒｈｉｚｏｅｃｕｓｓｐ .属同翅目 ,粉蚧科 ,俗称小白虫。于 1 995年 4～ 5月在云南施甸县南部山区万兴、姚关两乡的烤烟苗根部首次发现。烤烟根粉蚧危害烟株 ,轻者外叶变黄失水 ,生长缓慢、容易感染花叶病、丛枝病 ,重者生长停止、发僵 ,甚至萎蔫枯死 ,严重威胁着烤烟生产的正常发展。经调查 ,1 995年发生面积近70ｈｍ2 ,造成危害的摆盘期烤烟约 2 0ｈｍ2 ,其中有 0 1 4ｈｍ2 左右受害特重成毁灭性 ,营养袋苗受害后被损毁的达 1万多株 ;1 997年全县烤烟又普遍发生根粉蚧危害 ,面积达 3 5 0 0ｈｍ2 左右。 1 999年再度严重发生…     

Photoadaptation and Protection against Active Forms of Oxygen in the Symbiotic Procaryote Prochloron sp. and Its Ascidian Host

Superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase activities were studied in the symbiotic photosynthetic procaryote Prochloron sp. and its ascidian host Lissoclinum patella. The protein-specific activities of these antioxidant enzymes in the Prochloron sp. and L. patella collected at different depths from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, were directly proportional to irradiance, whereas the pigment concentrations in the Prochloron sp. were inversely proportional to irradiance. The presence of a cyanide-sensitive superoxide dismutase, presumably a Cu-Zn metalloprotein, in the Prochloron sp. extends the possible phylogenetic distribution of this protein. The concentration of UV-absorbing mycosporine-like amino acids is inversely proportional to irradiance in both the host and symbiont, suggesting that these compounds may not provide sufficient protection against UV radiation in high-irradiance environments. The significant differences in the specific activities of these antioxidant enzymes, cellular photosynthetic pigment concentrations, and UV-absorbing compounds from high- and low-irradiance habitats constitute an adaptive response to different photic environments. These photoadaptive responses are essential to prevent inhibition of photosynthesis by high fluxes of visible and UV radiation.     

Host specificity and phylogeography of the prochlorophyte Prochloron sp., an obligate symbiont in didemnid ascidians

Prochloron is an oxygenic photosynthetic bacterium that lives in obligate symbiosis with didemnid ascidians, such as Diplosoma spp., Lissoclinum spp. and Trididemnum spp. This study investigated the genetic diversity of the genus Prochloron by constructing a phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences of 27 isolates from 11 species of didemnid ascidians collected from Japan, Australia and the USA. The 27 isolates formed three phylogenetic groups: 22 of the samples were identified to be closely related members of Prochloron. Two samples, isolated from Trididemnum nubilum and Trididemnum clinides, were found to belong to the species Synechocystis trididemni, the closest relative of Prochloron. Three isolates formed a separate group from both Prochloron sp. and S. trididemni, potentially indicating a new symbiotic phylotype. Genomic polymorphism analysis, employing cyanobacterium-specific highly iterative palindrome 1 repeats, could not delineate the isolates further. For the Prochloron sp. isolates, the phylogenetic outcome was independent of host species and geographic origin of the sample indicating a low level of host specificity, low genetic variation within the taxon and possibly a lack of a host-symbiont relationship during reproductive dispersal. This study contributes significantly to the understanding of Prochloron diversity and phylogeny, and implications for the evolutionary relationship of prochlorophytes, cyanobacteria and chloroplasts are also discussed.     

Occurrence of Vibrio sp. infection in grouper, Epinephelus suillus

Vibrio st, was consistently isolated from grouper, Epinepbelus suillus , with bacterial infection. Fingerlings, which were challenged with the bacterium by injection, were highly susceptible. Immersion challenge resulted in 100% mortality within 48 hrs in fish subjected to combination of injury and exposure to the bacterium. Mortality in uninjured fish was observed in the long bath subgroup, but not in the short bath subgroup. These results are correlated with the present practices in the grouper fingerling industry in the Philippines.

Zusammenfassung

Vorkommen von Vibrio-Infektionen in Groupern , Epinephelus suillus
Vibrio spec . wurde wiederholt von bakteriell infizierten Epinephelus suillus isoliert. Jungfische, die durch Injektion mit diesen Bakterien konfrontiert wurden, waren hochgradig anfällig. Exosition gegenüber Immersionen resultierte in 100% Mortalität innerhalb von 48 h, vorausgesetzt ie Tiere hatten Wunden. Allerdings wurde die Mortalität bei verwundeten Tieren nur in der langzeitgebadeten Versuchsgruppe beobachtet. Diese Ergebnisse reflektieren die gegenwärtige Praxis der Epinephelus- Jungfischindustrie in den Philippinen.     

Functional Analysis of Sesame Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase and Phospholipid: Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase Genes Using In Silico and In Vitro Approaches

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - Sesamum indicum L. is one of the major oilseed crops of India. Sesame oil is stable with a good source of unsaturated fatty acids. To know the mechanism of oil...     

Muramic acid in the cell walls of Prochloron

Muramic acid has been detected in Prochloron with the aid of two different techniques. It was assayed by cleaving D-lactate from muramic acid and then reducing NAD with D-lactate dehydrogenase and measuring the NADH with bacterial luciferase. Gas-liquid chromatography of trimethylsilyl derivatives of cell extracts confirmed that muramic acid was present in about the quantity given by the D-lactate assay. The amount of muramic acid present was 1.7±0.2 g/mg dry weight or 1.3fg/m² of cell surface. This suggests that the thickness of the peptidoglycan layer in Prochloron is similar to that in blue-green algae.Abbreviations D-LDH d-lactate dehydrogenase - MA muramic acid - TMS trimethylsilyl - TLE thin layer electrophoresis - GLC gas-liquid chromatography     

Occurrence of the mite Pyemotes sp. (Acari: Pyemotidae) in insect rearing in laboratory

Pyemotidae mites have been reported as ectoparasites of a large number of arthropods, especially of insects. These mites are frequently found attacking insects in different habitats, including insect rearing. This paper reports the occurrence of Pyemotes sp., ventricosus group, in colonies of Tuta absoluta (Meyerick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in the insect rearing laboratory of ESALQ-USP, in Piracicaba, State of S?o Paulo, provoking dematitis in those involved with the rearing. This is the first report of a Pyemotes species parasitizing T. absoluta and S. zeamais. Considering the capacity of Pyemotes to cause dermatitis in human beings, demonstrated by other authors, the direct use of the Pyemotes species found in this work for the control of the reported insect species may not be promising.     

Occurrence of Salmincola sp. on brook charr Salvelinus fontinalis in Lake Superior

Hydrobiologia - Salmincola sp. infect fishes of the family Salmonidae and can negatively affect host health. The parasite–host relationship was examined between Salmincola sp. and a remnant...     

The 5S ribosomal RNAs of Paracoccus denitrificans and Prochloron.

The nucleotide sequences of the 5S rRNAs of Paracoccus denitrificans and Prochloron sp. are (formula: see text), respectively. Specific phylogenetic relationships of P. denitrificans with purple non-sulphur bacteria, and of Prochloron with cyanobacteria are demonstrated, and unique features of potential secondary structure are described.