Filamentous fungi associated with holothurians from the sea of Japan, off the primorye coast of Russia

Holothurians (Holothurioidea, Echinodermata) are known to contain triterpene glycosides, which show antifungal activity. Nevertheless, fungi can be isolated from all organs of holothurians. During 1995-1996, mycelial fungi from several Far-Eastern holothurians--Apostichopus japonicus, Eupentacta fraudatrix, Cucumaria japonica--were collected from the Sea of Japan near the coast of Primorye (Russia) and studied. Twenty-seven species of marine fungi, mostly facultative ones belonging to the mitosporic fungi, were isolated from the holothurians and identified. Fungi isolated from the holothurian surface were more diverse and abundant than those from internal organs and coelomic fluids. Of the holothurians studied, Cucumaria japonica was poorest in abundance and diversity of fungi. The fungi Cladosporium brevicompactum and C. sphaerospermum were common in the holothurian coelom. Because of their high proteolytic activity, these fungi may be pathogenic to holothurians. The detritovorus holothurian A. japonicus was shown to modify the fungal assemblages within the marine bottom sediments.     

Effect of triterpene glycosides on the plasma membrane permeability for amino acids in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis yeast cells

The effect of triterpen glycosides, such as cauloside C from Caulophyllum robustum, stichoposide A from Stichopus japonicus S and the asaponine from Thea sinensis L on permeability of the plasmic membranes for amino acids was studied. It was shown that the glycosides induced higher levels of liberation of the amino acids with positively or negatively charged molecules from the cells of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis as compared to the control. The transport of the non-polar amino acids was least affected by addition of the saponines to the incubation medium.     

海参微卫星DNA的多态性

微卫星DNA(microsatellite DNA)广泛存在于真核生物的基因组中。由于其具有突变频率快、多态性丰富、呈共显性遗传、通用性等特点,已成为近年来被广泛应用的分子遗传标记。本研究对10个海参微卫星DNA进行了克隆与测序。结果表明:90%的微卫星DNA序列存在长度多态性,这为进一步研究海参的分子标记辅助育种奠定了基础。     

Effect of triterpene glycosides on plasma membrane permeability for UV-absorbing substances in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis yeast cells]

The effect of triterpene glycosides of cauloside C from Caulophyllum robustum M, stichoposide A from Stichopus japonicus S. and theasaponine from Thea sinensis Z. on permeability of plasmic membranes of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis for UV-absorbing substances was studied. It was found that incorporation of 14C-uridine from the endocellular pool into the yeast acid-insoluble fraction decreased under the effect of the triterpene glycosides as a result of the precursor leakage from the cell into the medium. It was found that the triterpene glycosides stimulated the leakage of the UV-absorbing substances with an absorption maximum at 260 nm from the cells. The maximum membranotropic effect was observed at 30--40 degrees C and in the presence of monovalent potassium, sodium, ammonium and lithium ions in the medium. Cauloside C and theasaponine, pentacyclic glycosides had the highest effect on the permeability at pH 4.8--5.6, while stichoposide A, a tetracyclic glycoside, had the highest effect at pH 7.0.     

海参i型溶菌酶基因及其编码产物的结构特点

通过RT-PCR 和 RACE PCR技术,从海参(Stichopus japonicus)体壁中克隆得到一种溶菌酶基因(GenBank：EF036468).生物信息软件分析表明,其中全长cDNA为 713 bp,5′非编码区（UTR）246 bp,3′UTR 29 bp,开放阅读框438 bp,编码145个氨基酸,包括溶菌酶成熟肽124个氨基酸和信号肽21个氨基酸.对海参溶菌酶与多种无脊椎动物的c、g和i型溶菌酶进行分析比较,发现它与i型溶菌酶有较高的同源性,并具有i型溶菌酶高度保守的2个活性位点,即Glu34和Ser50.活性位点附近具有i型溶菌酶的一段特有的氨基酸保守序列MDVGSLSCG(P/Y)(Y/F)QIK,所以推断克隆的海参溶菌酶为i型.另外,通过搜索蛋白保守结构域数据库,发现海参溶菌酶与医用水蛭失稳酶相似性最高,并且这2个酶的三级结构模型也极其相似.因此推测,海参i型溶菌酶具有双功能特性,既能作用于细菌细胞壁的糖苷键使细胞裂解,又具有失稳酶的一些生化功能,能够水解纤维蛋白,这些特点在海参自溶过程中发挥重要的作用.     

Isolation and properties of a mannan-binding lectin from the coelomic fluid of the holothurian Cucumaria japonica

A new 44-kD, C-type mannan-binding lectin (MBL-C) consisting of two identical subunits was isolated from the coelomic fluid of the holothurian Cucumaria japonica. In the direct hemagglutination assay, the lectin was effectively inhibited by highly branched mannans similar in structure to yeast mannans and composed of alpha-(1-->2)- and alpha-(1-->6)-bound D-mannopyranose residues. Hemagglutination was not inhibited by mannosaccharides, common constituents of the hydrocarbon chains of "normal" glycoproteins. The lectin reaction depends on Ca2+ concentration: maximum activity of MBL-C is observed at 10 mM Ca2+. The activity of MBL-C increases in the pH range from 5 to 7 and reaches maximum at pH 7.0. The lectin is sensitive to temperature. Heating of the lectin solution at temperatures above 40 degrees C decreases activity, while incubation at 90 degrees C for 1 h leads to complete irreversible inactivation. Carbohydrate specificity, Ca2+-dependence, and amino acid composition indicate that MBL-C belongs to the C-type mannan-binding lectins. Polyclonal antibodies against MBL-C revealed its immunochemical similarity to a mannan-binding lectin from another holothurian species, Stichopus japonicus; this provides evidence for structural homology between these proteins.     

Membranotropic effect of some triterpene glycosides possessing immunostimulating properties

The peculiarities of the interaction between cell membrane lipids and triterpene glycosides from holothurians Apostichopus japonicus S. and Cucumaria japonica (holotoxin A1 and cucumarioside A2-2, respectively) were studied in comparison with plant saponins from Quillaja saponaria, known as hemolytic, adjuvant, and structure-forming components of immunostimulating complexes. Similar to Quillaja saponins, the sea glycosides, holotoxin A1 and cucumarioside A2-2 were shown to possess a high hemolytic activity (2.6 and 3 microg/ml, respectively) and sterol-depending membranotropic effect mediated by the formation of nonbilayer sterol-lipid-glycoside complexes. At the same time, cucumarioside A2-2 bound exogenic cholesterol only in the presence of membrane lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine or monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, in contrast to Quillaja saponins and holotoxin A1, which bound cholesterol in the molar ratios 1:2 and 1:8, respectively. Moreover, in all cases, tree-component complexes containing cholesterol, lipid, and glycoside exhibited a lower hemolytic activity compared with two-component sterol-glycoside complexes. It was concluded that the hydrophobic medium of cell membranes performs a potentiative role in the effective interaction between triterpene glycosides and "sterol receptors". A method for decreasing the toxicity of membranotropic holothurian glycosides possessing the immunomodulating properties was suggested.     

Muscle regeneration in the holothurian Stichopus japonicus

The regeneration of longitudinal muscle bands (LMBs) in the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus was studied using light and electron microscopic and immunocytochemical methods. Previous investigations of holothurian organs showed the presence of some cytoskeletal proteins which were specific for LMBs only. One of them, the 98 KDa protein, was isolated by means of SDS-electrophoresis and used as an antigen to obtain polyclonal antibodies. When tested on paraffin sections of sea cucumber organs, the antibodies were shown to interact only with coelomic epithelial cells covering the LMBs. The antibodies were used to study LMB regeneration after transverse cutting. During regeneration no signs of myocyte dedifferentiation or mitotic division were observed. In the wound region, damaged myocytes degenerated and muscle bundles desintegrated. However, the coelomic epithelial cells dedifferentiated and began to invade the LMB. Just beneath the surface these cells formed clusters (muscle bundle rudiments). The number and size of the clusters gradually increased, the cells lengthened and developed contractile filaments. These observations suggest that new muscle bundles arise from coelomic epithelial cells covering the LMBs. The migration of coelomic epithelial cells into the damaged LMBs and their myogenic transformation are the basic mechanism of holothurian muscle regeneration.     

刺参的营养成分分析

对刺参的营养成分进行了分析,结果表明,刺参中含有多种营养成分,19种氨基酸和多种维生素以及丰富的矿物元素,旨在为刺参的开发利用提供科学依据。     

A comparative study in vitro of physiological activity of triterpene glycosides of marine invertebrates of echinoderm type

1. The cytostatic and antimicrobial activity of triterpene glycosides of 19 holothurian species of the Pacific tropical zone has been studied. 2. It has been demonstrated that yeast and tumor cells display a comparable sensibility to the action of triterpene oligosides of sea cucumbers. 3. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are not sensible to the action of glycosides in doses to 500 mkg/ml. 4. Triterpene glycosides-stichoposides, thelothurins and oligosides of Holothuria of genus Bohadschia are the most active in relation to fungal, yeast microflora and tumor cells.     

刺参基因组DNA提取的探讨

以刺参为试验材料,分别以CTAB法、SDS法、Segama试剂盒法对刺参的触手、管足、体壁、纵肌、肠和呼吸树组织进行基因组DNA的提取,均得到了高质量的基因组DNA。Segama试剂盒提取DNA条带较其他两种方法清晰,杂质少且无降解,效果最佳。对比6种不同的刺参组织,其中纵肌组织3种方法均获得高质量基因组DNA,为提取基因组DNA的首选组织。开发了利用刺参触手和管足活体取样提取基因组DNA的方法,得到了高质量的基因组DNA,这为刺参无损伤取样提供了数据支持,使得将来刺参家系建立过程中保证亲体的健康存活及减少试验样品取样所带来的损伤成为可能。     

海参微卫星DNA的筛选与克隆的初步分析

微卫星DNA(microsatelliteDNA)广泛存在于真核生物的基因组中。由于其具有突变频率快、多态性丰富、呈共显性遗传、通用性等特点,已成为近年来被广泛应用的分子遗传标记。对刺参基因组DNA的提取及其微卫星的筛选与克隆进行了初步分析。     

Fibrinolysis relating substances in marine creatures.

1. Extracts with physiological saline solution were obtained from about 20 species of invertebrates and seaweed. Tosyl-L-Arg-MeOH hydrolysing and fibrin plate lytic activity were detected in the invertebrates Stichopus japonicus, Crassost gigas, Tapes japonica, and Kintai-gai as well as the seaweed Codiales codium. 2. These activities were all labile against heat (at 65 degrees C for 1 hr). Except for the extract from Stichopus japonicus, lytic activities against fibrin plates with and without plasminogen were similar. 3. The extract from S. japonicus showed plasminogen activating potency as well as the existence of urokinase (UK) activity enhancing factor. 4. On the other hand, the extract of the seaweed Hizikia fusiformis showed a strong UK inhibiting activity. 5. A fraction of fibrinolytic enzyme was obtained from the extract of S. japonicus by absorption to the celite affinity chromatography. It was orally administered to rabbits at a dosage of 40 mg/kg/day. 6. Fibrinolytic activity was determined periodically on the eugloblin fraction of plasma samples collected from these animals. 7. As compared with the pretreatment value, the activity increased about 2 times (P less than 0.01) and 3 times (P less than 0.005) after 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, of the treatment. 8. After 8 weeks of treatment, the kidney of treated rabbits was extracted with 2 M KCl. The activity of tissue plasminogen activator (free-type TPA) was revealed to be enhanced significantly (P less than 0.001) in the extracts. 9. The fibrinolytic enzyme increased in the blood was recognized by zymography to be mainly the UK type plasminogen activator with mol. wt of 53,000.     

海刺参(Stichopus japonicus)电压依赖性钙离子通道 β亚基基因及其编码产物的结构特点学分析

电压依赖性钙离子通道(voltage dependent calcium channels, VDCC)是细胞膜上 控制Ca^2+进入胞内的特殊蛋白质,VDCC β亚基具有调节其通道活性的作用．使用 RT- PCR 和 RACE-PCR技术,从海刺参(Stichopus japonicus)肠中克隆得到电压依赖性钙离子通道β亚基(SjCaβ)基因,所得序列提交GenBank,登录号EU853658．该基因全长1 867 bp,包含1个1 614 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码537个氨基酸．将SjCaβ与多种无脊椎动物钙离子通道β亚基进行分析比较,发现它们有较高的同源性,并具有钙离子通道β亚基基因内保守的2个功能区域,即SH3功能区（src-homology 3 domain）和GK功能区(guanylate kinase domain)．在功能区域附近还具有电压依赖性钙离子通道β亚基特有的BID区(β interaction domain),氨基酸保守序列为PYDVVP-RP--- VGPSLKGYEVTDMMQKALFDF,进一步确定了得到的cDNA序列为海刺参电压依赖性钙离子通道β亚基．对SjCaβ的二级结构进行了预测,构建了系统进化发育树,并运用同源建模法构建了SjCaβ的三维结构模型．研究结果对深入研究海刺参离子通道的结构以及在信号传导过程中的作用有着重要意义,并为研究海刺参自溶等问题提供一定的理论基础．     

Distribution of intracellular fucoidan hydrolases among marine bacteria of the family Flavobacteriaceae

A search for fucoidan-degrading enzymes and other O-glycosylhydrolases has been performed among 51 strains of marine bacteria of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from red, green, and brown algae, as well as from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius and the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus. Over 40% of the studied strains synthesized fucoidanases. The marine bacteria Mesonia algae KMM 3909(T) (an isolate from green alga Acrosiphonia sonderi), as well as Maribacter sp. KMM 6211 and Gramella sp. KMM 6054 (associants of the sea urchin S. intermedius), were the best producers of fucoidanases. Xylose effectively induced the biosynthesis of fucoidanases in these strains. None of the 15 strains of marine bacteria belonging to the genus Arenibacter produced polysaccharide hydrolases.     

鼠尾藻生长与生殖的权衡

2009年7月初至2009年9月中旬对烟台长岛县望福礁附近水域鼠尾藻(Sargassum thunbergii)进行了生态学调查。实验设立固定采样地点通过随机采样以及现场标记测量的方法观测了鼠尾藻的生长与生殖情况。结果表明:(1)鼠尾藻生殖始于7月初,8月初为高峰期,此间87%的藻体产生生殖托;(2)藻体长度对成熟比例和生殖力均有显著的影响,藻体成熟具有大小依赖性;(3)营养组织生物量大的鼠尾藻群体生殖组织生物量也相对较大,生殖期间营养组织生长和生殖组织生长呈异速关系;(4)成熟藻体在有性生殖高峰期过后,生长率下降,而始终未成熟的藻体则持续生长(生长率0)。以上结果表明,在鼠尾藻的生活史中存在着生长与生殖的权衡。     

Relative importance of the antioxidant and anesthetic properties of propylene phenoxetol in its action as a “preservative” for living holothurians

The local name “sea pudding” for the Bermudan holothurian, Stichopus badionotus, might stem from a certain resemblance to a black pudding but it also now appropriately suggests the softening and degeneration of the body wall that occurs in response to local trauma. In mock cloacal dissections, an antioxidant, propylene phenoxetol, provided effective protection against local degeneration. This observation led to a series of experiments, with standardized local trauma, in which local degeneration of the body wall was retarded by the following antioxidants: ethyl gallate, propylene phenoxetol, propyl gallate, and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Of eight local anesthetics tested, only ethyl ether retarded local degeneration. Nevertheless, it may be thought that the mechanism of local degeneration is susceptible both to antioxidants and to local anesthetics.     

Purification and characterization of a cathepsin L-like enzyme from the body wall of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus

Cathepsin L-like enzyme was purified from the body wall of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus by an integral method involving ammonium sulfate precipitation and a series of column chromatographies on DEAE Sepharose CL-6B, Sephadex G-75, and TSK-GEL. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 63 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme cleaved N-carbobenzoxy-phenylalanine-arginine7-amido-4-methylcoumarin with K(m) (69.92 microM) and k(cat) (12.80/S) hardly hydrolyzed N-carbobenzoxy-arginine-arginine 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin and L-arginine 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin. The optimum pH and temperature for the purified enzyme were found to be 5.0 and 50 degrees C. It showed thermal stability below 40 degrees C. The activity was inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents and activated by reducing agents. These results suggest that the purified enzyme was a cathepsin L-like enzyme and that it existed in the form of its enzyme-inhibitor complex or precursor.     

Distribution pattern of anthocyanins in the polygonaceae

A survey of anthocyanins in the flowers and other organs of thirty-three species of three genera belonging to the Polygonaceae has been carried out. There are thirteen anthocyans. Cyanidin glycosides, especially the 3-glycoside (chrysanthemin), are present most commonly and peonidin glycosides including the arabinosylglucoside are found with low frequency. The distribution of malvidin 3,5-diglucoside (malvin) is confined to the species belonging to the sectionEchinocaulon of the genusPolygonum. It is noted that cyanidin itself occurs in the stems ofPolygonum perfoliatum andP. senticosum.     

Molecular and biological characterization of a mannan-binding lectin from the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus

To elucidate the origin and evolution of mannan-binding lectins (MBL), a new C-type lectin (CTL) specific for high-mannose glycans (MBL-AJ) was isolated from the coelomic plasma of the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus. MBL-AJ has oligomeric forms with identical 17-kDa subunits on SDS-PAGE. Among natural ligands, lectin hemagglutination activity was competitively inhibited by extracellular low-branched, but not high-branched, alpha-D-mannans isolated from marine halophilic bacteria and composed of alpha-1,2 and alpha-1,6 linked D-mannose residues. This suggests that the lectin interacts with backbone or inner side chain mannose residues, but not with terminal ones. The activity of the lectin was Ca(2+)-, pH-, and temperature-dependent. MBL-AJ cDNA was cloned from a holothurian coelomocyte cDNA library. The subunit of the mature protein has 159 amino acids and a single carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of CTL. CRD contains a Glu-Pro-Asp amino acid sequence (EPN-motif) conserved for all known MBLs. A monospecific polyclonal antibody against MBL-AJ was obtained using the 34-kDa lectin dimer as an immunogen. The MBL-AJ has demonstrated immunochemical identity to the earlier isolated mannan-binding CTL from another holothurian, Cucumaria japonica. But a more interesting finding was cross-reactivity of MBL-AJ and human serum MBL detected by the antibody against MBL-AJ. Taking into consideration such MBL-AJ peculiarities as its carbohydrate specificity, the presence of a conserved region forming the mannose-binding site, common antigenic determinants with human MBL, and participation in defense reactions, it is possible that MBL-AJ belongs to the family of evolutionary conserved mannan-binding proteins.