光、温限制后铜绿微囊藻和斜生栅藻的超补偿生长与竞争效应

研究了铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)低温和低光照限制后的超补偿效应,以及共培养条件下的竞争效应。结果表明,低温和低光照均显著抑制微藻的生长发育,但低温对铜绿微囊藻的抑制效应更强,而斜生栅藻则对低光胁迫更敏感。经过低光和低温培养后,铜绿微囊藻和斜生栅藻在恢复正常培养时藻细胞密度短期内都表现出超补偿增长效应,但不同藻类超补偿模式不同,斜生栅藻补偿生长时间不超过1周,而铜绿微囊藻的补偿效应可以持续10天;此外,统计结果表明铜绿微囊藻细胞密度对低温限制解除表现出更显著的补偿生长,斜生栅藻则在低光解除后表现出更强的超补偿效应。微藻叶绿素a指标在光恢复条件下都表现出显著的补偿效应,但温度恢复过程中叶绿素a含量与藻密度增长不同步,低温胁迫对恢复正常培养后微藻叶绿素a的形成产生了一定的负效应;铜绿微囊藻产毒株(912)在两种恢复模式下脱氢酶活性显著高于对照,产毒株(912)脱氢酶活性的补偿响应明显高于其它两种材料。共培养实验结果表明斜生栅藻同铜绿微囊藻产毒株(912)相比处于竞争劣势,而在同无毒株(469)的共培实验中,尽管连续正常培养情况下两者竞争能力差异不显著,但在恢复培养条件下斜生栅藻竞争能力显著高于后者。因此产毒型铜绿微囊藻低温和低光后的补偿生长效应以及对斜生栅藻的竞争优势可能是蓝藻爆发的内源性机制之一。     

NMR-based metabonomic analysis on effect of light on production of antioxidant phenolic compounds in submerged cultures of Inonotus obliquus

This study was designed to investigate the light effect on biosynthesis of antioxidant phenolic compounds by Inonotus obliquus grown in submerged cultures using ¹H NMR spectroscopy combining multivariate pattern recognition strategies. I. obliquus were exposed to a range of light conditions and resultant data were compared to those from field-grown sclerotia and the mycelia grown in daylight. Daylight illumination inhibited biosynthesis of davallialactone and phelligridins and other hispidin analogs. Continuous darkness enhanced the formation of phelligridins, davallialactone and inoscavins. Phelligridins and davallialactone also occurred in the mycelia grown in blue and red light with levels lower than those found in darkness. In addition, polyphenols synthesized under daylight conditions showed less potential antioxidant activity than those determined with other light regimes. These findings demonstrate that light regulates biosynthesis of polyphenols in I. obliquus and their subsequent antioxidant activities, and ¹H NMR-based metabolic profiling is a cost-effective approach for evaluating light effects on fungal metabolisms.     

The 520 nm absorbance changes in Scenedesmus obliquus and its relation to Photosystem I

The kinetics (region of seconds) of the light-induced 520 nm absorbance change and its dark reversal have been studied in detail in the wild type and in some pigment and photosynthetic mutants of Scenedesmus obliquus. The following 5 lines of evidence led us to conclude that the signal is entirely due to the photosystem I reaction modified by electron flow from Photosystem II.Gradual blocking of the electron transport with 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea resulted in diminution and ultimate elimination of the biphasic nature of the signal without reducing the extent of the absorbance change or of the dark kinetics. On the contrary, blocking electron flow at the oxidizing side of plastoquinone with 2, $\text{5-}\text{dibromo}\text{-3-}\text{methyl}\text{-6-}\text{isoprophyl}\text{-p-}\text{benzoquinone}$ or inactivating the plastocyanin with KCN, prolonged the dark reversal of the absorbance change apart from abolishing the biphasic nature of the signal.Action spectra clearly indicate that the main signal (I) is due to electron flow in Photosystem I and that its modification (Signal II) is due to the action of Photosystem II.Signal I is pH independent, whereas Signal II demonstrates a strong pH dependence, parallel to the O₂-evolving capacity of the cells.Chloroplast particles isolated from the wild type Scenedesmus cells demonstrated in the absence of any added artificial electron donor or acceptor and also under non-phosphorylation conditions the 520 nm absorbance change with approximately the same magnitude as whole cells. The dark kinetics of the particles were comparatively slower. Removal of plastocyanin and other electron carriers by washing with Triton X-100 slowed down the kinetics of the dark reversal reaction to a greater extent. A similar positive absorbance change at 520 nm and slow dark reversal was also observed in the Photosystem I particles prepared by the Triton method.Mutant C-6E, which contains neither carotenoids nor chlorophyll $\text{b}$ and lacks Photosystem II activity, demonstrates a normal signal I of the 520 nm absorbance change. This latter result contradicts the postulate that carotenoids are the possible cause of the 520 nm absorbance change.     

青霉素钠对萼花臂尾轮虫适合度的促进作用及其与藻密度的关系

以萼花臂尾轮虫（Brachionus calyciflorus）为受试动物,在1.0×10⁶（较低）、2.0×10⁶（中等）和4.0×10⁶个细胞/mL （较高）的斜生栅藻（Scenedesmus obliquus）密度下,研究了不同浓度（0、200、400、600、800和1000 μg/L）的青霉素钠对轮虫各生命表统计学参数的影响。结果表明,与各藻密度下的对照组相比,当藻密度为2.0×10⁶个细胞/mL时,200-1000 μg/L的青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的生命期望和世代时间分别延长了40.67%-70.67%和34.04%-50.23%（P<0.05）,净生殖率和内禀增长率分别提高了204.35%-358.70%和36.26%-62.09%（P<0.05）;藻密度的降低或升高均显著降低青霉素钠对轮虫存活、生殖和种群增长的促进幅度。1.0×10⁶ 个细胞/mL的斜生栅藻密度下,400 μg/L的青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的生命期望延长了21%（P<0.05）,200-400μg/L的青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的世代时间延长了23.15%-33.13%（P<0.05）,200-600和1000 μg/L的青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的净生殖率分别升高了40%-81.05%和41.05%（P<0.05）;但4.0×10⁶个细胞/mL的斜生栅藻密度下,各青霉素钠处理组中轮虫的所有生命表统计学参数均与对照组之间无显著性差异（P>0.05）。藻密度对轮虫的生命期望、净生殖率、内禀增长率和后代混交率均具有显著性影响（P<0.01）,青霉素钠浓度对轮虫的世代时间、净生殖率和内禀增长率均具有显著性影响（P<0.05）,藻密度和青霉素钠浓度的交互作用对轮虫的生命期望、净生殖率和内禀增长率也具有显著性影响（P<0.05）。在实验设置的青霉素钠浓度范围内,1.0×10⁶个细胞/mL藻密度下轮虫的生命期望、世代时间和净生殖率与青霉素钠浓度之间均具有显著的剂量-效应关系（P<0.05）;2.0×10⁶个细胞/mL藻密度下,轮虫的生命期望、世代时间和内禀增长率与青霉素钠浓度之间均具有显著的剂量-效应关系（P<0.05）。本研究结果提示,环境相关浓度的青霉素钠不会对萼花臂尾轮虫的存活、生殖和种群增长产生显著性影响。     

The alignment between phenotypic plasticity,the major axis of genetic variation and the response to selection

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of a genotype to produce more than one phenotype in order to match the environment. Recent theory proposes that the major axis of genetic variation in a phenotypically plastic population can align with the direction of selection. Therefore, theory predicts that plasticity directly aids adaptation by increasing genetic variation in the direction favoured by selection and reflected in plasticity. We evaluated this theory in the freshwater crustacean Daphnia pulex, facing predation risk from two contrasting size-selective predators. We estimated plasticity in several life-history traits, the G matrix of these traits, the selection gradients on reproduction and survival, and the predicted responses to selection. Using these data, we tested whether the genetic lines of least resistance and the predicted response to selection aligned with plasticity. We found predator environment-specific G matrices, but shared genetic architecture across environments resulted in more constraint in the G matrix than in the plasticity of the traits, sometimes preventing alignment of the two. However, as the importance of survival selection increased, the difference between environments in their predicted response to selection increased and resulted in closer alignment between the plasticity and the predicted selection response. Therefore, plasticity may indeed aid adaptation to new environments.     

Antioxidant activity of a water-soluble polysaccharide purified from Pteridium aquilinum

A water-soluble crude polysaccharide, obtained from fern Pteridium aquilinum, was fractionated by DEAE-Sepharose Fast-Flow column chromatography, and purified by Sephacryl S-400 HR column chromatography. The average molecular weight (M_w) of the purified polysaccharide (PLP) is 458,000 Da. The monosaccharide components of PLP were characterized by gas chromatography (GC), and the majority of the monosaccharide components was glucose (relative mass 58.1%) with low levels of galactose, mannose, rhamnose, and arabinose (relative mass 18.7%, 6.8%, 10.2%, and 6.1%, respectively). The Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR) of PLP revealed typical characteristics of polysaccharides. On the basis of the ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), DPPH radical-scavenging, the superoxide radical assay, and self-oxidation of 1,2,3-phentriol assay, the antioxidant activities of PLP were investigated. The purified polysaccharide was demonstrated to have strong reductive power (FRAP value: 827.6 μmol/L), moderate scavenging activities against DPPH radicals (83.1%) and superoxide radicals (60.5%), and moderate inhibiting power for self-oxidation of 1,2,3-phentriol (52.4%).     

Response of an exopolysaccharide-producing heterocystous cyanobacterium to changes in metabolic carbon flux

The response of the exopolysaccharide-producing heterocystous cyanobacteriumCyanospira capsulata to changes in metabolic carbon flux was investigated to estimate the potential for improvement of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) yield. Carbon flux was altered by transferring the organism either to an argon atmosphere or to medium containing the nitrogen assimilation inhibitors L-methionine-D,L-sulfoximine (MSX), O-diazoacetyl-L-serine (AZAS) or D,L-7-azatryptophan (AZAT), or by adding glyoxylate, known to stimulate carbon metabolism. When carbon flux was modified by interfering with nitrogen metabolism, the concentration of total carbohydrates exceeded that of the control culture only in Ar- or AZAS-treated cell suspensions, but this difference was mainly due to enhancement of the quantity of bound carbohydrates. On the other hand, when carbon flux was modified by a single addition of glyoxylate (30 mM) or by daily additions of 10 mM glyoxylate without interfering with nitrogen metabolism, carbohydrate release into the medium was stimulated markedly; after 5 days of growth in the presence of the organic compound, the concentration of EPS was 43 % higher than in the control culture. The results demonstrate that, with enhanced carbon flux, the excess carbon is preferentially channeled byC. capsulata cells into the synthesis of an overflow product like EPS, whereas, with mere diversion of carbon flux from the process of nitrogen assimilation, the synthesis of carbon reserves is more heavily favoured.     

斜生栅藻对不同形态锑胁迫的响应及抗性研究

该研究以斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)为研究对象,研究不同浓度的Sb(Ⅲ)、Sb(Ⅴ)胁迫下对斜生栅藻生长速率、叶绿素a、抗氧化酶活性和细胞表面结构的影响,以探讨重金属胁迫下斜生栅藻的抗性机理。结果表明:(1)在高浓度Sb(Ⅲ)、Sb(Ⅴ)胁迫处理中,斜生栅藻生长对Sb(Ⅲ)胁迫的响应更加迅速;随着Sb(Ⅲ)、Sb(Ⅴ)胁迫浓度增加,斜生栅藻体内叶绿素a含量呈下降趋势,且对Sb(Ⅲ)胁迫浓度的变化反应更为敏感。(2)在800μmol/L Sb(Ⅲ)和Sb(Ⅴ)胁迫下,斜生栅藻体内丙二醛(MDA)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性分别在胁迫第7~8天和第6~7天时变化更为明显;过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在胁迫处理的第4~5天就迅速增加,对Sb胁迫响应比SOD更为迅速。(3)在高浓度Sb(Ⅲ)、Sb(Ⅴ)胁迫下,斜生栅藻细胞结构受到严重损伤,而且Sb(Ⅲ)对斜生栅藻细胞的损伤更加明显。研究发现,Sb(Ⅲ)、Sb(Ⅴ)对斜生栅藻生长、叶绿素a及细胞结构表现出不同程度的抑制和破坏作用,其细胞受到的影响程度与Sb(Ⅲ)、Sb(Ⅴ)的处理浓度及处理时间均密切相关,但斜生栅藻依靠自身抗氧化酶系统在一定程度上能够缓解Sb胁迫的不利影响。     

荆条叶性状对野外不同光环境的表型可塑性

光照是影响植物生长和分布的重要环境因子。对生长在野外5种不同光环境下(林外、阔叶林林缘、阔叶林林下、针叶林林窗和针叶林林下)的荆条的叶片进行取样研究,通过对光合作用光响应曲线、叶绿素荧光、叶绿素含量、叶片氮磷含量以及叶片形态的测量,来反映荆条对不同光环境的表型可塑性。研究结果表明,荆条叶片对于野外不同的光环境具有很好的适应机制,叶片功能性状受到结构性状的调节。低光下通过高的比叶面积(SLA)、单位质量叶绿素含量、光系统II最大量子产量,低的暗呼吸速率、光饱和点、光补偿点、叶绿素a,b的比值来提高对光能的利用效率,维持生长;高光下则通过与SLA有关的叶片结构的变化对光合作用进行调节。大多数的叶性状只受到日光照总量的影响,SLA的大小与日最高光强有关,可以对不同日变化模式的光照做出迅速的响应,是适应不同光照的敏感指标。尽管光照是不同光环境下影响荆条叶性状的主要环境因子,土壤养分含量同样会对叶性状产生影响,高土壤养分下的高叶长与叶柄长的比值体现了植物对资源获取和支撑结构之间分配的权衡。     

Effects of small-scale turbulence on Phaeocystis globosa (Prymnesiophyceae) growth and life cycle

The response of Phaeocystis globosa to small-scale turbulence was studied in 5 l microcosms. Turbulence was generated by oscillating grids. The effect of small-scale turbulence was examined under 3 turbulence levels representative of the P. globosa natural environment, and in non-turbulent control cultures. Single cell numbers, nitrogen concentrations and colony formation (number and diameter) were followed over 13 days in each experimental culture. Small-scale turbulence decreased single cell growth and also influenced colony formation. More colonies were formed when turbulence increased to a given threshold, but above this turbulence level, fewer and smaller colonies were observed in P. globosa cultures. The ecological significance of these results, particularly, the potential influence of small-scale turbulence on competition mechanisms between P. globosa and diatoms are finally discussed and suggested as a key factor to understand phytoplankton successions in the Eastern English Channel.     

Modulatory effects of one polysaccharide from Acanthopanax senticosus in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

One water-soluble polysaccharide ASP was purified from Acanthopanax senticosus and its physicochemical properties were confirmed by the combination of chemical and instrumental analysis. ASP administered orally at three doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) could significantly decrease the concentration of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels except for high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level and the relative ratio (HDL/TC) in alloxan-induced diabetic mice, compared with the diabetic controls without drug treatment, comparable with that of diabetic mice treated with metformin. Furthermore, ASP could obviously increase the body weight and serum insulin level and reduce the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, especially at dose of 200 mg/kg. The data demonstrated ASP at the certain did often exhibit the optimal protective effect in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. It is promising that ASP may serve as a drug candidate or a healthcare food for diabetic therapy or protection.     

Isolation and structural characterization of a polysaccharide FCAP1 from the fruit of Cornus officinalis

A water-soluble polysaccharide, FCAP1, was isolated from an alkaline extract from the fruits of Cornus officinalis. Its molecular weight was 34.5 kDa. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that it was composed of fucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, and galactose in a molar ratio of 0.29:0.19:1.74:1:3.30:1.10. On the basis of partial acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis, FCAP1 was shown to be a highly branched polysaccharide with a backbone of β-(1→4)-linked-glucose partially substituted at the O-6 position with xylopyranose residues. The branches were composed of (1→3)-linked-Ara, (1→4)-linked-Man, (1→4,6)-linked-Man, (1→4)-linked-Glc, and (1→2)-linked-Gal. Arabinose, fucose, and galactose were located at the terminal of the branches. The structure was further elucidated by a specific enzymatic degradation with an endo-β-(1→4)-glucanase and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. Oligosaccharides generated from FCAP1 indicated that FCAP1 contained XXXG-type and XXG-type xyloglucan fragments.     

Semi-quantitative colony immunoassay for determining and optimizing protein expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli

This work describes a quick semi-quantitative colony immunoassay (QSCI) method for immunoblot detection of intracellularly expressed proteins in both yeast and bacterial cells. After induction of protein expression, only 4.5 h is required for cell breakage, protein detection, and data analysis. This protocol was used to screen and unambiguously identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells efficiently overexpressing glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged Yih1 in addition to cells expressing the myc-tagged large 297-kDa Gcn1 protein. In addition, the method was used to identify Escherichia coli cells efficiently expressing His6-tagged Yih1 and a GST-tagged Gcn1 fragment, respectively. The protocol allows the use of both epitope-specific and protein-specific antibodies. The same colony immunoassay can also be used to determine the minimal concentration of inducing agent sufficient for induction of optimal protein expression (e.g., galactose for yeast, isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside [IPTG] for E. coli). To our knowledge, this is the first report on a rapid low-cost procedure that allows the calibration of inducing agent on solid medium.     

Effects of CO2 concentrations on the freshwater microalgae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus obliquus (Chlorophyta)

In order to investigate the possible impacts of increased atmospheric CO₂ levels on algal growth and photosynthesis, the influence of CO₂ concentration was tested on three planktonic algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, and Scenedesmus obliquus). Increased CO₂ concentration enhanced significantly the growth rate of all three species. Specific growth rates reached maximal values at 30, 100, and 60 M CO₂ in C. reinhardtii, C. pyrenoidosa, and S. obliquus, respectively. Such significant enhancement of growth rate with enriched CO₂ was also confirmed at different levels of inorganic N and P, being more profound at limiting levels of N inC. pyrenoidosa and P in S. obliquus. The maximal rates of net photosynthesis, photosynthetic efficiency and light-saturating point increased significantly (p < 0.05) in high-CO₂-grown cells. Elevation of the CO₂ levels in cultures enhanced the photoinhibition of C. reinhardtii, but reduced that of C. pyrenoidosa and S. obliquus when exposed to high photon flux density. The photoinhibited cells recovered to some extent (from 71% to 99%) when placed under dim light or in darkness, with better recovery in high-CO₂-grownC. pyrenoidosa and S. obliquus. Although pH and pCO₂ effects cannot be distinguished from this study, it can be concluded that increased CO₂ concentrations with decreased pH could affect the growth rate and photosynthetic physiology of C. reinhardtii, C. pyrenoidosa, and S. obliquus.     

A protein-bound polysaccharide from the stem bark of Eucommia ulmoides and its anti-complementary effect

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of a hot-water extract from the stem bark of Eucommia ulmoides led to the isolation of a homogeneous polysaccharide EWDS-2, which was identified as a highly branched protein-bound polysaccharide with average molecular weight between 1000 and 2000 kDa, composed of Glc, Gal, Ara, and Rha in the ratio of 2.2:1.0:0.4:0.2, along with traces of Man and 6.55% of protein. The main linkages of the residues of EWDS-2 include terminal, 1,3-linked, 1,4-linked, 1,2,6-linked, 1,3,6-linked Glc; 1,6-linked, 1,2,6-linked, 1,3,4-linked, 1,4,6-linked Gal; 1,5-linked, 1,3,5-linked Ara; terminal and 1,2,5-linked Rha. The bioassay revealed that EWDS-2 inhibits complement activation on both the classic and alternative pathways with CH₅₀ and AP₅₀ values of 282 ± 11 μg/mL and 144 ± 17 μg/mL, respectively. Preliminary mechanism studies indicate that EWDS-2 inhibits the activation of the complement system by interacting with C1q, C1r, C1s, C2, C3, C4, C5, and C9. The results suggested that EWDS-2 could be valuable for the treatment of diseases associated with the excessive activation of the complement system.     

尾叶桉无性系生长、干形和抗枝瘿姬小蜂综合选择

对尾叶桉60个无性系进行了生长量和桉树枝瘿姬小蜂的敏感性调查。结果表明, 生长性状在无性系单株间存在显著的相关性,而尾叶桉受姬小蜂的危害情况与生长性状间无显著相关性。对遗传参数的估算表明, 尾叶桉无性系抗桉树枝瘿姬小蜂水平有较高的重复力,可以通过无性系选择获得抗蜂、速生的尾叶桉无性系。最终通过独立淘汰法选择出6个优良的尾叶桉无性系。     

Improved enzyme production by co-cultivation of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae and with other fungi

Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae were co-cultivated with each other and with Magnaporthe grisea or Phanerochaete chrysosporium, respectively. Enzyme assays for plant polysaccharide and lignin-degrading enzymes showed that co-cultivation can improve extracellular enzyme production. Highest ??-glucosidase, ??-cellobiohydrolase, ??-galactosidase, and laccase activities were found for A. oryzae in combination with other fungi, in particular with P. chrysosporium. Highest ??-xylosidase activity was obtained when A. niger was co-cultivated with P. chrysosporium. SDS-PAGE protein profiles demonstrated that A. niger and A. oryzae contributed most to the overall enzyme activities found in the culture medium of the mixed cultivations. These data demonstrate that co-cultivation of two major industrial fungi, A. niger and A. oryzae, results in improved production of biotechnologically relevant enzymes.     

Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia leaf: New source of polysaccharide and its anti-oxidant activity

Ultrasonic technology was applied for polysaccharide extraction from the leaves of Dodonaea viscosa and response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the effects of processing parameters on polysaccharide extraction yield. Three independent variables were extraction time (X₁), extraction temperature (X₂) and ultrasonic power (X₃), respectively. The statistical analysis indicated the independent variables (X₁, X₂, X₃), the quadratic terms (X₁₁ and X₃₃) and the interaction terms (X₁X₂, X₁X₃, X₂X₃) had significant effects on the yield of polysaccharides (P < 0.05). The optimal extraction conditions of D. viscosa leaf were determined as follows: extraction time 50.54 min, extraction temperature 85 °C and ultrasonic power 400 W. Under these conditions, the experimental yield of polysaccharides was 9.455 ± 0.24%, which was agreed closely with the predicted value (9.398%). The evaluation of anti-oxidant activity suggested that the polysaccharide exhibited significant protection against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals and could be explored as a nutraceutical agent.