Biochemical composition of cuttlefish (Sepia esculenta) eggs during embryonic development

Changes in egg volume, water content, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and fatty acids in cuttlefish (Sepia esculenta) were determined during embryogenesis to understand the nutritional requirements in the early life phase. The egg volume and the water content decreased significantly (P<0.05) during early embryonic development, and then increased abruptly after the beginning of organ differentiation. During embryonic development, protein was the major content in the yolk and the per cent composition varied to a large extent (55.19–78.45%) with carbohydrates (9.86–15.56%) and lipids (1.62–2.97%). Proteins and lipids decreased 23.3% and 0.4%, respectively, in dry weight, while carbohydrates increased 0.46%. Total amino acids and essential amino acids (EAAs) were stable during the early embryonic developmental stage, but decreased significantly until the eggs hatched (P<0.05). The largest utilisation of the yolk protein possibly occurred with respect to EAAs (25.7%) because of a decrease in methionine (70.3%), valine (63.0%) and phenylalanine (58.5%). The most important fatty acids were saturated fatty acid (SFA) C16:0 and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) C22:6 and C20:5. Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and SFA decreased at a similar rate during embryonic development (5.69% and 6.15%, respectively). For UFAs, monounsaturated fatty acids were consumed at a greater rate than PUFAs (29.6% and 0.05%, respectively).     

Effect of cell density and irradiance on growth,proximate composition and eicosapentaenoic acid production ofPhaeodactylum tricornutum grown in a tubular photobioreactor

Growth and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) productivity of the diatomPhaeodactylum tricornutum grown semicontinuously in a helical tubular photobioreactor were examined under a range of irradiances (approximately 56 to 1712 µmol photons m^-2 s^-1) and cell densities (3 × 10⁶ to 18 × 10⁶ cells mL^-1). Self shading sets the upper limit of operational maximum cell density. Higher irradiance increases this upper limit and also increase the growth rate. Biomass productivity and EPA productivity were enhanced at those cell densities which support the fastest growth rate irrespective of irradiance. The cell protein content increased with increasing irradiance and the carbohydrate and lipid content increased with increasing cell density. EPA productivity was greatest at the highest irradiance. This study shows that biomass productivity and EPA productivity can be maximised by optimising cell density and irradiance, as well as by addition of CO₂.Author for correspondence     

Light,nutrients and the fatty acid composition of stream periphyton

1. While the balance of light and nutrients is known to influence the food quality of herbivores by altering algal phosphorus and nitrogen content, the combined effects of light and nutrients on fatty acid synthesis in freshwater periphyton are relatively unknown. In this study, we manipulated light and phosphorus concentration in large, flow‐through experimental streams to examine their effects on both elemental stoichiometry and fatty acid content in periphyton. 2. Two levels of phosphorus (4 and 80 μg L^?1) and three of light (17, 40, 110 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1) were applied in a factorial design in two separate experiments. Diatoms dominated periphyton communities in both experiments, comprising >95% of algal biovolume. Periphyton growth in the streams was simultaneously affected by both resources, even at low rates of supply. 3. Periphyton C/P and C/N ratios increased with light augmentation and decreased with phosphorus enrichment, and consistent with the light : nutrient hypothesis (LNH). Light effects were strongest in streams with low phosphorus concentrations. 4. Periphyton fatty acids reflected the dominance of diatoms : palmitic (16 : 0), palmitoleic (16 : 1ω7) and eicosapentanoic (20 : 5ω3) were the principal saturated (SAFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), respectively. Linoleic (18 : 2ω6) and linolenic (18 : 3ω3) acids, characteristic of chlorophytes and cyanophytes, were rare, comprising <2% of total fatty acids. 5. Periphyton fatty acid profiles were highly sensitive to light and phosphorus. The proportion of fatty acids comprised by SAFA and MUFA increased with light augmentation and decreased with phosphorus enrichment, whereas PUFA decreased with light and increased with phosphorus. Light effects on fatty acid composition were strongest in phosphorus‐poor streams. PUFA declined with increasing light/phosphorus ratios in the streams, whereas ‘energy’ fatty acids (16 : 0 and 16 : 1) increased. The ratio of SAFA/PUFA was strongly and positively correlated with C/P and C/N ratios. SAFA and MUFA, normalised to dry mass, increased two‐ to threefold with increasing light, while PUFA normalised to dry mass was not significantly affected by light. 6. Similarities in the responses of fatty acids and elemental stoichiometry to light and phosphorus treatments suggested that they were influenced by a common mechanism. Both components of food quality appeared to be sensitive to light‐regulated rates of carbon fixation which, when coupled with insufficient supplies of phosphorus, caused diatom cells to store surplus carbon in SAFA, MUFA and other carbon‐rich compounds that diluted both essential fatty acids and mineral nutrients.     

Evidence of structural and functional adaptation in epilithon exposed to zinc

Artificial streams were used to study the effect of chronic zinc dosing (0.00, 0.05 or 1.00 mg Zn l^–1) on epilithic communities during summer and early fall, 1984 and 1985. Following zinc addition, epilithon was periodically measured for ¹⁴C-glucose and ¹⁴C-glutamate respiration, ash-free dry weight (AFDW), protein, carbohydrate, chlorophyll a (Chl a), pheophytin a (pheo a), and colony forming units (CFU) on zinc amended and unamended media. Transient peaks in glucose respiration rates mg^–1 protein and AFDW occurred within 5 to 10 days in streams dosed with 1.0 mg Zn l^–1 and coincided with decreases in AFDW, protein, carbohydrate, Chl a, and pheo a. Respiration of glutamate did not show a significant response to dosing ( = 0.05). Epilithic plate counts demonstrated more total and zinc-tolerant CFU in dosed than in control epilithon after 20 days. After 30 days, greater biomass and lower protein: carbohydrate ratios were evident in epilithon dosed with 1.0 mg Zn l^–1 compared to unamended treatments. Peaks in glucose respiration suggested the presence of zinc-tolerant heterotrophs transiently capable of increased respiration of glucose but not glutamate. Concurrently, minimal but measurable biomass inferred the persistence of zinc-tolerant microorganisms in zinc-dosed epilithon. By the end of the studies, results indicated that metal-tolerant populations replaced metal-sensitive organisms under conditions of elevated zinc concentration. These zinc adapted communities had lower potential value as a food source to grazers (low protein: carbohydrate ratio) and were no longer distinctive with respect to glucose respiration.     

Measurements of fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism in te isolated working rat heart

The isolated working rat heart is a useful experimental model which allows contractile function to be measured in hearts perfused at physiologically relevant workloads. To maintain these high workloads the heart is required to generate a tremendous amount of energy. In vivo this energy is derived primarily from the oxidation of fatty acids. In many experimental situations it is desirable to perfuse the isolated working heart in the presence of physiologically relevant concentrations of fatty acids. This is particularly important when studying energy metabolism in the heart, or in determining how fatty acids alter the outcome of myocardial ischemic injury [1, 2]. The other major source of energy for the heart is derived from the oxidation of carbohydrates (glucose and lactate), with a smaller amount of ATP also being derived from glycolysis. Two byproducts of both fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism are H2O and CO2. By labeling the glucose, lactate, or fatty acids in the perfusate with 3H or 14C the experimenter can quantitatively collect either 3H2O or 14CO2 produced by the heart. By using radioisotopes that are labeled at specific hydrogen or carbon molecules on the various energy substrates, and by knowing the specific activity of the radiolabeled substrate used, it is possible to determine the actual rate of flux through these individual pathways. This paper will describe the experimental protocols for directly measuring fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism in isolated working rat hearts.     

金鱼藻(Ceratophyllum demersum Kom.)对藻类的生化干预作用

室内试验表明金鱼藻对普通小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris Beij.)和斜生栅藻(Scenedesmusobliquus(Turp.)Kutz.)的生长有明显的生化干预作用。本研究表明,金鱼藻和藻类共同培养,用培养过金鱼藻的培养液直接培养藻类,或用此培养液中提取的生物碱作藻类抑制实验,藻类的生长均受到抑制。等量的金鱼藻经煮沸后,对藻类的抑制作用高于原液。金鱼藻植株及其培养液中生物碱的含量与培养条件和时间有关。     

Isolation and Characterization of an Unsaturated Fatty Acid-Binding Protein from Developing Chick Neural Retina

An unsaturated fatty acid-binding protein has been isolated from the cytosol fraction of developing chick neural retina. It has a molecular weight of approximately 14,800 and specifically binds not only added radiolabeled arachidonic and oleic acids but has also been found to bind unsaturated fatty acids endogenously. This protein was detected in chick neural retina at all stages examined, from 8 to 16 days of development. It is also present in chick heart, brain, and retinal pigmented epithelium-choroid as well as in adult bovine neural retina. It is distinct from both cellular retinol-binding protein and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein on the bases of binding specificity and isoelectric point.     

Fatty acyl-CoA binding activity of the nuclear thyroid hormone receptor

Long-chain fatty acids and their acyl-CoA esters are potent inhibitors of nuclear thyroid hormone (T₃) receptor in vitro. In the present study, we obtained evidence for acyl-CoA binding activity in the nuclear extract from rat liver. The activity sedimented at a position (3.5 S) identical with that of the T₃ receptor, and the two activities sedimented together. Similarly, they coeluted on DEAE-Sephadex. After partial purification of the receptor, it was again inhibited strongly by acyl-CoAs. Heat stability and a partial trypsin digestion of the receptor both suggested that the action site of oleoyl-CoA overlapped the T₃-binding domain of the receptor. In addition, thyroid hormone receptor β1, synthesized in vitro, bound oleoyl-CoA specifically and its T₃-binding activity was inhibited. The dissociation constant for oleoyl-CoA binding to the partially purified receptor was 1.2 × 10^?7 M. This value as well as its molecular size distinguished the nuclear binding sites from the cytoplasmic fatty acid/acyl-CoA binding proteins. Oleoyl-CoA had no effect on the glucocorticoid receptor, another member of the nuclear hormone-receptor superfamily. From these results, we propose that thyroid hormone receptor is a specific acyl-CoA binding protein of the cell nucleus.     

红火蚁搬尸信号物质的初步研究

蚂蚁死亡后在密闭、潮湿的巢穴环境内非常容易滋生病原菌,威胁巢穴健康。为了防止尸体的存在危害健康个体,工蚁识别尸体上的“死亡信号”并将其搬离巢穴。本研究采用溶剂提取法提取工蚁尸体化合物,并利用化学方法转化尸体提取物,然后测试红火蚁Solenopsis invicta工蚁对4种主要提取成分——酯、脂肪酸、表皮碳氢化合物以及哌啶生物碱的行为反应。结果表明,红火蚁尸体的正己烷提取物具有很强的搬尸活性,高达76%的滤纸条被搬运到弃尸堆。酯、自由脂肪酸和结合态脂肪酸都能引起红火蚁的搬尸行为,搬尸活性分别为40%、28%和19%。自由脂肪酸转化成甲酯后搬尸活性不变,但结合态脂肪酸转化成甲酯后搬尸活性丧失。此外,红火蚁尸体还释放出多种能够诱导搬尸行为的未知成分,说明“死亡信号”具有复杂性。     

Characteristics of the myocardial PM-FABP: Effect of diabetes mellitus

Properties of the myocardial PM-FABP were studied in normal and STZ-diabetic rats. The fluorescent fatty acids trans-parinaric and cis-parinaric acids were used as analogs of straight-chain (saturated) and kinked-chain (unsaturated) fatty acids respectively. Parinaric acid binding was sensitive to trypsin. Trans-parinaric acid binding was more sensitive to this protease than the binding of cis-parinaric acid. Based on the difference in sensitivity of parinaric acid binding we believe that there are two separate binding sites associated with myocardial PM-FABP; one for unsaturated fats and the other for saturated fats. Diabetes enhanced both cis- and trans-parinaric acid binding capacity in cardiomyocytes; cis-parinaric acid by 2 fold and trans-parinaric acid by 2.6 fold. In addition, there was a concomitant accumulation of free fatty acids and triglycerides in the hearts of the diabetic animals. There was a 2.2 fold increase for fatty acids and a 1.6 fold increase for trigylcerides. This association between myocardial fatty acid build-up and enhanced myocardial PM-FABP during diabetes suggest that this carrier protein might have contributed to lipid accumulation in the hearts of the diabetic rats.