ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITIES OF ISOLATED QUERCETIN FROM ANABAENA AEQUALIS1

This study aimed to isolate quercetin (for the first time) from Anabaena aequalis Borge, which inhabits soil surface of Wadi El‐Alaqui Protectorate located in Aswan city, Egypt. The isolated compound showed significant antibacterial activity against the gram‐positive bacteria Sarcina maxima and Micrococcus kristinae, the gram‐negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as against the filamentous fungus Aspergillus flavus. The isolated compound was identified as quercetin using the structure elucidation based on UV, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS), ¹H and ¹³C NMR, proton–proton correlation spectroscopy (¹H‐¹H COSY), distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), and heteronuclear multiple bond correlations spectrum (HMBC). Medium lethal dose (LD₅₀) of the isolated compound and its side effects against hyperlipidemia induced by ethanol intake in albino rats were carried out. No deaths were reported in rats within 72 h, which suggests that the isolated compound plays a beneficial role as an antihyperlipidemic agent in the treatment of alcohol‐induced hepatic tissue damage, which can be described as one of the therapeutic values.     

Reversible hydrogenase in Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413

The presence and localization of a reversible hydrogenase in non-N₂-fixing cells of the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis were investigated by in vitro activity measurements, native-PAGE/activity stain, SDS-PAGE/Western immunoblots, and immunogold localization. Reversible hydrogenase activity was induced approximately 100-fold by sparging the cell suspensions with a mixture of 99% argon and 1% CO₂ for 20–26 h. Native-PAGE/activity stain demonstrated the presence of an in vitro functional enzyme with an apparent molecular mass of 118 kDa. Native-PAGE/Western immunoblots, using polyclonal antisera directed against purified hydrogenase from the purple sulphur bacterium Thiocapsa roseopersicina, detected two native proteins with molecular masses of 118 and 133 kDa, respectively. SDS-PAGE/Western immunoblots confirmed the presence of a single polypeptide with a molecular mass of approximately 40 kDa in both induced and non-induced cells. Immunocytolocalization experiments using ultrathin sections again demonstrated the presence of hydrogenase in both induced and non-induced cells. A higher specific labeling was associated with the thylakoid regions, which, using an image analyzer, was calculated to be approximately 4 x higher per cell area compared to in the centroplasm. It is suggested that anaerobic incubation induces higher reversible hydrogenase activity, regulated mainly at the level of activating (pre)existing form(s) of inactive enzyme(s)/protein(s), maybe in combination with synthesis of additional subunit(s).     

秦岭东段栓皮栎枝条非结构性碳水化合物含量的季节动态

枝条是碳供应器官和碳需求器官的连接者, 研究其非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量的季节变化对理解树木体内的碳分配至关重要。该研究以秦岭东段栓皮栎(Quercus variabilis)优势群落为研究对象, 于2016年5月至2017年5月, 在其分布的海拔上下限(650 m和970 m), 通过在展叶期采用旬尺度和在非展叶期采用月尺度相结合的周期性取样方法(共计12次), 测定栓皮栎枝条NSC组分及含量, 并观测同期叶片物候变化。结果表明: (1)栓皮栎枝条NSC含量随季节波动较小, 变化差异不显著。但枝条可溶性糖含量(高海拔)或淀粉含量(低海拔)在一定生境条件下, 均存在明显的季节波动, 说明栓皮栎枝条可溶性糖和淀粉之间存在动态转化过程。(2)栓皮栎枝条NSC组成以可溶性糖为主(61%), 这可能是该树种在暖温带季风气候区所采取的生长策略。(3)土壤含水量(正相关)和饱和水汽压差(负相关)分别是在高海拔和低海拔影响栓皮栎枝条NSC含量的主导环境因子, 说明相比高海拔, 低海拔的栓皮栎可能对高温引起的水分胁迫更敏感。(4)结合叶片物候发现, 栓皮栎枝条NSC含量最大值出现在萌芽前(3月中下旬, 11%左右), 最小值出现在展叶后期(4月末, 5%左右), 叶片萌芽展叶后枝条NSC含量下降。总体而言, 枝条NSC含量在高低海拔不存在显著差异, 但春季萌芽前后存在显著差异, 海拔引起的叶片物候时间差极可能是造成这一现象的主要原因。研究结果说明, 栓皮栎叶片物候会直接影响枝条NSC含量的季节变化, 枝条NSC含量对叶片萌芽生长至关重要, 研究结果有助于加深对栓皮栎树体内碳调配机制的理解。     

The differential action of metronidazole on nitrogen fixation,hydrogen metabolism,photosynthesis and respiration in Anabaena and Scenedesmus

Metronidazole (2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-1-ethanol) at 1–2 mM levels has been shown to be a selective inhibitor of nitrogenase activity in Anabaena. Two constitutive hydrogenases and photosynthesis are insensitive to metronidazole at these same concentrations. At higher concentrations metronidazole inhibits photosynthesis in Anabaena while photoreduction and to a lesser extent photohydrogen production are retarded in Scenedesmus. Respiration is slightly stimulated at high metronidazole levels in both algae. The reductant source for nitrogenase in Anabaena and photohydrogen production and photoreduction electron transport in Scenedesmus are discussed. Due to the activity of metronidazole as a selective inhibitor of ferredoxin-associated processes, it should prove to be useful in N₂ fixation studies and in distinguishing between ferredoxin-linked reactions of different sensitivities and other activities not associated with low reduction potential components.     

Ultrastructural studies of heterocyst induction by neo-peptone in Anabaena cylindrica

Abstract An ultrastructural study has been performed to elucidate the effect of active polypeptide(s) from neo-peptone on heterocyst induction in Anabaena cylindrica [1]. There was an immediate aggregation of A. cylindrica cells and a clumping of filamentous appendages in the mucilaginous sheath on the addition of active polypeptide(s) from neo-peptone. However, there was no change in the cell wall and cell membrane ultrastructure. An increase in cell length, contortion and disintegration of thylakoids, disappearance of polyphosphate bodies and an accumulation of polyglucose bodies were observed after 18 h of treatment. The double heterocysts induced show a normal heterocyst ultrastructure with well-developed polar nodules between the heterocysts and the vegetative cells, as well as between two heterocysts.
It appears that the inductive effect of active polypeptide(s) from neo-peptone is mediated through their specific binding to filamentous appendages in the mucilaginous sheath.     

Isoenzymatic analysis of some freshwater Anabaena strains from Southern Italy

Seven freshwater Anabaena sp. strains have been examined for esterase, malate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and aldolase isozyme patterns. The morphological differences among them did not allow a sure understanding of their relationships, whereas a phylogenetic analysis of the esterase and malate dehydrogenase patterns led to a single fully resolved tree. A phenetic analysis on the same data set resulted in the same pattern of relationships. Successive cultures of the same strains did not show identical band phenotypes, but nevertheless the phenetic and phylogenetic relationships among the various strains did not change.     

Effects of gassing,pH, quenching agents and photodynamically active compounds on photobleaching and photoinhibition of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis

The findings presented in this paper support the suggestion that in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis photobleaching is the result of an increased intracellular level of singlet molecular oxygen, whereas photoinhibition is controlled by a different molecular mechanism. Photobleaching of Anabaena trichomes can be prevented effectively by gassing with argon, nitrogen and carbon dioxide as well as by treatment with the ¹O₂ quenchers sodium azide and crocetin, and finally, with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). On the other hand, photodynamically active compounds, capable of ¹O₂ generation, increase photobleaching drastically. Thus, photobleaching is probably caused by singlet molecular oxygen. Photoinhibition studied with the aid of the fluorescence induction was not prevented by most of the treatments which prevent photobleaching. Therefore, different control mechanisms have to be assumed for this process.Abbreviations DABCO 1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane - DBMIB dibromothymoquinone = (2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone) - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - C-PC C-phycocyanin - Chl a chlorophyll a - LFE low fluence rate exposure - HFE high fluence rate exposure     

基于景观图论和生物能学的景观演变分析方法

探讨将景观格局分析的结果应用于景观规划与管理实践,对维护区域生态安全有着重要的理论和实践意义。本文以苏州水岸带景观为例,尝试整合景观图论和生物能学理论,形成一种简单、直观且高效的景观演变分析方法,从生态视角评估土地利用变化的影响,为可持续的景观规划和管理提供决策依据。在ArcGIS支持下,以4期GoogleEarth图像为基础数据,绘制出景观图示;分析节点和连线数量、类型和空间形态的变化以追溯景观的变化历程,阐释图示的生态学含义。结果表明,苏州水岸带景观出现明显的破碎化、自然景观连通性显著降低、细小水系消失以及水岸缓冲带缺乏等问题,对关键生态节点和连线的识别,可以有针对性地保护自然景观元素,平衡保护与开发的矛盾。