Fatty acid composition of individual polar lipid classes from marine macrophytes

Major glycolipids [monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG)) and phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG)] as well as betaine lipid 1,2-diacylglycero-O-4'-(N,N,N-tri-methyl)-homoserine (DGTS) were isolated from Anfeltia tobuchiensis (Rhodophyta), Laminaria japonica, Sargassum pallidum (Phaeophyta), Ulva fenestrata (Chlorophyta) and Zostera marina (Embriophyta), harvested in the Sea of Japan. GC analysis of their fatty acid (FA) composition revealed that the n-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) shared the most part of the sum of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs in PC and PE compared with glycolipids and PG. In algae, it was related to the prevalence of 20:4n-6 over 20:5n-3 in non-photosynthetic lipids. Percentage of n-6 PUFAs as well as the sum of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs decreased in the following sequence: PC-->PE-->PG. The saturation increased in the lines of MGDG-->DGDG-->SQDG and PC-->PE-->PG. PG was close to SQDG by the level of saturation. Distribution of C(18) and C(20) PUFAs in polar lipids depended on taxonomic position of macrophytes. Balance between C(18) and C(20) PUFAs was preferably shifted to the side of C(20) PUFAs in PC and PE that was observed in contrast to glycolipids and PG from L. japonica containing both series of FAs. The set of major FAs of polar lipid classes can essentially differ from each other and from total lipids of macrophytes. For example, MGDG was found to accumulate characteristic fatty acids 16:4n-3, 16:3n-3, 18:3n-6 and 18:4n-3, 20:3n-6 in U. fenestrata, Z. marina, L. japonica and S. pallidum, respectively.     

Radioactivity as a Significant Energy Source in Prebiotic Synthesis

Radioactivity in the continental crust (due mainly to the isotopes ²³⁸U,²³⁵U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K), as a energysource for chemical evolution in the early Archean (between 3.5 and 4 Ga bp), is reviewed.The most important radioactive sourcein the continental crust is due to theproduction and accumulation of radioactivegases within the crust voids (porosity). Thestudy of such mechanism has allowed us toreach a deeper understanding about the nature of the radioactive source and to describe itsbehavior, particularly with regard to prebiotic chemical evolution. An effectivetotal energy of 3 × 10^{18 Ja -1} hasbeen obtained for a depth of 1 km, 4 Ga ago. If a depth of 30 km is taken, the obtained valueis almost equal to the UV solar energyradiation (<150 nm). Within thevoids the radioactive source of thecontinental crust played a relevant role inprebiotic synthesis. In uraniumdeposits of the same age, the role ofradiactivity must have been even more relevantin favoring chemical evolution.     

藻类批量培养中的比增长率最大值

批量培养谷皮菱形藻、莱茵衣藻、粉核小球藻、斜生栅藻、羊角月牙藻和铜绿微囊藻等六种藻类,在对数生长期,逐日计数而确定比增长率最大值（μｍａｒ）,发现（μｍａｒ）值出现的时间在各种藻类中不同。同时讨论了每种藻类的（μｍａｒ）与营养物质、光强、温度和起始浓度之间的关系。铜绿微囊藻的（μｍａｒ）在一定的总磷（ＴＰ）浓度范围内随ＴＰ浓度呈上升趋势。根据获得增大率最大值的条件,对它们在浮游植物群落中的生态位作     

Lower Carboniferous (middle Visean) foraminifers and algae from an interior sea,Southern Carnarvon Basin,Australia

A moderate diversity biota of foraminifers, algae and calcareous microproblematica is recorded from the Lower Carboniferous Yindagindy Formation within the intracratonic Southern Carnarvon Basin in Western Australia. Very shallow metahaline to hypersaline conditions are suggested. The palaeobotanical components are sporadic calcitarcha, tuberitinaceans, codiaceans Orthriosiphon? sp. 1, dasycladaleans? Koninckopora tenuiramosa, and algosponges Issinella devonica, Serrisinella cf. serrensis, Issinella? sp. 1, Kamaena cf. awirsi, Proninella? sp. and Stacheoides spp. The foraminiferal assemblage is dominated by a new koktjubinid taxon: Praekoktjubina yindagindyensis nov. gen., nov. sp. Subordinate associated foraminifers are more sporadic Salpingothurammina? sp. 1, Plectinopsis michelseni nov. gen., nov. sp., Rectopravina multifida nov. gen., nov. sp. (with 4 morphotypes), and scarce Endothyra spp. Despite many of these taxa being endemic, a middle Visean age is probable, based on: (1) the maximum global geographic extent of K. tenuiramosa reached during the middle Visean, (2) the disappearance of Plectinopsis nov. gen. in Palaeotethys and the Urals, and (3) the first occurrence of Praekoktjubina nov. gen. in Palaeotethys. An age no older than the middle Visean is supported by sparse conodonts from the Formation and comparison to episodes of carbonate deposition in the Bonaparte Basin, further north in the East Gondwana rift system. Absence of middle Visean archaediscoids may be due to high salinity. The following algal and foraminiferal families and superfamilies are emended: Scribroporellaceae (a lectotype is selected for Orthriosiphon saskatchewanense); Palaeospiroplectamminidae (due to the creation of Plectinopsis nov. gen.); Haplophragminoidea (due to the creation of Rectopravina nov. gen.); and Globivalvulinoidea and Koktjubinidae (due to the creation of Praekoktjubina nov. gen.).     

花姬蛙蝌蚪对藻类的捕食效应

对花姬蛙(Microhyla pulchra)蝌蚪捕食藻类的效应进行了初步研究。结果表明,随着蝌蚪密度的增加,对蓝藻的总捕食量显著增加,但每只蝌蚪的平均捕食量随蝌蚪密度的增加而下降。文中讨论了蝌蚪在水资源环境保护中控制蓝藻暴发的意义。     

美国生物质资源研究规划与举措分析及启示

发展生物质资源研究对于国家的可持续发展具有重要的战略意义。近年来,美国相继制订若干研究计划或发展路线图,并采取有效举措,持续推动生物质资源的研究、开发和利用。通过分析美国在生物质资源研究领域的重要举措,特别是分析其相关重要规划的具体内容,总结生物质资源研究面临的重要问题和研究热点,对发展我国生物质资源研究提出一些思考建议。     

温度和CO2浓度升高对荒漠藻结皮光合作用的影响

2007年,对腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头地区1956年(51龄)和1981年(26龄)人工植被区及自然植被区的藻结皮净光合速率(P_n)变化,及其与结皮含水量(>100%、40%～60%和<20%)、大气CO₂浓度(360和700 mg·L^-1)和温度(13 ℃、24 ℃ 和28 ℃)的关系进行研究.结果表明：51龄、26龄人工植被区和自然植被区的藻结皮P_n分别为3.4、4.4和3.2 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,且51龄人工植被区藻结皮的P_n显著高于26龄人工植被区和自然植被区;藻结皮含水量对其P_n影响显著,且中等含水量(40%～60%)藻结皮的P_n显著高于低含水量(<20%)和高含水量(>100%);CO₂倍增(700 mg·L^-1)后,中等和高含水量藻结皮的P_n增加了1.8～3.3倍,而低含水量时,藻结皮的P_n变化不明显;高含水量和中等含水量处理时,24 ℃和28 ℃条件下藻结皮的P_n较13 ℃时提高27%～66%,而在低含水量时,不同温度的藻结皮P_n值无显著差异.     

Ultrahigh bioproductivity from algae

The potential for dramatic increases in bioproductivity in algal photobioreactors relative to current biomass approaches, e.g., for converting sunlight into biofuels, by an unorthodox integration of photonics and biotechnologies is described. The key to greater biomass yields—projected as high as 100 g dry weight m⁻² h⁻¹—is a pronounced heightening of algal flux tolerance, achieved by tailoring the photonic temporal, spectral and intensity characteristics with pulsed light-emitting diodes. Such tailored photonic input is applied in concert with thin-channel ultradense culture photobioreactors with flow patterns that produce rapid light/dark algae exposure cycles. The artificial-light scheme is globally feasible only with electricity generated from renewables. Recent advances in ultra-efficient concentrator photovoltaics, as well as high-performance light-emitting diodes, create a practical reality for converting sunlight into pulsed red light and delivering it to indoor photobioreactors, with characteristic pulse times and intensities optimally suited to the rate-limiting dark reactions of photosynthesis. Cellular engineering built upon recent progress in modifying algal chlorophyll antenna size, in combination with metabolic engineering, could further enhance bioproductivity. The proposed strategy requires no major advances for implementation and adopts existing technologies. Revision submitted to Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology on 25 June 2007.     

Which are fatty acids of the green alga Chlorella?

Fatty acid composition of three species of Chlorella were studied under conditions of photoautotrophic and heterotrophic cultivation, nitrogen starvation, and outdoor in a photobioreactor. The composition 14:0, 16:0, 16:1, 16:2, 16:3, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, α-18:3 is confirmed for Chlorella. Fatty acids with 20 carbon atoms and four or five double bonds are considered not originating from Chlorella. Other exceptions of this composition are interpreted as mixed algal culture, bacterial contamination or impurities.