The origin of vertebrates: a hypothesis based on kidney development

The habitat of the earliest vertebrates (craniates) is still being debated. Marine as well as freshwater habitats and anadromous behaviour have been proposed. In contrast, an estuarine origin of vertebrates is suggested here, based on ontogenetic, comparative anatomical and functional data. This approach should resolve inconsistencies between the probable existence of glomeruli in the vertebrate ancestors and the marine habitat of all related extant groups (e.g. urochordates and cephalochordates). The kidney, as the main osmoregulatory organ, must have been developed according to the environmental prerequisites even in stem vertebrates. In the absence of fossil evidence only deductions from contemporary animals are possible. These data indicate that ancestral stem vertebrates probably had well-developed glomeruli, and were capable of at least some ion-exchange between urine and the body. However, they were probably unable to cope with a strong osmotic gradient with respect to their environment. The conclusion is that these animals were osmoconformers at around 300–350 mOsm and therefore were restricted to brackish water.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 150 , 435–441.     

卵形鲳鲹幼鱼耗氧率和排氨率的初步研究

运用封闭流水式实验方法对不同体重和放养密度的卵形鲳鲹(Trachinoms ovatus)幼鱼耗氧率和排氨率进行了初步的研究。结果表明,卵形鲳鲹幼鱼的耗氧率随着鱼体重的增加而逐渐下降,排氨率总体上也呈降低的趋势,体重对卵形鲳鲹耗氧率、排氨率的影响均达到显著水平(P0.05);光照对卵形鲳鲹幼鱼的耗氧率和排氨率影响非常显著(P0.01),幼鱼在遮光条件下的耗氧率和排氨率分别比在自然光照条件下要低25.18%～40.76%和16.28%～40.28%;随着放养密度的增加,卵形鲳鲹幼鱼的耗氧率逐渐降低,排氨率随着密度的增加呈先上升后下降的趋势,放养密度对卵形鲳鲹耗氧率、排氨率的影响均达到显著水平(P0.05)。卵形鲳鲹的耗氧率和排氨率具有明显的昼夜变化,白天的耗氧率和排氨率均高于夜间值,耗氧率的低谷值为高峰值的69.68%,排氨率的低谷值为高峰值的30.91%。卵形鲳鲹幼鱼的窒息点溶解氧含量为(0.991±0.058)mg/L。     

Effects of temperature on growth and metabolism in juvenile turbot

The effects of constant temperatures on growth, food efficiency, and physiological status were studied in four different batches of juvenile turbot. The growth responses were studied in three experiments lasting 70–85 days under 8–20° C thermal conditions. There was a positive correlation between growth and temperature from 8 to 17° C and a plateau was observed from 17 to 20° C. In fish fed to satiety, specific growth rate was positively correlated to the food intake, which was double at 20° C, compared with 8° C. Minor changes were observed in food efficiency. Body fat deposition decreased as temperature increased (25% lower at 20° C, compared with 8° C). Apparent food conversion, PER (protein efficiency ratio) and PUC (protein utilization coefficient) ranges were 0.8–0.9, 2.1–2.3 and 33–38% respectively. In 70–300 g fish, routine MO₂ increased (2.5–6.5 μmol O₂ h^?1 g bw^?1) with temperature up to 20° C, while larger turbot (500–600 g) appeared relatively thermo-independent, with a lower oxygen consumption (1.5 ìmol h^?1 g^?1). The average daily total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and urea-N excretion per fish biomass was positively related to temperature. TAN was 30% lower at 8° C, compared with 20° C. Ingested nitrogen was mainly excreted under the final form of TAN, urea-N representing 26% of the total amount. A post-prandial peak in TAN and a delayed peak in urea-N nitrogen were observed. The hydromineral status [osmolarity, sodium, chloride and potassium blood plasma, gill (Na⁺-K⁺)-ATPase activity] of turbot was not affected by progressive changes in temperature during the acclimation period. Juvenile turbots show remarkable homeostatic capacities and so they have a relatively thermo-independent physiology within the range of temperature studied.     

Impact of winemaking practices on arginine and citrulline metabolism during and after malolactic fermentation

AIMS: To study arginine degradation and carcinogenic ethyl carbamate precursor citrulline formation during and after malolactic fermentation (MLF). METHODS AND RESULTS: MLF was induced in white wine with two commercial Oenococcus oeni strains under different winemaking conditions regarding the type of alcoholic fermentation (spontaneous, induced) and the lees management (racked, on lees). Arginine degradation and citrulline formation did not occur during malic acid degradation in any treatment. In five of the six treatments in which arginine degradation took place, it occurred 3 weeks after malic acid depletion and significant amounts of citrulline were formed. Presence of yeast lees in wines led to increased citrulline formation. Conclusions: This study suggests that arginine metabolism is inhibited in oenococci at low pH values (< 3.5) and that in the postalcoholic fermentation phase, citrulline formation from arginine degradation can be avoided if MLF is induced by pure cultures of O. oeni with inhibition of the bacterial biomass after malic acid depletion. Residual yeast lees in the wine have been identified as a significant risk factor for increased citrulline formation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Conclusions drawn from this study allow reducing the risk of carcinogenic ethyl carbamate formation from citrulline excretion by wine lactic acid bacteria.     

小麦抗赤霉病利器——他山之石

赤霉病是我国乃至世界小麦(Triticum aestivum)产区的重要病害, 给农业生产和人畜健康造成重大威胁。分离鉴定优质抗病基因、培育抗病品种, 是控制我国麦区赤霉病的重要手段。最近, 山东农业大学孔令让团队完成了二倍体长穗偃麦草(Thinopyrum elongatum)基因组的组装, 并在此基础上通过精细定位和图位克隆分离得到来自长穗偃麦草的抗赤霉病基因Fhb7。他们发现Fhb7编码1个谷胱甘肽转移酶, 对禾谷镰孢菌(Fusarium graminearum)分泌的包括呕吐毒素等在内的多种毒素具有解毒作用, 是1个广谱持久抗病基因。他们还发现Fhb7很可能最初源于内生真菌, 经过基因水平转移进入到偃麦草基因组中。此外, Fhb7不影响其它农艺性状, 且其抗性不受小麦遗传背景影响。这一系列工作揭示了作物抗病演化中的全新机制, 对小麦抗赤霉病育种以及更好地利用长穗偃麦草的丰富基因资源都具有重要意义。     

pH对中华小长臂虾存活及呼吸代谢的影响

为研究中华小长臂虾(Palaemonetes sinensis)对pH的耐受性,采用静水毒性实验方法确定了中华小长臂虾的半致死pH。实验设置酸性条件下的pH为3.0、3.2、3.4、3.6、3.8和4.0,碱性条件下的pH为10.4、10.6、10.8、11.0、11.2和11.4,统计中华小长臂虾在24、48、72和96 h的死亡率。中华小长臂虾24、48、72和96 h的酸性半致死pH(LpH50)分别为3.416、3.426、3.463和3.463,碱性半致死pH(LpH50)分别为10.813、10.609、10.516和10.516,酸性条件下和碱性条件下的安全pH分别为4.463和9.516。在半致死pH(LpH50)基础上以静水密闭式方法研究了pH对中华小长臂虾耗氧率、排氨率和窒息点的影响,pH设置为4、5、6、7、8、9、10,以pH 7为对照组。与对照组相比,只有pH为9和10时的耗氧率显著升高(P0.05),其他pH则未发生显著性变化(P0.05);排氨率则只有pH为5和6时显著高于对照组(P0.05),其他pH组与对照组没有显著性变化(P0.05);在pH为4~9时,中华小长臂虾氧氮比(O/N)的变化范围为4.14~10.95,此时以蛋白质为主要供能物质,随着pH继续上升到10时,中华小长臂虾的氧氮比(O/N)突然增加至29.62,此时供能物质则变成以脂肪为主;在各pH条件下窒息点没有发生显著性变化(P0.05)。本实验结果表明,中华小长臂虾对pH有很强的耐受性,但不同的pH会影响到中华小长臂虾的呼吸代谢以及能量供给方式。     

磷对外生菌根真菌松乳菇和双色蜡蘑草酸、氢离子和磷酸酶分泌的影响

在液体培养基中设置无磷、低磷、中磷和高磷四种磷浓度,离体培养松乳菇Lactarius deliciosus的3个株系Ld-01、Ld-02、Ld-03和双色蜡蘑Laccaria bicolor S238N,分别测定外生菌根真菌的生长量、草酸、氢离子和酸性磷酸酶分泌速率。结果表明,在中磷的条件下,外生菌根真菌的生长最好,无磷、低磷或高磷对它们的生长产生抑制作用,抑制程度因菌种（株）不同而异。草酸、氢离子和酸性磷酸酶的分泌速率顺序为：无磷（0g NaH2PO4/L）> 低磷（0.229g NaH2PO4/L）     

The combined effect of feeding time and ration on growth performance and nitrogen metabolism of greenback flounder

Greenback flounder Rhombosolea tapirina ( c. 2 g) fed to satiation had significantly ( P <0·01) higher feed consumption in the evening than in the morning whereas there was no difference between feeding times for flounder fed restricted rations (1 or 2% body weight per day) because they consumed all of the ration. Differences in growth performance were due to feeding time and ration. Carcass moisture, lipid and energy content were significantly ( P <0·001) different between rations; length gain was significantly affected by feeding time ( P <0·05) and ration ( P <0·001); weight gain showed a significant ( P <0·001) interaction between feeding time and ration. The relationship between feed consumption and specific growth rate showed that the exponential gradient was significantly higher ( P <0·01) for the evening fed fish and indicated feed efficiency for evening fed fish increased as feed consumption increased. Urea excretion increased from 12–20 to 58–63% of total nitrogen excretion at the 1 and 3% rations, respectively. Ammonia and urea excretion were significantly affected by ration ( P <0·001) and feeding time ( P <0·05). Fish fed the 2% ration in the evening had higher growth efficiency and significantly ( P <0·01) lower rates of urea excretion than fish fed 2 or 3% ration in the morning. It is suggested that the higher energetic costs associated with differences in ammonia and urea excretion contributed to differences in growth efficiency.     

A Study of the Excretion and Extracellular Products of Natural Phytoplankton in Lake Nakanuma,Japan

Excretion of photosynthetic products by phytoplankton in Lake Nakanuma ranged from 8 to 54% of the total carbon assimilated. Percentage of excretion increased under the conditions of high and very low light intensity, low temperature and nutrient deficiency. Estimated daily production of extracellular products in the lake was about 150 mg C/m² in the summer season and the major components of it were glycolic acid, polysaccharides and polypeptides.     

NITROGENOUS NUTRITION OF ALEXANDRIUM CATENELLA (DINOPHYCEAE) IN CULTURES AND IN THAU LAGOON,SOUTHERN FRANCE1

Alexandrium catenella (Whedon et Kofoid) Balech was isolated from Thau lagoon (northern Mediterranean) and its growth and uptake characteristics measured for nitrate, ammonium, and urea. Although affinity constants did not indicate a preference for ammonium over nitrate, there was a strong inhibition of nitrate uptake by ammonium when both nitrogen (N) sources were present. Nitrogen budgets during growth in cultures revealed major imbalances between decreases in dissolved N and increases in particulate N, indicating excretion of dissolved organic N during the early part of the growth phase and uptake during the later part. A quasi‐unialgal bloom in November 2001 (4×10⁶ cells·L^?1) allowed measurements of uptake of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and urea; net and gross growth rate of A. catenella; and grazing rates on this organism. The affinity constants indicate that it is not a strong competitor for the N nutrients tested when these are in low concentrations (<10 μgat N·L^?1), compared with other members of the phytoplankton community. Indirect evidence from cultures indicate that dissolved organic N compounds could be important in triggering those blooms. Finally, the strongly unbalanced growth observed in the field indicates that A. catenella exhibits a storage rather than a growth response to a nutrient pulse and is adapted to low frequency events such as the passage of frontal disturbances. The disappearance of A. catenella was due to grazing that balanced growth at the peak of the bloom.