Changes in eicosapentaenoic acid content of Navicula saprophila, Rhodomonas salina and Nitzschia sp. under mixotrophic conditions

Three species of microalgae able to produce eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) were collected from brackish and sea water around Japan. The species were identified as Navicula saprophila, Rhodomonassalina and Nitzschia sp. EPA as a proportion of total fatty acids increased in the presence of acetic acid for Rhodomonas salina and Nitzschia sp. However, Navicula saprophila displayed the greatest productivity of EPA and the EPA content of its biomass was enhanced under mixotrophic conditions in the presence of acetic acid. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ribosomal RNA sequence conservation and gene number in the larval brine shrimp

The haploid genome size of Artemia is determined to be about 0.9·10¹², as evidenced both by Feulgen microspectrophotometry of individual diploid class nuclei, which are but one of five polyploid classes present within the larvae, and by analysis of the reassociation kinetics of the isolated single copy DNA component. Polysomes isolated from 24-h incubation stage larvae contain an average of 10 ribosomes per messenger RNA molecule. Their rRNAs are found to have sedimentation coefficients of 18 S and 26 S, corresponding to molecular weights of 0.70·10⁶ and 1.40·10⁶, respectively, as determined by polyacrylamide electrophoresis and also by sucrose density centrifugation. Denaturation in glyoxal followed by agarose gel electrophoresis shows that unlike deuterostome rRNAs, Artemia 26 S rRNA contains a cryptic nick about midway in the molecule, which is not found in the 18 S molecule. Isolated rRNAs were labelled in vitro with ¹²⁵I and hybridized with filter-immobilized DNA to saturation, which occurred at 0.051% for Xenopus, and at 0.074% for Artemia. From these results, it is calculated that in the haploid Artemia genome there are about 320 copies of the (18 S + 26 S) ribosomal RNA genes. Reciprocal heterologous hybridizations between these two species show that they share about 30% homology between their rDNA coding sequences.     

The development of the brine shrimp Artemia salina (L.): a morphometric approach

Growth allomentry in the development of the brine shrimp Artemia salina (L.) was studied. Body width and abdomen length show a negative allometric relation to body length ( k =0.35 and 0.72 respectively) over th eight instars studied. Antennule length shows a negative allometric relation in respect to body length, with a change in the value of the growth constant at Instar Five from 0.31 to 0.75. Thoracic limb length shows a high positive relation to body length ( k =3.0) until Instar Six, when a negative allometric phase ( k =0.4) follows. A change in the sign of the growth constant from positive ( k =0.45) to negative ( k =-1.4) is noted for the length of the 2nd antenna in relation to body length.     

Abstracts of papers read at the winter meeting at University College,London 2–4 January 1974

Dermocorynus montagnei Crouan frat., a red seaweed previously known only from a few dredged specimens collected in the Bretagne region of France, mostly in the last century, has been found growing subtidally on small stones at two sites in Galway Bay. Tetrasporangial and cystocarpic plants are present during most of the year and an account of the structure and development of these is given. It is concluded from these studies that Dermocorynus Crouan frat. is correctly placed in the Halymeniaceae Bory (=Cryptonemiaceae Harv.) and is best characterized generically by its unusual habit rather than by any of its reproductive characters. Culture studies show that the species has a Polysiphonia-type life history.     

Phytochemical Characterization and Biological Activities of a Hydroalcoholic Extract Obtained from the Aerial Parts of Matthiola incana (L.) R.Br. subsp. incana (Brassicaceae) Growing Wild in Sicily (Italy)

This study aimed to characterize the phenolic and the volatile constituents and to establish the antioxidant potential and the toxicity of a hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the leaves and flower buds of Matthiola incana (L.) R.Br. subsp. incana growing wild in Sicily (Italy). By HPLC‐PDA/ESI‐MS analysis, 12 phenolics (two phenolic acid derivatives and ten flavonoids) were identified, and eight of them were reported for the first time; luteolin‐glucoside was the main component (57.07 mg/g±0.87 % RSD). By SPME‐GC/MS, 47 volatile constituents were fully characterized, and dimethyl trisulfide turned out to be the most abundant one (33.24 %). The extract showed moderate activity both in the DPPH and in the reducing power assays (IC₅₀=2.32±0.24 mg/mL; ASE/mL=12.29±0.42); it did not inhibit the lipid peroxidation, whereas it was found to possess good chelating properties reaching approximately 90 % activity at the highest tested dose. Moreover, the extract protected growth and survival from H₂O₂‐induced oxidative stress in Escherichia coli. Finally, the extract was non‐toxic against Artemia salina (LC₅₀>1000 μg/mL). These findings increase the knowledge of M. incana subsp. incana and they could be helpful to a chemosystematic distinguishing of this subspecies also demonstrating that the aerial parts represent a safe source of antioxidants.     

杜氏盐藻(Dunalielle salina)盐适应相关蛋白

观察不同盐浓度培养液中生长的杜氏盐藻可溶性蛋白SDS-PAG图谱,发现高盐与低盐相比,其51kD和63kD蛋白含量高,而23kD的蛋白含量则低。高渗骤变后,51kD蛋白的含量减少,而23kD蛋白的含量增加两倍或两倍以上,骤变23h后含量增加已非常明显;低渗骤变后24h,51kD和23kD蛋白的含量变化不明显。另外,有一分子量约为26kD的蛋白在高盐下易降解。分析了这些蛋白与社氏盐藻渗透调节的可能关系。     

杜氏盐藻psaB基因cDNA克隆及系统进化分析

根据真核生物莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)、Chlamydomonas moewusii及Chlorella vulgaris等光系统Ⅰ反应中心蛋白psaB基因的氨基酸高度保守序列,设计一对简并引物,利用TRIzol试剂提取杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)细胞的总RNA,通过RT-PCR,得到的一段长为1.8kb左右的cDNA片段。PCR产物经T-A克隆并测序以及测序结果推导成氨基酸序列进行同源性比较,表明所克隆的1815bp序列为杜氏盐藻光系统Ⅰ反应中心psaB基因的cDNA片段,GenBank收录号为AY820754。根据已经得到的psaB的核苷酸序列推导成氨基酸序列与一些已知物种的psaB氨基酸序列相比较,同源性分别为Chlamydomonas reinhardtii 92%,Chlamydomonas moewusii 91%,Chlorella vulgaris 86%,Mesostigma viride 85%,Phy -scomitrella patenssubsp.Patens 85%,Nephroselmis olivacea 84%。此外,psaB密码子偏爱性分析表明:杜氏盐藻psaB基因第三位密码子A和T的组成分别为35.7%和39.17%,而G和C分别为7.27%和17.85%,即杜氏盐藻psaB基因密码子的组成大多为NNA和NNT。根据psaB基因的特征,作者对绿藻门的50个物种的psaB基因作了进化分析,结果表明:杜氏盐藻与Haematococcaceae中的大多数种类进化地位最为接近,这为更进一步弄清杜氏盐藻的遗传背景提供了理论依据。     

锌对盐藻生长与物质积累的调控作用

实验研究了不同浓度的锌对盐藻细胞生长与物质积累的调控作用。结果表明,培养液中供给锌过多或过少都不利于盐藻细胞的生长与物质积累。以培养基中6 mg/L的锌浓度对盐藻细胞生长、蛋白质合成与β-胡萝卜素积累的促进作用最大。这一锌浓度可用于盐藻的生产性培养。当培养液中锌浓度较高(8 mg/L)或较低(2 mg/L)时,单个盐藻细胞中的蛋白质与β-胡萝卜素含量较高。但此时,因培养液中细胞密度较低,盐藻细胞积累的物质总量仍然较少。在锌浓度较高或较低的逆境条件下,盐藻可能通过适应性反应形成了逆境蛋白质与胡萝卜素等。     

磷酸盐对盐藻生长与物质积累的调控作用

实验研究了不同浓度的磷酸盐对盐藻细胞生长与物质积累的调控作用。结果表明,培养液中供给磷过多或过少都不利于盐藻细胞的生长与物质积累。以培养基中30mg/L的磷浓度对盐藻细胞生长、蛋白质合成与β-胡萝卜素积累的促进作用最大。培养液中磷浓度提高会使盐藻细胞生长与物质积累受到抑制。在培养液中的磷浓度为0mg/L时,单个盐藻细胞中的蛋白质含量最高。     

Milking microalga Dunaliella salina for beta-carotene production in two-phase bioreactors

A new method was developed for production of beta-carotene from Dunaliella salina. Cells were grown in low light intensity and then transferred to a production bioreactor illuminated at a higher light intensity. It was a two-phase bioreactor consisting of an aqueous and a biocompatible organic phase. Mixing of the cells and extraction were performed by recirculation of the organic phase. Two experiments were performed. In the first experiment, bioreactors were operated at two different solvent recirculation rates of 150 and 200 mL min(-1). The beta-carotene extraction rate increased significantly at the higher recirculation rate, without exerting any influence on cell number and viability. A second experiment was carried out at a recirculation rate (200 mL min(-1)) appropriate for the study of long-term production of beta-carotene. The results show that D. salina at high light intensity remained viable for a long period (>47 days) in the presence of a biocompatible organic phase; however, cell growth was very slow. beta-Carotene could be continuously extracted to the organic phase; the cells continued to produce beta-carotene and the extracted molecules were continuously reproduced. As a result, beta-carotene was continuously removed ("milked") from the cells. beta-Carotene extraction efficiency in this system was >55%, and productivity was 2.45 mg m(-2) day(-1), much higher than that of commercial plants.