凡纳滨对虾C型凝集素（LvLc1）的特征和活性分析

C型凝集素是一种依赖于Ca~(2+)而发挥功能的糖蛋白,在一线的固有免疫防御过程中发挥着重要作用。围绕对虾C型凝集素开展深入研究,不仅可以丰富无脊椎动物固有免疫学内容,还有望将其开发为具有免疫增强效果的活性饵料,应用于对虾的健康养殖。本实验根据实验室前期转录组信息提示克隆获得了凡纳滨对虾一种新的C型凝集素基因(LvLc1,Gen Bank注册号:KY937940)。生物信息学分析显示LvLc1基因的开放阅读框全长891 bp,编码296个氨基酸,该基因编码的蛋白质含有一个保守的糖识别结构域(carbohydrate recognition domain,CRD),该结构域中具有潜在的半乳糖结合位点(QPD motif),进化发生分析显示LvLc1与来自节肢动物的甘露糖结合凝集素家族成员聚类在一起。对LvLc1基因的CRD结构域进行了原核重组表达与蛋白活性分析研究,结果显示:重组目的蛋白(rLvLc1)在Ca~(2+)存在的条件下,对多种病原菌(G~+、G~–和真菌)具有凝集作用,其凝集活性可被半乳糖、甘露糖、脂多糖等多种病原相关分子模式所抑制。研究表明,LvLc1作为C-型凝集素家族一个新成员,可能通过重要的模式识别受体作用,参与机体应答病原微生物侵染的防御过程。     

Cloning, expression, and characterization of a novel anti-HIV lectin from the cultured cyanobacterium, Oscillatoria agardhii

OAA, the potent anti-HIV protein from Oscillatoria agardhii NIES-204 belongs to a new lectin family, shows strict binding specificity for high-mannose N-glycans, and has an extremely high association constant in the picomolar range for recombinant gp120, an envelope protein of HIV. In this study we have cloned the gene encoding OAA from the genomic DNA of the cyanobacterium, and efficiently expressed the recombinant lectin (rOAA) in Escherichia coli. The rOAA expressed as a His-tagged fusion protein was recovered in a soluble form and purified in high yield (48 mg/1 l-culture) by metal chelate chromatography. The fusion protein was cleaved with factor Xa, and the resulting rOAA was isolated in a final yield of 14.8 mg/1 l-culture by reversed-phase HPLC. Both the N-terminal sequence and the molecular mass of rOAA were found to be identical with those of OAA. The rOAA was fully functional with the same properties as OAA, as evidenced by hemagglutination activity, hapten-inhibition test, and binding specificity for high-mannose-type N-glycans. This rOAA should be applicable as a specific probe for high-mannose N-glycans and should contribute to elucidation of the molecular basis of its strict carbohydrate-binding specificity and potent anti-HIV activity.     

Purification and characterization of hatching enzyme from flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Using chorion of Paralichthys as a specific substrate, hatching enzyme (HE) from Paralichthys olivaceus (PHE) was purified by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography, and characterized in terms of its molecular weight and enzymatic properties in this study. It was found that the molecular size of PHE is about 34.8 kDa in SDS-PAGE. The PHE had obvious choriolytic activity, which was optimal at pH 7.0 and temperature of 35 °C, respectively. The Km value of the PHE for casein was 4.28 mg ml⁻¹. The PHE was very sensitive to trypsin-specific inhibitors, especially serine protease-specific inhibitors, such as LBTI, SBTI, bestatin and p-APMSF, leupeptin, ovomucoid, PMSF, pepstatin A and TLCK, indicates that it is a trypsin-type serine protease. The PHE was also extremely sensitive to Cu²⁺ and Ca²⁺, combined with the results that it was inhibited by EDTA in a dose-dependent manner, indicates this PHE is also a kind of metalloprotease.     

中国明对虾C 型凝集素基因(Fclectin)的重组表达及活性分析

研究拟通过分析对虾C型凝集素的活性特点,探讨其在对虾先天免疫应答过程中的潜在功能以及在养殖生产实践中的应用。实验利用原核表达系统对中国明对虾C-型凝集素基因的两个串联的糖识别结构域(carbohydrate recognition domain,CRD)进行了重组表达,并通过纯化复性获得了重组目的蛋白(rFclectin-CRD1和rFclectin-CRD2)。活性分析结果显示,重组目的蛋白对多种病原菌有凝集和抑制生长的作用,并且具有Ca2+依赖活性;其凝集活性可被半乳糖、肽聚糖、脂多糖等多种病原相关分子模式所抑制,研究结果证实,Fclectin是一种典型的C-型凝集素,它可能作为中国明对虾先天免疫中重要的模式识别受体,在一定程度上参与了机体应答病原微生物的防御过程。     

Purification and characterization of stomach protease from the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.)

Proteolytic activity in the different parts of the digestive tract of the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) were studied in this work. One pure protease was isolated from turbot stomach and its behavior was studied. Results showed the optimum pH for proteases in the different parts of the digestive tract of the turbot were pH 2.0 for the stomach, pH 8.0 for the pylorus cecum, pH 8.0 for the foregut, pH 8.5 for the midgut, and pH 8.0 for the hindgut. The activity of proteases in the different parts of the digestive tract were in the sequence pylorus cecum protease > stomach protease > foregut protease > midgut protease > hindgut protease. The stomach protease was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose F.F. and Sephadex G-100. The purified enzyme gave a single band in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Its molecular weight was found to be approximately 42,000 Da. The enzyme is stable at pH 1.0–9.0 and at temperatures below 40°C. Its activity was maximum at pH 2.0 and 40°C. When reaction time was prolonged the optimum temperature of the enzyme tended to decline. The enzyme was activated by Mn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ and inactivated by Fe³⁺. It was fully inhibited by pepstatin and partially inhibited by PMSF, TPCK, PCMB, and NBS. These results imply the enzyme is a pepsin.     

Evaluation of hemato-immunological parameters during the reproductive cycle of the scallop Nodipecten nodosus in association with a carotenoid-enriched diet

The cultivation of scallops Nodipecten nodosus is a promising activity emerging in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to characterize the immune system of N. nodosus and evaluate the modulation of some hemato-immunological parameters during the reproductive cycle, in association with an astaxanthin-enriched diet. It was hypothesized that a supplementation on astaxanthin could enhance scallop immune system and minimize stress of reproduction. Scallops were separated in different groups: juveniles (J), adults (A), sexually mature (M), and recently spawned (S) animals. The last two groups were fed standard (M and S) or astaxanthin-enriched (Ma and Sa) diets. Scallop hemolymph contained two hemocyte populations: hyaline (HH) and granular hemocytes (GH). Antimicrobial peptides, similar to mussel defensins and mytilins, were found by immunodetection within the GH granules, even though the scallop hemolymph did not exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against different bacteria, including marine vibrios. Scallop hemocytes were able to phagocytose zymosan and produce reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI–NBT reduction). The number of circulating hemocytes (Neubauer chamber) varied from 12 to 26.10⁶ cells mL^− 1, and the GH was always the predominant cell type (67–99%). The plasma of N. nodosus contained lectins, specific to galactose and sialoconjugates, and their agglutinating activity was partially calcium-dependent. A phenoloxidase (PO) activity (146–446 U min^− 1 mg^− 1) was observed in the scallop hemolymph. However, this activity was not induced by trypsin or components of microorganism surface, and was strongly enhanced by alkaline pH (≥ 8.5). The total protein concentration of the plasma varied from 240 to 660 μg mL^− 1. In general terms, all examined hemato-immunological parameters (hemograms, superoxide anion production, PO activity, lectin titers and total protein concentration) had a similar profile during all the scallop reproductive cycle. Their levels increased significantly from juveniles to adults (except PO activity), and declined markedly (immune depletion) in the sexually mature scallops. After spawning, the animals had a tendency to recover the standard levels of their immune parameters. Apparently, the astaxanthin-enriched diet had no effect on the tested immune parameters except for a slight influence on the scallop immune-oxidative reactions (ROI production). The results obtained in this study suggested the occurrence of a general immune depletion in the sexually mature scallops, confirming that the reproductive stage is a critical period in scallop life.     

Purification and characterization of a lectin from the starfish Asterias amurensis

In this study, we describe a novel lectin (designated AMUL) from the Northern Pacific starfish Asterias amurensis. AMUL was purified from the coelomic fluid by affinity chromatography followed by size-exclusion chromatography. The native molecular mass of the lectin was found to be approximately 270 kDa by size-exclusion chromatography using a Superdex 200 column. AMUL showed distinct bands at approximately 14 or 18 kDa on SDS-PAGE under nonreducing or reducing conditions, respectively. The hemagglutination activity of AMUL against rabbit erythrocytes was strongly inhibited by the two sialic acids N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The glycoproteins tested showed no inhibition of hemagglutination. The first 28 amino acid residues of AMUL were determined by automated Edman degradation, showing that AMUL has considerable sequence homology with C-type lectins from other echinoderms. These results show that AMUL is a novel echinoderm-derived sialic-acid-specific lectin that belongs to the C-type lectin superfamily.     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌HZ-1510壳聚糖酶基因的克隆、重组表达及其活性

为了研究壳聚糖酶的水解活性,实验进行了解淀粉芽孢杆菌HZ-1510壳聚糖酶基因编码序列的克隆,并构建了谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)-壳聚糖酶融合蛋白表达质粒,在大肠杆菌中表达后提取、纯化得到重组蛋白,并通过生物信息学对该蛋白的信号肽、三维结构等进行了分析,最后以胶态壳聚糖溶液为底物研究了该重组壳聚糖酶的活性。结果显示,该壳聚糖酶基因的ORF长为837 bp,编码279个氨基酸,分子量为31.45 ku。在其氨基末端具有信号肽,切割点位于36和37位氨基酸之间。氨基酸序列同源性分析表明该壳聚糖酶属于GH46家族糖苷水解酶。酶的水解活性最适温度约为55°C,最适pH为5.5。而金属离子Fe3+、Ag+、Cu~(2+)、Ba~(2+)和K+对其水解活性都起抑制作用,但是Mn~(2+)、Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)对其活性起增强作用。0.1 mmol/L的Zn~(2+)对壳聚糖酶的活性起增强作用,2.0 mmol/L的Zn~(2+)对壳聚糖酶的活性起抑制作用。本实验研究了解淀粉芽孢杆菌HZ-1510壳聚糖酶在不同条件下的水解活性,为壳聚糖酶的工业应用奠定了理论基础。     

Anionic Trypsin from the Pyloric Ceca of Pacific Saury (Cololabis saira): Purification and Biochemical Characteristics

Anionic trypsin from Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) pyloric ceca was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. It was purified to 53.7-fold with a yield of 6.1%. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme was about 24 kDa, as determined by size exclusion chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). On native-PAGE, trypsin showed a single band. The purified anionic trypsin displayed optimal activity at pH 8.5 and 55°C. The enzyme was stable at neutral and alkaline pH and in the temperature range of 20–50°C. The stability was affected by the calcium ion. The activity of purified anionic trypsin was completely inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor and N-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) and partially inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). NaCl (0–30%) decreased the activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The kinetic trypsin constants K_m and K_cat were 0.19 mM and 210 s^?1, respectively, while the catalytic efficiency (K_cat/K_m) was 1105.26 s^?1 mM^?1. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of anionic trypsin, IVGGYECQAH, were found and were homologous to those of trypsin from other fish species.     

Production of bactericidal substances by a marine vibrio isolated from cultures of the scallop Argopecten purpuratus

A marine vibrio (strain C33) having inhibitory effects on the growth of the pathogen Vibrio anguillarum-VAR was isolated from seawater used in mass culture of the north-Chilean scallop Argopecten purpuratus. This bacterial isolate demonstrated broad inhibitory activity on several bacterial strains, including some pathogenic vibrios. Ethyl acetate extracts of extracellular products of strain C33 were separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC), and three fractions thus obtained were found to have antimicrobial activity when tested using microplate bioassays. One of the fractions (A2) having marked antimicrobial activity, was further purified using TLC and analyzed by IR spectrophotometry and NMR'H and was characterized on a preliminary basis as an aliphatic hydroxyl ether. This compound demonstrated bacteriostatic activity against the important marine pathogens Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. splendidus, and as discussed in the paper, may be useful in developing natural strategies for the control of pathogens in mass cultures of Argopecten purpuratus and possibly other molluscs affected by these bacteria.     

尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌Sip蛋白乳酸菌活载体口服疫苗的研制及其免疫效果

链球菌病是威胁我国罗非鱼养殖产业健康发展的重要病害之一。为研制出免疫效果好、操作简便的罗非鱼链球菌病疫苗,本研究构建重组表达无乳链球菌Sip蛋白的穿梭质粒pNZ8124-Sip,通过酶切和测序验证后电转化乳酸乳球菌NZ9000,获得能够诱导重组表达无乳链球菌Sip蛋白的乳酸菌活菌载体疫苗。采用SPS-PAGE电泳摸索最佳诱导浓度和诱导时间以获得最大表达量,通过镍柱纯化目的蛋白并进行Western blot检测;利用不同浓度的重组乳酸菌活载体疫苗灌胃口服免疫尼罗罗非鱼,采用间接ELISA法测定免疫后血清抗体水平变化,通过人工腹腔注射感染无乳链球菌获得相对免疫保护率。研究结果显示,构建的重组乳酸乳球菌可通过nisin诱导表达大小为48 ku特异性蛋白,与目的蛋白大小一致;PAGE电泳显示,重组蛋白主要以可溶蛋白和包涵体2种形式存在,其中胞内可溶性蛋白浓度达7.65 mg/mL;诱导表达的最佳条件为100 ng/mL nisin诱导6 h;Western blot检测结果显示,诱导蛋白可与鼠抗His标签抗体特异性结合。口服免疫结果显示,中浓度组(2.24×10~(10) CFU/mL)和低浓度组(2.24×10~9 CFU/mL)免疫2次能够显著提高尼罗罗非鱼的血清抗体水平和抗无乳链球菌感染能力,中浓度免疫组的相对免疫保护率最高为41.0%。本研究可为罗非鱼链球菌病口服疫苗的研究奠定基础,具有广阔的应用前景。     

Purification and physicochemical properties of deoxyribonuclease from pyloric caeca of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhuaL.)

A deoxyribonuclease (DNase) of pancreatic origin has been purified from extracts of the pyloric caeca from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.). The crude extract was prepared by mincing frozen caeca tissue in equal volumes of buffer. The enzyme was isolated from the supernatant after streptomycin sulfate precipitation and centrifugation. The purification scheme further included chromatography on Q-Sepharose Fast Flow and hydroxyapatite columns. Affinity adsorption chromatography of the hydroxyapatite fraction on 8-(6-aminohexyl)-amino-5′-AMP-Sepharose, revealed an apparently homogeneous protein with molecular weight of 35,000 Da as judged by NaDodSO₄-PAGE. In sum a 644-fold enzymatic enrichment and 3.5% total enzyme recovery was achieved. The cod enzyme resembles DNase I-type enzymes with an alkaline pH activity optimum and shows dependency for Mg²⁺. The pI of the enzyme is 6.5 as determined by isoelectric focusing and DNase-zymography. Our findings suggest that the nuclease is a member of the cod's digestive enzymes secreted from the connective tissue surrounding the caeca.     

胰蛋白酶酶解制备孔鳐软骨蛋白寡肽及其抗氧化活性

以孔鳐软骨为材料,采用盐酸胍抽提、丙酮分级沉淀,制备孔鳐软骨蛋白;以DPPH·和HO·清除活性为导向,采用胰蛋白酶酶解、膜超滤、DEAE-52阴离子交换层析、Sephadex G-15凝胶层析和反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)等技术,制备抗氧化肽,并对其活性进行系统评价。结果显示,孔鳐软骨蛋白经胰蛋白酶酶解和分离纯化得到2个抗氧化肽RCPE-A和RCPE-B,经氨基酸序列分析确定其序列分别为Gly-Glu-Glu-Gly-Pro-Arg-Gly (GEEGPRG)和Gly-Glu-Glu-Gly-Thr-Met-Gly-Leu (GEEGTMGL),质谱(ESI-MS)测定其分子量分别为700.71和792.87 u。体外自由基清除实验结果显示,RCPE-A与RCPE-B对DPPH·(EC₅₀ 2.94和1.16 mg/mL)、HO·(EC₅₀ 0.34和0.54 mg/mL)、ABTS⁺·(EC₅₀ 0.34和0.10 mg/mL)和O₂^-·(EC₅₀ 0.11和0.03 mg/mL)具有良好的清除作用,RCPE-A与RCPE-B亦显示出较强的脂质过氧化抑制作用。研究表明,孔鳐软骨蛋白酶解物及制备多肽可用于抗氧化相关的功能食品开发,也可以用作抗氧化剂延长相关产品的货架期。     

Glutathione and its Related Enzymes in the Nile Fish

Glutathione (GSH) and related enzymes, glutathione transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) form an important phase 2 biotransformation enzymes system. The objective of this study was to compare this enzymes system in three fish species from the river Nile, Oreochromis niloticus, Claris lazera and Cyprinus carpio in order to establish the main differences and to purify and characterize GST from the liver of O. niloticus.The level of GSH and the activity of GST, GPx and GR in the liver, kidney and gills of the three fish species were examined. A simple reproducible procedure for the purification of GST from the liver of O. niloticus to homogeneity, which includes chromatography on DEAE- cellulose followed by affinity chromatography on GSH-sepharose was established. The molecular mass was found to be 25,460 Da by SDS-PAGE. The Michaelis-Meneten constants (K_m) of the enzyme for GSH and CDNB were 0.35 mM and 0.42 mM, respectively. The affinity purified enzyme exhibited maximum pH at pH 8.0 and increasing pH above 8.0 did not affect the observed maximum. The purified enzyme acts readily on CDNB, less readily on some standard transferase substrates (1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene and p-nitrophenethyl bromide) and not at all on others (bromosulphophthalein and p-nitrobenzyl chloride). Bromosulfophthalein, cibacron blue and hematin inhibited CDNB-conjugating activity of the purified enzyme with IC₅₀ 0.079, 3.98 and 0.126 μM, respectively.     

Trypsin from the viscera of Bogue (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Boops boops</Emphasis>): isolation and characterisation

Trypsin from the viscera of Bogue (Boops boops) was purified to homogeneity by precipitation with ammonium sulphate, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and Mono Q-Sepharose anion exchange chromatography, with an 8.5-fold increase in specific activity and 36% recovery. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 23 kDa by SDS–PAGE and size exclusion chromatography. The purified trypsin appeared as a single band on native-PAGE and zymography staining. The purified enzyme showed esterase-specific activity on N-α-benzoyl-l-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) and amidase activity on N-α-benzoyl-dl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA). The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity, after 10 min incubation, were pH 9.0 and 55°C, respectively, using BAPNA as a substrate. The trypsin kinetic constants K _m and k _cat on BAPNA were 0.13 mM and 1.56 s⁻¹, respectively, while the catalytic efficiency k _cat /K _m was 12 s⁻¹ mM⁻¹. Biochemical characterisation of B. boops trypsin showed that this enzyme can be used as a possible biotechnological tool in the fish processing and food industries.     

Purification and characterization of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase isolated from rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Trialcylglycerol (TG) lipase was isolated and partially purified from rainbow trout liver. Triacylglycerol lipase activity was assayed by measuring¹⁴C-oleic acid release from¹⁴C-triolein.¹⁴C-oleic acid release was linear for up to two hours. Optimal activity occurred at pH 7.0 and 15°C. Most of the lipase activity was recovered in the cytosolic fraction. A 27,000-fold purification was achieved after Sepharose (Bio-gel A 0.5 M, 200–400 mesh) chromatography of a resuspended 20% ammonium sulfate fraction. The molecular weight of the trout hepatic lipase as determined by size-exclusion chromatography and by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 40–43 kD. Lipase-mediated hydrolysis of TG resulted in the production of diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, and fatty acids. Kinetic analysis indicated that V_max=0.016 nmol/h/mg protein and that K_m=0.28 mM triolein. Lipolytic activity was enhanced in the presence of cAMP/ATP-Mg²⁺. These results suggest that the liver of trout possesses a neutral TG lipase that is responsible for mobilizing stored TG and is catalytically activated by phosphorylation.A part of this work was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Zoologists, December 26–30, 1990, San Antonio, TX.     

An inhibitory compound produced by Pseudomonas with effectiveness on Vibrio harveyi

Persistence of the antivibrio property of the potential antagonistic probiotics, Pseudomonas MCCB 102 and 103, at different temperatures, pH and in organic solvents was studied. The antivibrio compound was extracted, purified and characterized using thin‐layer chromatography, high‐pressure liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography‐mass spectroscopy, UV–Vis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and identified as N‐methyl‐1‐hydroxyphenazine, a phenazine antibiotic. The toxicity of the compound was tested in Penaeus monodon haemocyte culture and the IC₅₀ value was found to be 1.4 ± 0.31 mg L^?1. The compound was found to be bacteriostatic at 0.5 mg L^?1. Its stability to varying temperature, pH, organic solvents, prolonged shelf‐life and vibriostatic nature point to its suitability for prophylatic aquaculture application.     

灿烂弧菌对厚壳贻贝免疫指标和消化酶活性的影响

为探究灿烂弧菌对厚壳贻贝免疫指标和消化酶活性的影响,用1×10~6、1×10~7、1×10~8个/mL 3个浓度的灿烂弧菌刺激厚壳贻贝,探讨弧菌刺激后厚壳贻贝的一氧化氮合酶(NOS)、一氧化氮(NO)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MAD)等免疫指标和淀粉酶、蛋白酶等消化酶的变化情况。结果显示,灿烂弧菌刺激48 h后,厚壳贻贝足、鳃、消化腺等组织中仅消化腺的NOS活性较对照组有显著升高,且酶活性随初始细菌浓度的升高而升高,故选用消化腺来测定灿烂弧菌刺激后72 h内的免疫指标和消化酶活性的变化。灿烂弧菌刺激后,48 h内NOS活性较对照组均显著升高。NO含量较对照组均显著升高,与NOS显现相同变化趋势。SOD活性在各浓度灿烂弧菌刺激下较对照组均显著升高,而MAD含量在实验组中含量显著低于对照组。淀粉酶活性在实验组中显著低于对照组,总体呈现先下降后升高的趋势。蛋白酶活性在各实验组中均呈现先升高后下降的趋势。研究表明,灿烂弧菌对厚壳贻贝免疫指标和蛋白酶活性的升高有诱导作用,但对蛋白酶的活性有抑制作用。本研究初步探明了厚壳贻贝对灿烂弧菌的免疫应答机制,为进一步研究灿烂弧菌和厚壳贻贝相互作用机制以及厚壳贻贝免疫机制奠定了基础。     

Sterols from bivalves <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calyptogena soyoae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathymodiolus septemdierum</Emphasis> living in deep sea

From the two species of bivalves, Calyptogena soyoae around a cold seep and Bathymodiolus septemdierum near hydrothermal vents in the sea, sterols were isolated using high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis of the lipid fraction guided by characteristic ¹H NMR signals of the sterol skeleton. The minor sterol composition of C. soyoae included 24-methylenecycloartanal, cycloeucalenol, and obutusifoliol, which are known phytosterols. From B. Septemdierum, lathosterol and cholesterol as main sterols together with more diverse sterols were obtained. The difference between these species and their sterol contents is most likely because of feeding modes and metabolism of nutrients from their habitat.