三疣梭子蟹Drosha和Exportin 5基因克隆及其在性腺发育过程中的表达分析

本研究利用RACE技术克隆了三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)Drosha和Exportin 5基因的cDNA全长序列,Drosha基因长度为3443 bp,编码1038个氨基酸,预测蛋白质包含2个相邻的RNA酶Ⅲ结构域(RⅢDa和RⅢDb)和1个双链RNA结合结构域(dsRBD)。Exportin 5基因全长为5000 bp,编码1208个氨基酸,预测蛋白质包含1个Importin-βN-末端结构域(IBN-N)和1个核输出蛋白结构域(XPO-1)。同源分析显示,三疣梭子蟹Drosha氨基酸序列与其他物种高度相似,与日本对虾(Marsupenaeus japonicus)相似度最高,达94%。qRT-PCR分析结果显示,Drosha和Exportin 5基因在三疣梭子蟹各组织中均有表达,其在卵巢和肝胰腺中的表达量最高(P0.05);在精巢不同发育时期,2个基因表达量的变化趋势一致,均在Ⅱ期(精母细胞增殖、分化期)表达量最高;在卵巢发育过程中,2个基因表达量的变化趋势也大致相同,随着卵巢发育(Ⅱ~Ⅴ期)逐渐升高。研究表明,Drosha和Exportin 5基因可能通过调控miRNA的合成来影响三疣梭子蟹性腺发育过程,为深入解析三疣梭子蟹性腺发育调控机制提供了重要参考。     

三疣梭子蟹细胞Cdk7基因克隆及其在卵巢发育中的表达

本实验应用RACE技术克隆获得了三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)周期蛋白依赖性激酶7(Cdk7)基因c DNA序列全长。基因5′和3′非编码区域(UTR)以及开放阅读框的长度分别是23 bp、178 bp和1056 bp,预测编码一个含有351个氨基酸,分子量为39.91 k D的蛋白质,包含一个丝氨酸/苏氨酸催化保守结构域和T-loop结构。同源性分析表明,三疣梭子蟹CDK7氨基酸序列与其他物种Cdk7相似度较高,说明Cdk7基因具有很好的保守性。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,三疣梭子蟹Cdk7基因在卵巢组织中的表达量显著高于其他组织(P0.05)。Cdk7基因在卵巢发育不同时期的表达量存在差异,其在I期和Ⅱ期的表达量显著高于其他时期(P0.05)。去除眼柄后该基因在卵巢组织中的表达呈现先升高后降低的趋势,并于第4天达到最大值。本研究的结果表明,Cdk7基因参与了三疣梭子蟹卵巢发育调控,为深入开展三疣梭子蟹和其他甲壳动物性腺发育调控机理研究提供了重要信息。     

拟穴青蟹Na+/H+ exchanger基因克隆及其在盐度胁迫下的表达分析

克隆了拟穴青蟹(Scylla paramamosain)Na~+/H~+-exchanger基因,其cDNA序列全长3 624 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)长2 886 bp,可编码961个氨基酸,预测蛋白质分子量和等电点分别为110.8 kDa和7.42,具有信号肽和典型的Na~+/H~+-exchanger蛋白结构域,含12个跨膜α螺旋。拟穴青蟹Na~+/H~+-exchanger的氨基酸序列与三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)的一致度最高,达到84.9%;该基因在卵巢中表达量最高,其次是精巢、鳃等;该基因在受精卵时期表达水平最高,大眼幼体时期次之。拟穴青蟹大眼幼体在低盐(盐度7和17)胁迫过程中,Na~+/H~+-exchanger基因在20 min表达水平最高,之后基本恢复到正常表达水平;在高盐(盐度37)胁迫(20 min～2 h)期间,该基因表达水平先下降再逐渐上升。Na~+/H~+-exchanger基因在拟穴青蟹大眼幼体阶段盐度适应中发挥着重要作用,且低盐显著诱导Na~+/H~+-exchanger基因的高表达,推测拟穴青蟹Na~+/H~+-exchanger基因在低盐环境下发挥重要的渗透调节功能。     

拟赤梢鱼卵巢早期发育与sox3基因cDNA克隆及表达分析

为初步阐明拟赤梢鱼(Pseudaspius leptocephalus)卵巢发育特征及sox3 (sry related high mobility group box 3)基因在其卵巢发育过程中的作用,本研究通过组织切片观察了拟赤梢鱼卵巢早期发育过程,利用RACE技术克隆了该鱼sox3基因cDNA全长序列,并进行生物信息学分析;利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了sox3基因在拟赤梢鱼不同组织及性腺不同发育时期的表达模式。结果显示,拟赤梢鱼卵巢在孵化后45 d分化形成,160 d时由Ⅰ期进入Ⅱ期,孵化后360 d,卵巢仍处于Ⅱ期。拟赤梢鱼sox3基因cDNA全长为1 800 bp (GenBank登录号：MT952206),编码299 个氨基酸,存在保守的HMG (histidine, methionine, glycine-rich)结构域。氨基酸序列比对和系统进化树分析结果显示,拟赤梢鱼SOX3蛋白与斑马鱼(Danio rerio)和翘嘴鲌(Culter alburnus)亲缘关系最近。此外,sox3基因在拟赤梢鱼卵巢中表达量最高,其次是脑和眼睛,在精巢和其他组织中微量表达;在性腺分化过程中,sox3基因在卵巢中表达量显著高于未分化性腺和精巢,在卵巢发育阶段表达量不断升高,而在精巢中持续低水平表达。综上,本研究推测sox3基因主要参与拟赤梢鱼卵巢的分化和发育。     

栉江珧wnt4基因cDNA的克隆表达及调控

本研究运用同源克隆技术和RACE技术克隆了栉江珧(Atrina pectinata)wnt4基因cDNA全长序列。该基因序列全长为1493 bp,其中开放阅读框1074 bp,编码由357个氨基酸组成的蛋白。氨基酸序列分析表明,栉江珧wnt4基因具有wnt家族保守结构域,与栉孔扇贝(Chlamys farreri)、海胆(Paracentrotus lividus)等物种具有高度的同源性。荧光定量PCR分析表明,wnt4基因表达具有广泛性和组织差异性,且与性别和性腺繁殖周期相关。wnt4基因表达量与性腺成熟度相关,并且整个繁殖周期卵巢表达量均显著高于精巢,说明wnt4基因参与了栉江珧两性性腺的发育,并在卵巢中发挥更重要的作用。不同发育阶段胚胎荧光定量分析表明,wnt4基因主要参与了栉江珧的早期胚胎发育。在胚胎发育早期(囊胚期和原肠期)wnt4基因的表达水平最高,是成体表达量的500倍;在担轮幼虫和D形幼虫期迅速下降,暗示wnt4基因可能在栉江珧早期发育阶段参与了某些器官的形成。17β-雌二醇诱导实验显示,17β-雌二醇可能通过反馈调节抑制卵巢wnt4基因表达(P0.05);短时间处理,17β-雌二醇能诱导精巢wnt4基因显著表达(P0.05)。     

圆斑星鲽piwil2基因的克隆与表达分析

本研究采用RACE末端扩增方法，得到全长为3872 bp的圆斑星鲽(Verasper variegatus) piwil2基因序列，命名为Vvpiwil2，开放阅读框(ORF)长为3192 bp，编码1063个氨基酸，5?-UTR和3?-UTR的长度分别140 bp和540 bp。基于ExPASy、SMART、Signal4.1和NCBI的保守结构域(CDD)数据库在线分析对蛋白序列结构进行预测，推断Vvpiwil2编码的氨基酸分子量为118.6 kDa，理论等电点为9.02，无跨膜结构及信号肽，有3个结构域：ArgoL1结构域、PAZ结构域及PIWI结构域。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术对圆斑星鲽不同发育时期的胚胎、仔稚鱼以及雌雄成鱼的不同组织表达模式进行分析。结果显示，Vvpiwil2基因从胚胎发育早期至高囊胚期均大量表达，之后呈下降趋势，直至孵化阶段。由于胚胎从卵裂至囊胚时期的发育过程主要受细胞质成分引导，直至原肠早期，mRNA开始大量转录合成，实现由母源型向合子型的过渡，推断Vvpiwil2是母源性基因。孵化后仔稚鱼68 d时，Vvpiwil2基因表达量显著高于其他时期，表明Vvpiwil2的功能可能与圆斑星鲽性腺分化过程相关；Vvpiwil2基因在雌雄成鱼性腺中的表达量显著高于其他组织，且卵巢中的表达量显著高于精巢，推测Vvpiwil2基因在卵巢功能的维持中发挥重要作用。本研究结果为解析圆斑星鲽性别决定机制提供了新的靶标基因，为建立全雌化苗种繁育技术打下坚实的理论基础。     

大黄鱼sox9a/b基因的克隆与表达分析

为探究sox9基因在大黄鱼性别决定与分化过程中的作用,利用RACE方法克隆得到大黄鱼sox9a和sox9b 2个基因,采用实时荧光定量PCR (qRT-PCR)分析其在雌雄个体不同组织和不同发育阶段的表达规律,并检测了其在17β-雌二醇处理后的遗传雄性和17α-甲基睾酮诱导处理后遗传雌性幼鱼中的表达变化。结果显示,大黄鱼sox9a c DNA全长2 442 bp(NCBI登录号:MH996431),包含476 bp 5′UTR、466 bp 3′UTR、1 500 bp ORF,编码499个氨基酸。大黄鱼sox9b cDNA全长为2 199 bp (NCBI登录号:MH996432),包含335 bp5′UTR、415 bp 3′UTR、1 449 bp ORF,编码482个氨基酸。qRT-PCR分析显示,sox9a基因主要在性腺、眼、脑、肝脏中表达,精巢中的表达量显著高于卵巢;sox9b在大黄鱼各组织中广泛表达,但以精巢中表达量最高,而卵巢中只有痕量表达。在鱼苗性腺发育初期,sox9a/b的表达量都维持在较低水平;随着鱼苗长大,sox9a/b的表达量在84 dph、123 dph 2次达到高峰,随后开始下降,10 mph后又逐渐上升。17β-雌二醇处理能够显著下调遗传雄性大黄鱼sox9a和sox9b基因在性腺中的表达,17α-甲基睾酮处理则显著上调遗传雌性大黄鱼sox9a和sox9b基因在性腺中的表达。研究表明,sox9a/b基因与大黄鱼性别发育和分化过程密切相关,对大黄鱼精巢的发育与维持起重要的调控作用,而且两个基因的功能可能具有一定程度的分化。     

栉孔扇贝17β-HSD4基因的克隆和表达分析

为了研究17β-hsd4基因在无脊椎动物生殖过程中的作用,实验从栉孔扇贝转录组数据库中获得一个表达序列标签,采用cDNA末端快速扩增技术克隆得到1条全长为2 417 bp的cDNA序列,其开放阅读框为2 223 bp,编码740个氨基酸,推测的氨基酸序列含有17β-HSDs特有的4个保守区和17β3-HSD4的3个酶结构域,且与人等脊椎动物的序列相似性均在58％以上.半定量RT-PCR显示,该基因在栉孔扇贝精巢、卵巢、肌肉、外套膜、鳃、肝胰腺和肾脏等各组织中均有表达,其中在肝胰腺和肾脏中表达量明显高于其他组织.对不同发育时期性腺中该基因表达的qRT-PCR检测发现,其在精卵巢发育周期的表达模式不同,且在生长期和成熟期的精巢中表达量显著性高于同时期的卵巢.由此推测,栉孔扇贝多种组织中均可以合成17β-HSD4,在精巢的发育和成熟的作用明显高于卵巢.     

海湾扇贝Dmrt1基因分子特征及功能分析

利用 PCR 技术和生物信息学方法获得了海湾扇贝(Argopecten irradians irradians) Dmrt1 基因(AiDmrt1)的 cDNA 序列。采用实时定量 PCR 技术确定 AiDmrt1 在不同组织、性腺发育阶段及胚胎和幼虫发育阶段的表达模式, 并结合 RNA 干扰(RNA interference, RNAi)技术敲降 AiDmrt1 表达后检测了精巢中性腺发育相关基因的表达特征。 结果显示, AiDmrt1 开放阅读框长度为 918 bp, 编码 305 个氨基酸, 其编码蛋白具有保守的 DM 结构域。AiDmrt1 的 mRNA 在精巢中特异性表达, 并在精巢发育至生长期表达水平最高。AiDmrt1 在囊胚期前表达量无显著差异, 但在原肠期表达水平显著升高(P＜0.01)。敲降 AiDmrt1 表达后, 精巢发育相关基因 Sox7、Sox11 和 Fem-1 显著上调表达(P＜0.05 或 P＜0.01), 而 Dmrt4 的表达显著下调(P＜0.05); 卵巢发育相关基因 FoxL2、Wnt4、β-catenin、GATA-1 和 GATA-3 均显著上调表达(P＜0.05 或 P＜0.01)。研究结果表明, AiDmrt1 是海湾扇贝精巢特异性表达基因, 参与调控海湾扇贝性腺发育与分化。     

中华绒螯蟹Akt基因的cDNA克隆、序列分析及表达特征

为研究Akt基因在中华绒螯蟹蜕壳前后肌肉生长过程中的功能,应用RACE技术克隆得到编码中华绒螯蟹Akt(命名为Es Akt)的全长为2 200 bp的c DNA序列,包括159 bp的5′非翻译区(5′-UTR)、496 bp的3′非翻译区(3′-UTR)和长度为1545 bp编码514个氨基酸的编码序列。蛋白质结构域分析显示Es Akt含有丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族的3个特征性保守结构域。多序列比对和系统发育分析显示,Es Akt与中国明对虾、凡纳滨对虾的Akt序列一致性都为0.889,在系统发育树中节肢动物Akt形成一个分支。应用荧光定量RTPCR技术分析Es Akt在性成熟中华绒螯蟹各组织及幼体不同蜕壳时期不同部位肌肉组织中转录水平上表达量的变化。结果显示,Es Akt在性成熟个体的肝胰腺、眼柄、表皮、卵巢、精巢、心脏、螯足、鳃、三角膜等组织中均有表达,其中卵巢、眼柄和精巢中表达量较高,肝胰腺中表达量最低。在幼体不同蜕壳时期不同部位的肌肉中,Es Akt表达量变化不同,步行足肌肉组织中Es Akt m RNA无显著的统计学差异。腹部肌肉组织中Es Akt m RNA水平在蜕壳前晚期D3~D4期表达量显著高于蜕壳后A~B期和蜕皮间期C期。螯足肌肉在蜕壳前晚期D3~D4期急剧下调,蜕壳后A~B期开始表达量显著升高,直至蜕皮间期C期。研究表明,Es Akt在中华绒螯蟹蜕壳过程中不同部位肌肉组织中的表达量变化与蜕壳周期密切相关,说明Es Akt参与中华绒螯蟹蜕壳诱导的肌肉萎缩、生长及重建过程。     

Influence of the antibacterial herbs, Solanum trilobatum, Andrographis paniculata and Psoralea corylifolia on the survival, growth and bacterial load of Penaeus monodon post larvae

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics and chemicals in shrimp hatcheries has led to biomagnification and that in turn could lead to rejection of a whole consignment. The application of the bioencapsulation technique as a tool for curative treatment in shrimp larvae was investigated. Herbs having antibacterial properties such as Solanum trilobatum, Andrographis paniculata and Psoralea corylifolia (methanolic extracts) were bioencapsulated in Artemia and fed to Penaeus monodon post larvae PL 1–25. The post larvae were reared in a medium inoculated with pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio sp. Post larvae reared in the non-inoculated water and fed with non-enriched Artemia exhibited 90% survival, highest specific growth rate (12.43%) and reduced bacterial load. P. monodon reared in the bacterial inoculated water and fed with the non-enriched Artemia exhibited the lowest survival (10–30%), specific growth rate (8.42–9.1%) and increased bacterial load (2.86 × 10³ to 3.76 × 10⁵ cfu/g). The methanolic extracts of the herbs helped to increase survival and specific growth rate and reduced bacterial load in the P. monodon culture system. Among the three herbal extracts, P. corylifolia enriched Artemia fed post larvae showed the tendency to higher survival (>50%), growth rate (11.5 averaged) and low bacterial load (1.12 × 10⁵ cfu/g). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Delivery of HUFA, probionts and biomedicine through bioencapsulated Artemia as a means to enhance the growth and survival and reduce the pathogenesity in shrimp Penaeus monodon postlarvae

One of the major problems in the shrimp culture industry is the difficulty in producing high-quality shrimp larvae. In larviculture, quality feeds containing a high content of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) and ingredients that stimulate stress and disease resistance are essential to produce healthy shrimp larvae. In the present study, Penaeus monodon postlarvae (PL15) were fed for 25 days on an unenriched Artemia diet (control; A) or on a diet of Artemia enriched with either HUFA-rich liver oil of the trash fish Odonus niger (B), probionts [Lactobacillus acidophilus (C1) or yeast-Saccharomyces cerevisiae (C2)] or biomedicinal herbal products (D) that have anti-stress, growth-promoting and anti-microbial characteristics. P. monodon postlarvae fed unenriched Artemia exhibited the lowest weight gain (227.9 ± 8.30 mg) and specific growth rate (9.95 ± 0.05%), while those fed the HUFA-enriched Artemia (B) exhibited the highest weight gain and specific growth rate (362.34 ± 12.56 mg and 11.77 ± 0.08%, respectively). At the end of the 25-day rearing experiment, the shrimp postlarvae (PL40) were subjected to a salinity stress study. At both low and high (0 and 50‰) salinities, the group fed the control diet (A) experienced the highest cumulative mortality indices (CMI) 935.7 ± 2.1 and 1270.7 ± 3.1, respectively. Those fed diet D showed the lowest stress-induced mortality, and CMI were reduced by 31.1 and 32.3% under conditions of low and high salinity stress, respectively. A 10-day disease challenge test was conducted with the P. monodon postlarvae (PL40–PL50) by inoculating the shrimp with the pathogen Vibrio harveyi at the rate of 10⁵–10⁷ CFU/ml in all rearing tanks. P. monodon postlarvae fed probiont-encapsulated Artemia diets (C1 and C2) exhibited the highest survival (94.3 and 82.3%, respectively) and lowest pathogen load (V. harveyi) in hepatopancreas (5.2 × 10² ± 9.0 × 10 and 4.6 × 10² ± 9.0 × 10 CFU g⁻¹, respectively) and muscle (2.0 × 10² ± 6 × 10 and 1.7 × 10² ± 8.6 × 10 CFU g⁻¹, respectively) tissues. The shrimp that were fed the unenriched Artemia (Control; A) showed the lowest survival (26.33%) and highest bacterial load in the hepatopancreas (1.0 × 10⁵ ± 5 × 10³ CFU g⁻¹) and muscle (3.6 × 10⁴ ± 6 × 10² CFU g⁻¹). The shrimp fed the herbal product (D)-enriched Artemia also exhibited enhanced survival and reduced V. harveyi load in the tissues tested compared to the control diet (A) group. The results are discussed in terms of developing a quality larval feed to produce healthy shrimp larvae.     

Movement of the fluvial form of masu salmon, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus masou masou</Emphasis>, in a mountain stream in Kyushu,Japan

Using mark-recapture methods, the movements of the fluvial form of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou masou) in a mountain stream on the island of Kyushu, Japan, were studied. Most (78%) of the masu salmon were recaptured in the pool in which they had been originally caught and tagged. Of those that moved between pools, the proportion of individuals that moved during the breeding period was not significantly higher than the proportion that moved during the non-breeding period. However, during the breeding period, a higher proportion of larger salmon moved than did smaller fish. The proportion of mobile large males during breeding period was higher than that for small males. Also, it was found that a few individuals showed long-range movement in the autumn. As a long-term movement, 78 individual fish (65%) that were recaptured more than three times showed high sedentary tendencies. Sixteen individual mobile fish (13%) moved and returned to the original pool. Fluvial form of masu salmon in Kyushu show a high sedentary nature; however, large mature males seem to actively move in search of female during breeding period.     

牙鲆趋化因子基因CXCL9的克隆、鉴定与表达分析

趋化因子是一类具有化学趋化功能的小分子分泌性蛋白,能够引导白细胞到损伤或者感染的部位,参与免疫调节和病理反应。为丰富鲆鲽鱼类趋化因子的相关基础研究,本研究克隆了牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)趋化因子基因CXCL9,其全长为910 bp,开放阅读框为408 bp,编码135个氨基酸。该基因具有趋化因子超家族的典型特征,在35、37、60和77个氨基酸位置具有4个保守的半胱氨酸残基,形成两个二硫键。氨基酸序列分析表明,该基因与大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)、半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)的CXCL9基因具有较高的同源性,分别为78.5%和71.0%。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示, CXCL9在正常牙鲆肝脏和脾脏中的表达量非常高,在皮肤和鳃等组织中表达量次之,说明CXCL9特异性地在免疫相关组织中表达。经迟缓爱德华氏菌(Edwardsiella tarda)感染后,牙鲆肝脏中CXCL9 mRNA表达量在感染后6 h即出现高峰值,而头肾和脾脏中的高峰值出现较晚。经鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)感染后6 h,牙鲆肝脏中CXCL9 mRNA的表达量升高近8倍,头肾中的表达高峰值出现在感染后24 h,而脾脏中CXCL9 mRNA的表达量在感染后6 h迅速升高10倍,逐渐降低后48 h又出现高峰,为正常水平的20倍。上述研究结果说明CXCL9基因在病原菌感染过程中有快速响应,可能参与了免疫防御过程,将有可能发展为一种牙鲆细菌性疾病的生物标记。本研究为牙鲆趋化因子超家族免疫机制的深入研究奠定了基础。     

Parasites, pathological conditions and mortality in QX-resistant and wild-caught Sydney rock oysters, Saccostrea glomerata

Differences in the survival of QX-resistant fifth generation (QXR₅) and wild-caught (Wild-Caught) Sydney rock oysters were assessed over the QX-disease risk period in the Pimpama River, SE Queensland. Cumulative mortality of Wild-Caught oysters (31.7%) was significantly greater than QXR₅ oysters (0.0%) over the 118 days of the experiment. PCR and histological results showed that Wild-Caught oyster did not die from QX disease. Histology revealed oysters were infected with disseminating hemocytic neoplasia, a Steinhausia-like infection, a Rickettsia-like organism infecting epithelial cells of the gill, digenean flukes encysted in the gonadal tissue and a gill response to an unknown toxin. The cause of mortality is attributed to disseminating hemocytic neoplasia.     

Comparison of age estimates from scale, opercular bone, otolith, vertebrae and dorsal fin ray in Labeo rohita (Hamilton), Catla catla (Hamilton) and Channa marulius (Hamilton)

The present study was undertaken with a view to compare the precision and reliability of the age readings obtained from different bony structures of some important freshwater teleosts viz., Labeo rohita (Hamilton), Catla catla (Hamilton) and Channa marulius (Hamilton). Standard procedures were followed to prepare and study the age structures. In L. rohita and C. marulius percent agreement between reader's age estimates was highest for scales, i.e. 96.3% and 90.5%, respectively and in C. catla percent agreement was highest (93.3%) for opercular bone. When scale ages were compared with other alternative structures viz., otoliths, opercular bone, vertebral centra and dorsal fin rays, percent agreement was found highest between scale and opercular bone age estimates (77.8%) in L. rohita and between scale and otoliths (94.8%) in C. marulius. In case of C. catla highest percent agreement was found between opercular bone and scale age estimates. In L. rohita each of the ageing structure showed significant (P < 0.05) underestimation of age in comparison to scales. In C. catla mean age estimates from opercular bone were comparable (P > 0.05) to the values obtained from all other structures except dorsal fin rays. In C. marulius mean age estimates from scales were comparable (P > 0.05) to those from all other structures except from dorsal fin rays. Results indicated scales to be the most suitable structure for ageing L. rohita and C. marulius and opercular bone for C. catla. However, in C. catla also scales may be used as a non-destructive method of age estimation with satisfactory results.     

杜仲对草鱼生长、肌肉品质和胶原蛋白基因表达的影响

为研究杜仲对草鱼生长性能、肌肉品质及胶原蛋白基因COL1A1和COL1A2表达的影响,实验采用初始体质量为(215.0±0.4)g的草鱼120尾,随机分为2处理组(每组3重复,每重复20尾鱼),分别饲喂基础饲料(对照组)和添加2%杜仲的实验饲料(杜仲组),养殖时间为8周。结果显示,与对照组相比,添加2%杜仲对草鱼生长性能无显著影响,但能显著增加肌肉、皮肤和肝脏胶原蛋白水平,增加肌肉总必需氨基酸(TEAA)、总氨基酸(TAA)水平。2%杜仲可显著降低草鱼肌肉的冷冻失水率、离心失水率,但对肌纤维密度和肌纤维直径无显著影响。在胶原蛋白基因表达方面,2%杜仲显著增加了第4周、8周时草鱼的肌肉、皮肤和第8周时的肝脏组织COL1A1、COL1A2基因m RNA表达量。研究表明,饲料中添加2%杜仲可改善大规格草鱼的肌肉品质。     

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.     

A comparison of the growth and survival of two freshwater crayfish species, Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz and Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), under different temperature and density regimes

Growth experiments carried out with two juvenile crayfish species, Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz and Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), at different temperatures and densities highlighted the problem of cannibalism under conditions aimed at intensifying crayfish production. Cannibalism proved to be much lower in A. leptodactylus than P. leniusculus, suggesting that the former might be the better candidate for astaciculture. In the first of two population survival trials, A. leptodactylus showed a higher survival rate than P. leniusculus, with 26% of P. leniusculus surviving in the first replicate, compared to 42.3% of P. leniusculus, and 40.76% surviving in the second replicate, compared to 47.6% of P. leniusculus. The same trend was observed in the second experiment, with P. leniusculus showing survival rates of 48.5 and 55.3% (first and second replicates, respectively) in comparison to 65.2 and 68.2%, respectively, for A. leptodactylus. It is therefore highly likely that if P. leniusculus were to become established in Turkey, it would outcompete the native A. leptodactylus even if it were not to be devastated by the crayfish plague that has decimated the native species. The experiments also highlighted the problem of differential growth, with some juveniles hardly growing at all while others reached a relatively large size. The range in carapace length (CL) was 9–18 mm for A. leptodactylus and 8.5–18.5 mm CL for P. leniusculus at the end of the first experiment. While both species grew quickly, P. leniusculus hatched earlier, giving it an advantage over A. leptodactylus; consequently, by the end of the summer, the juveniles of the former were larger than those of A. leptodactylus. Specific growth rate values showed that the juveniles of the two species had similar growth rates. The results also revealed that growth was not significantly affected by density in both species at 15°C, but at 25°C, growth was significantly better at a density of 234 juveniles m⁻² than at 468 juveniles m⁻², and better at 468 juveniles m⁻² than at 937 juveniles m⁻² (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). We conclude that P. leniusculus is a good candidate for aquaculture as it has a rapid growth rate and early hatching and maturity; however, its aggressive behavior may make it a less attractive proposition than A. leptodactylus, which is also fast growing but less aggressive. This study is a part of PhD study of M.M. Harlıoğlu, who is supported by Fırat University Elazığ, Turkey.