High feeding and growth rates in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) fed formulated feeds with an improved amino acid profile and mixture of binders

Four semi‐moist formulated feeds were supplied to Octopus vulgaris subadults (664 ± 70 g; 18.4 ± 0.7°C) in two different experiments. In the experiment #1, two diets were prepared with a new mixture of binders (gelatine 150 g kg^?1, starch 100 g kg^?1 and gum 50 g kg^?1). The GEL15‐Squid and GEL15‐Hake feeds included 100 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried squid (Todarodes sagittatus) or hake (Merluccius sp.) respectively. Both feeds showed low water disintegration rates at 24 h (13.6–15.0% dry weight). The specific feeding rate was higher in animals fed GEL15‐Hake (2.7%BW day^?1), but the growth and feed efficiency were significantly better in animals fed GEL15‐Squid (1.4%BW day^?1 and 61.2% respectively; P < 0.05). The proximate composition of the digestive gland, carcass and whole animals was similar. In the experiment #2, the GEL15‐Squid amino acid profile was improved by replacing 50 g kg^?1 gelatine by 50 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried squid (GEL10‐Squid) or freeze‐dried fish (GEL10‐Fish). These feeds showed higher water disintegration rates (31.7–36.3% dry weight). The feeding rates (2.2–2.3%BW day^?1), growth (1.5%BW day^?1) and feed efficiency were similar for both diets. Total lipids were higher in the digestive gland and whole animals fed GEL10‐Fish diet (P < 0.05). Future effort could be directed towards alternative binders that allow improve amino acid balance with a minimum gelatine content or even supplementation trials including essential amino acids.     

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the fatty acid delta 6 desaturase (FAD6) gene in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

The sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), an important echinodermata, had high value in nutrition and medicine for its rich collagen, sulphated polysaccharide, glycosides and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The cDNA of the fatty acid desaturase gene in A. japonicus (AJFAD6) was cloned and was found to encode a desaturase with delta 6 FAD activity. Sequence analysis indicated that AJFAD6 included an open reading frame of 1392 bp, encoding 463 amino acids. AJFAD6 has all the conserved motifs found in other members of the FAD6 family, including an N‐terminal cytochrome b5 domain and three histidine‐rich regions. qRT‐PCR showed that AJFAD6 was expressed in all tissues tested during juvenile development and was mainly expressed in the respiratory tree at 150 days after adherence (150 days) and in the intestine at 100 days. Furthermore, AJFAD6 mRNA was also detected in the analysed adult tissues, with higher expression in the intestine and testis. Functional characterization of AJFAD6 in a recombinant yeast, Pichia pastoris, showed that AJFAD6 could catalyse exogenous linoleic acid (LA) and α‐linolenic acid (ALA) to produce γ‐linoleic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (STA), respectively, at conversion rates of 11.1% for LA to GLA and 3.4% for ALA to STA. Our results suggested that the biosynthetic pathway of PUFA existed in the sea cucumber, but endogenous production of eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from either LA or ALA precursor appeared to be limited.     

Dietary α‐linolenic acid affects lipid metabolism and tissue fatty acid profile and induces apoptosis in intraperitoneal adipose tissue of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

A 56‐day feeding trial was conducted to elucidate the effects and mechanism action of dietary α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n‐3) on lipid accumulation and fatty acid profile of muscle, hepatopancreas and intraperitoneal fat (IPF) in juvenile grass carp using three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic semi‐purified diets containing 0.0% (control group), 1.0% and 2.0% ALA, respectively. The lowest intraperitoneal fat (IPF) ratio was found in 2.0% group. In the muscle, hepatopancreas and IPF, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3) contents increased with the increase in dietary ALA. In the IPF, caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 showed the highest activities in 2.0% group, while the value of Bcl‐2/Bax (B‐cell leukaemia 2/Bcl‐2‐associated X protein) reached the lowest. Meanwhile, swelling of the IPF mitochondria was observed in 2.0% group. The gene expressions of fatty acid desaturase (FAD) and fatty acid elongase (ELO) in the hepatopancreas and muscle showed significantly higher levels in the treatment groups, whereas an opposite trend was existed in the IPF. Fatty acid synthase (FAS), sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) in the IPF and hepatopancreas reached the lowest in 2.0% group. Overall, dietary ALA could promote n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) synthesis and suppress the accumulation of lipid by decreasing the expression of related genes and promoting the apoptosis in IPF.     

Antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation in Artemia nauplii enriched with DHA‐rich oil emulsion and the effect of adding an external antioxidant based on hydroxytyrosol

Artemia nauplii catabolize polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA); in particular, they retroconvert docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3), so enrichment is a continuous quest towards increasing PUFA through the use of PUFA‐rich enrichment products. However, optimal conditions during enrichment (aeration, illumination and temperatures around 28°C) tend to accelerate autoxidation of PUFA and the formation of potentially toxic oxidation products. Water‐soluble antioxidants like the polyphenolic compound hydroxytyrosol (3,4‐dihydroxyphenylethanol), a polar molecule found in the water fraction resulting after the milling process of olives, arise as promising compounds to prevent oxidation during Artemia enrichments. We investigated the antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation in Artemia nauplii during enrichment and the effect of adding an external antioxidant based on hydroxytyrosol during the enrichment with a PUFA‐rich emulsion (M70). For this purpose, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione‐S‐transferase, glutathione peroxidase), as well as lipid peroxidation, was determined in enriched and unenriched Artemia nauplii. To validate antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation, in a first experiment, nauplii were enriched with microalgae (Tetraselmis suecica), yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and M70 emulsion. In a second experiment, enrichment with a commercial emulsion (DC Super Selco), M70, and a combination of M70 and hydroxytyrosol (Hytolive, HYT) added as an external antioxidant were performed. The combination of M70 with HYT produced the best results, in terms of activity of antioxidant enzymes. The analysis of the fatty acids from total lipids showed that the addition of hydroxytyrosol preserved the DHA percentage of enriched nauplii.     

深水网箱和池塘养殖凡纳滨对虾肌肉营养成分的比较分析

对深水网箱和池塘养殖凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)肌肉常规营养成分、氨基酸和脂肪酸质量分数进行了比较分析。结果显示:1)网箱养殖对虾肌肉粗蛋白质量分数显著高于池塘养殖(P0.05),而水分、粗脂肪和粗灰分质量分数无显著差异(P0.05);2)肌肉中检测到18种常见氨基酸,网箱养殖对虾肌肉氨基酸总量(TAA)、天门冬氨酸(Asp)、异亮氨酸(Ile)、精氨酸(Arg)和脯氨酸(Pro)质量分数显著高于池塘养殖(P0.05),而必需氨基酸(EAA)、半必需氨基酸(HEAA)、鲜味氨基酸(DAA)和虾味氨基酸(PFAA)两者无显著差异(P0.05);3)肌肉中检测到30种常见脂肪酸,两者的饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)、多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)、n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(EPA和DHA)质量分数差异显著(P0.05),以网箱养殖对虾较高;两者的棕榈酸(C16∶0)质量分数最高,且网箱养殖对虾EPA+DHA质量分数是池塘养殖的1.90倍。结果表明,网箱养殖对虾营养成分要优于池塘养殖,具有较高的营养价值。     

武夷岩茶氨基酸组分及含量分析

采用氨基酸自动分析仪测定分析大红袍、水仙、肉桂、雀舌、金毛猴和矮脚乌龙等6个品种武夷岩茶的游离氨基酸组分,结果表明:6个品种武夷岩茶均含有17种氨基酸,氨基酸含量品种间差异显著,武夷岩茶的游离氨基酸总量为75.82~107.12 mg/g;其中含量较高的为谷氨酸、天冬氨酸和亮氨酸。武夷岩茶的氨基酸中含有各种人体必需氨基酸,且比例均衡;必需氨基酸总量占30.47%~40.46%,药用氨基酸含量丰富,占氨基酸总量的61.29%~63.90%;呈鲜味的氨基酸含量也占氨基酸总量的23.80%~28.63%,因此,武夷岩茶具有较高的营养价值和保健功能。     

红茶提取物对高尿酸血症小鼠血尿酸的影响

研究红茶提取物对高尿酸血症小鼠血尿酸的影响。将36只雄性KM小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、红茶提取物低、中、高剂量组及别嘌呤醇组。空白组和给茶组连续1周分别灌胃生理盐水和红茶提取物,给茶组第7天造模后1 h给茶;模型组在第7天腹腔注射氧嗪酸钾并灌胃酵母膏造模。测定结果显示:与模型组相比,各给茶组血尿酸(UA)水平均降低;与模型组相比,给茶组血尿素氮(BUN)水平均降低,其中、高剂量给茶组BUN水平显著降低(P0.05),高剂量组差异极显著(P0.01);各给茶组血肌酐(Cr)值与模型组相比极显著下降(P0.001)。高剂量组黄嘌呤氧化酶(XOD)活性较模型组显著降低(P0.05),低、中剂量组有一定的抑制作用,但无显著差异。研究表明,红茶提取物对氧嗪酸钾和酵母膏导致的小鼠高尿酸血症有明显的改善作用。     

烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸(NAD)合成途径和水稻叶片早衰

叶片是植物进行光合作用的主要场所,其衰老由内源遗传发育信号和外界环境胁迫所启动,是一个非常复杂有序的调控过程。烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide,NAD)是脱氢酶的辅酶,在糖酵解、糖异生、三羧酸循环以及呼吸链等代谢中发挥着不可替代的作用。最新研究表明,水稻NAD生物合成参与调控沉默信息调控因子Sirtuins的生物活性、组蛋白H3K9去乙酰化、植物激素茉莉酸(JA)和叶片衰老。本文综述了有关水稻叶片衰老的细胞生理特征、Sirtuins酶活、NAD生物合成以及水稻早衰的OsSRT1-NAD调控途径和OsSRT1-Me OH-JA调控途径,以期阐明水稻叶片衰老的分子机理及其调控途径,为高产育种提供相应的理论参考。     

Effects of formic acid and potassium diformate on the fermentation quality,chemical composition and aerobic stability of alfalfa silage

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of potassium diformate (KDF) as a potential additive for alfalfa silage. Fresh alfalfa was untreated or treated with formic acid (4 g/kg fresh weight, FW) or three concentrations of KDF (4, 5.5 or 7 g/kg FW). After 60 days of ensiling, the addition of formic acid and greater levels of KDF (5.5 and 7 g/kg) effectively reduced silage pH and inhibited the undesirable bacteria, indicated by lower butyric acid, ethanol, ammonia N concentrations and microbial populations (including enterobacteria, yeasts, moulds and clostridia). Additives decreased the dry‐matter loss, and more water‐soluble carbohydrates were preserved in the silages with formic acid or potassium diformate than in the control. Alfalfa silages treated with formic acid at 4 g/kg FW or potassium diformate at 5.5 or 7 g/kg FW were classified as the highest quality silage based on the higher Flieg's point (above 70) and remained stable for more than 9 days during aerobic exposure. Potassium diformate is recommended as an effective additive for alfalfa silages at a level of 5.5 or 7 g/kg FW under the humid and hot conditions of southern China.