Analysis of Phytosterol,Fatty Acid,and Carotenoid Composition of 19 Microalgae and 6 Bivalve Species

ABSTRACT

In this study, the functional components of 19 microalgae and 6 bivalve species were investigated in the context of the application in bivalve feeding and human health food. Principal component analysis was performed to detect any association between the functional components and individual microalgal species or taxonomic group. The proportions of the functional components differed depending on the taxonomic group or species of microalga. The genera Cheatoceros, Thalassiosira, and Isochrysis contained high concentrations of fucosterol and fucoxanthin, which are present in large amounts in brown algae. Diatoms, haptophytes, and eustigmatophytes, which are used as feed for bivalves, were rich in fucosterol and eicosapentenoic acid (EPA); further, haptophytes were rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In addition, the microalgae associated with red tide, i.e., the raphidophytes, were found to be rich in fucoxanthin, β-sitosterol, and EPA, whereas dinoflagellates were rich in DHA. Seven bivalve species also contained high concentrations of fucosterol, EPA, and DHA, as did microalgae, which were used to feed by bivalves. These results are useful in selecting microalgae effectively as feed of the bivalves.     

Sponge-associated fungi from a mangrove habitat in Indonesia: species composition,antimicrobial activity,enzyme screening and bioactive profiling

There is no report of diversity, biological properties and bioactive compounds of sponge-associated fungi from Indonesia’s mangrove ecosystem to date. This study was designed to isolate sponge-associated fungi from a mangrove ecosystem in Mangkang, to screen the antimicrobial and extracellular enzyme properties of the isolates, characterize the biologically promising isolates using molecular approaches, and profile the secondary metabolites using phytochemical and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analyses. An unidentified sponge that lived in association with mangrove roots was collected from Mangkang. Total of eight associated fungi were isolated from the sponge. Among all isolates, only two fungi SPMKF 1 and SPMKF 6 produced extracellular amylase, another two fungi SPMKF 4 and 5 showed antibacterial activity against MRSA, and only one fungus SPMKF 8 was able to produce extracellular amylase and show antimicrobial activity against ESBL E. coli, Salmonella enterica ser. Typhi strain MDR and C. albicans, while SPMKF 2, SPMKF 3 and SPMKF 9 did not show any biological properties. The result of genetic characterization proved that SPMKF 1 was Cladosporium tenuissimum, SPMKF 4 was Eutypella sp., SPMKF 5 was Lasiodiplodia theobromae, SPMKF 6 was Fusarium keratoplasticum and SPMKF 8 was F. solani. Furthermore, an amylase gene was detected in fungi SPMKF 1, 6 and 8 while among the BGC, only NRPS genes were detected in SPMKF 4, 5 and 8. Interestingly, several same metabolites indicating the same retention factor (Rf) values in TLC were detected in the fungal crude extracts by TLC.     

Predictive modes of action of pesticides in uterine adenocarcinoma development in rats

Endometrial adenocarcinoma in the uterine corpus is a malignant cancer that occurs in menopausal women and aged rodents. Because of the similarities in pathogenesis and morphology of endometrial adenocarcinoma in rodents and humans, prediction of the modes of action (MOA) in uterine carcinogenesis is important for extrapolation of rodent data to humans. Three MOAs have been accepted as major pathways for uterine carcinogenesis in rodents: 1) estrogenic activity, 2) increased serum 17beta-estradiiol (E2) to progesterone (P4) ratio and 3) modulation of estrogen metabolism to produce 4-hydroxyestradiol via P450 induction. Inhibition of estrogen excretion and increased aromatase in situ in the tumor are also a potential pathway. Here, chemicals showing uterine carcinogenicity were chosen from approximately 300 pesticides evaluated in Japan within the past decade, and their mechanisms were predicted using parameters from mechanistic and toxicity studies. Seven pesticides increased uterine tumor formation in rats, and the pathways of 4 pesticides could be predicted based on various mechanistic studies. The MOAs of cyenopyrafen and benthiavalicarb-isopropyl were predicted to be modulation of estrogen metabolism, while those of pyriminobac-methyl and spirodiclofen were predicted to be increased E2 to P4 ratio. The driven pathways of metazosulfuron and isopyrazam could not be predicted using several mechanistic studies. No mechanistic studies have been reported for sedaxane, which has a chemical structure and toxicological profile similar to isopyrazam. Our results indicated that appropriate mechanistic studies are useful for mechanism prediction in risk assessment. From this analysis, a flowchart showing a decision tree for predictive MOAs in uterine carcinogenesis was proposed.     

Relationship between blood calcium level and ST peak interval of electrocardiographic variables in peripartum Holstein cows

The association between blood calcium levels and electrocardiographic variables was compared in 137 normal parturient and 36 peripartum recumbent Holstein cows to determine whether hypocalcemia in peripartum dairy cows can be rapidly diagnosed using electrocardiograph. Inverse of STc (ST peak interval/SS interval^0.5) and blood ionized calcium or serum calcium concentrations were strongly correlated, and both correlation coefficients were 0.81 (P<0.001). The 95% prediction interval indicated that cows with STc >0.385 ± 0.001 sec are very likely to be hypocalcemic (blood ionized or serum calcium concentrations of <0.9 mmol/l or <7.5 mg/dl, respectively). These findings indicate that hypocalcemia in parturient cows can be non-invasively estimated using the STc.     

Spatial pattern and regeneration dynamics in a temperate Abies–Tsuga forest in southwestern Japan

This article reports the regeneration dynamics of a temperate Abies–Tsuga forest in Kirishima Yaku National Park, southwestern Japan, and examines the influence of species coexistence mediated by gap disturbances on biomass production. All trees taller than 2 m in a 1-ha plot were monitored over four growing seasons. Three growth-form groups occupied different vertical layers. Evergreen conifers and deciduous broad-leaved trees tended to be spatially segregated from evergreen broad-leaved trees, which formed thickets in the understorey. The regeneration of understorey evergreen broad-leaved trees was affected by canopy gaps. The recruitment of conifers and deciduous broad-leaved species was not observed during the four growing seasons. This suggests that regeneration is sporadic and the present environmental conditions are not favorable for these canopy species. The mortality and unsuccessful recruitment of conifers and deciduous trees appeared to cause fluctuations in the productivity of the stand. However, an abundance of canopy gaps accelerates the regrowth of shorter species, and the fluctuation of productivity resulting from the population dynamics of canopy species would be partly mitigated by the regeneration of evergreen understorey species. The horizontal and vertical heterogeneity of the temperate mixed forest was a result of the patch structures of the three growth-form groups. The different regeneration patterns among the three groups, which were driven by interactions of species-specific regeneration niches and disturbance regimes, might be an important factor in maintaining the aboveground productivity in a transitional mixed forest between warm-temperate and cool-temperate zones.     

Effects of light and microsite conditions on tree size of 6-year-old Cryptomeria japonica planted in a group selection opening

We examined the extent to which direct and indirect measures of light and microsite conditions could explain variation in tree height and diameter at the base of 6-year-old Cryptomeria japonica trees planted in a group selection opening of about 0.32 ha on a steep slope at Shiiba, Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan. We first used the gap light index (GLI) and soil thickness (ST) as directly measured indices. For an indirect measure of light, we used a between-cohort competition index (BCI) estimated from the position and total height of residual trees. For indirect measures of microsite, we examined topographic indices (slope, plan and profile curvature, average slope gradient, and relative elevation) derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) with different resolutions ranging from 2 to 10 m. The multiple linear regression using GLI and ST explained about 45% of variation in tree size, while simple regression using only GLI explained about 35%. The contribution of ST was about half of GLI. The multiple regressions using BCI and the topographic indices did not explain any more variation than using BCI alone (R ² of about 0.26). We conclude that microsite conditions with shallower soil and steeper slope have negative effects on tree growth in group selection openings, although the relative importance is smaller than light conditions. More comprehensive studies considering several openings with more heterogeneous topography including different species are needed to generalize our growth prediction using the indirect measures, which are useful for practical forest management.     

Root parameters of forest trees as sensitive indicators of acidifying pollutants: a review of research of Japanese forest trees

The root parameters of forest trees can be indicators of a changing environment. We summarize the results of root studies with regard to the effects of acidifying pollutants, especially soil acidification and aluminum toxicity, on various root parameters of Japanese forest trees under experimentally controlled conditions. All root parameters such as biomass, morphology, nutritional status, and physiology can be regarded as indicators, because, under laboratory conditions, root responses occur prior to the responses in the aboveground parts. However, considering the conditions of forest sites, the nutritional status and physiological changes are better indicators of soil acidification and Al stress than the biomass and morphological response. The currently available data suggest that the most important indicator is the Ca/Al molar ratio in roots of Japanese tree species. In order to predict and detect the initial effects of soil acidification, we postulate that the specific root response to the Ca/Al molar ratio of tree roots should be considered as a parameter for use in long-term forest monitoring sites.     

Callose in root apices of European chestnut seedlings: a physiological indicator of aluminum stress

We determined if callose formation in 1-cm-long root apices of European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) seedlings is affected by naturally occurring high concentrations of aluminum (Al) under laboratory conditions and by low base saturation (BS) of soils under forest field conditions. Under controlled conditions in the laboratory, seedlings were treated with simulated soil solutions in the presence or absence (control) of Al. One day after exposing seedlings to a simulated soil solution containing 168 microM Al, callose formation in the root apices had increased significantly. After 7 days, callose concentration in root apices was significantly correlated with the concentration of free Al3+ ions recovered in the simulated soil solution and with the concentration of Al in fine roots. At four field sites in southern Switzerland, seedlings were grown for five months in either A-horizon soil with a BS above 17% or in a B-horizon soil with a BS below 5%. Callose concentrations were significantly higher in root apices in the B horizon than in the A horizon. Callose concentrations in root apices were negatively correlated with Ca/Al molar ratio in fine roots. We conclude that callose in the root apices of European chestnut could be a useful physiological parameter for assessing Al toxicity under both laboratory and field conditions.     

Stem water transport of Lithocarpus edulis, an evergreen oak with radial-porous wood

The stem water conducting system of an evergreen broad-leaved oak, Lithocarpus edulis (Mak.) Nakai, was investigated. Evergreen broad-leaved oaks (Lithocarpus, Castanopsis, Cyclobalanopsis, Quercus) belonging to the Quercoideae are a major component of Asian monsoon forests, and are characterized by the possession of radial-porous wood. A characteristic of radial-porous wood is the development of aggregate rays between radially oriented files of vessels. We measured the distribution of vessel lumen diameters in a stem cross section and calculated the theoretical water conductivity of the wood. The radial profile of the heat pulse velocity (HPV) was measured for an intact whole tree under field conditions and compared with the theoretical distribution of water conductivity. Soft X-ray photographs of frozen stem sections indicated that most of the vessel lumina were filled with water, including those of vessels more than 20 years old. Even when vessels were relatively wide (lumen diameters > 100 microm), cavitation was negligible. The rate of water uptake from the cut stem base correlated closely with HPV (r = 0.96), and HPV closely reflected the mean volume flow per stem sectional area (SFVS) around the sensor probes. However, the ray tissue sharply inhibited heat transfer, and the positioning of the probes strongly affected the absolute value of HPV. It was also found that HPV more closely reflected the mean sap flow velocity in the vessels than did SFVS.