Production efficiency in New England’s oyster aquaculture industry

In coastal New England, growing oysters is a long-established practice that has exhibited a renaissance over the past few decades (Lapointe, Northeast region ocean council white paper: Overview of the aquaculture sector in New England, 2013). This industry generates millions in annual revenue, significantly boosting the economies of many coastal communities (Augusto &; Holmes, 2015 Augusto, K. &; Holmes, G. (2015). Massachusetts shellfish aquaculture economic impact study. Woods Hole, MA. Retrieved from http://web.whoi.edu/seagrant/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/01/MA-Aquaculture-Economic-Impact-Study-2015.pdf [Google Scholar]). However, oyster aquaculture has received relatively little attention from the field of economics. To our knowledge, this study represents the first evaluation of productive efficiency among oyster producers in the United States and the first comparison of oyster production methods used in this country. Our findings indicate significant potential to increase productivity by reducing inefficiency in oyster production. However, industry-wide production efficiency has been increasing between 2013 and 2015. Further analysis revealed several factors that significantly influence inefficiency in oyster production, including a grower’s education level, location and farm diversification. This study provides insights into inefficiency in oyster production, enabling governance bodies and outreach specialists to make more informed decisions regarding this industry.     

溶藻弧菌感染后凡纳滨对虾鳃组织免疫相关基因的表达

分别给凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)注射生理盐水、3×10⁶ CFU/mL(低浓度组)和9×10⁶ CFU/mL(高浓度组)溶藻弧菌(Vibrio alginolyticus)菌液, 采用荧光定量PCR技术, 检测不同处理后凡纳滨对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶基因表达量随时间的变化。结果表明, 处理42 h内, 注射生理盐水组对虾的Toll受体和IMD mRNA表达量无显著变化, 溶菌酶mRNA表达量在注射36 h后显著升高。急性感染溶藻弧菌后, 凡纳滨对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶mRNA的表达量峰值分别出现在感染后24、42和36 h; 溶藻弧菌的感染剂量不影响上述基因表达峰值的出现时间, 但显著影响上述基因的表达峰值(P<0.05), 各基因表达量峰值由大到小均依次为高浓度组、低浓度组、生理盐水组。急性感染初期, 对虾鳃组织中Toll受体mRNA表达量呈现显著下调, 而IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量在感染初期不存在显著下调现象。与感染前各基因的表达量相比, 高浓度溶藻弧菌感染组Toll受体mRNA表达量在2 h时显著下调, 低浓度溶藻弧菌感染组Toll受体mRNA表达量在3 h显著下调(P<0.05); 高浓度组IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量分别在36 h和12 h时开始有显著上调, 而低浓度组IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量则分别在42 h和24 h才有显著上调(P<0.05)。表明溶藻弧菌感染对凡纳滨对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量有显著影响, 各基因的表达量与感染进程及溶藻弧菌剂量存在一定的相关性。

     

褐牙鲆(♀)、夏鲆(♂)及其杂交子一代的ITS1序列特征分析

以雌褐牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)、雄夏鲆(P.dentatus)及其子一代为研究对象,对其核糖体基因的ITS1序列进行比较分析。结果表明,ITS1序列具有明显的种间及个体内差异。在雄夏鲆ITS1序列中仅发现1种基因类型(X型),而在雌褐牙鲆及子一代ITS1序列中发现两种差异显著的基因型(X型和Y型)。在亲本中未检测到两种类型的交换重组序列,而在子代中检测到4个X型与Y型的重组序列,说明子代ITS1区域更容易发生交换重组。进一步的遗传距离分析发现,母本与子代之间的遗传距离(0.059)明显大于父本与子代之间的遗传距离(0.018),且子代中X型片段出现的频率(85.5%)远大于Y型片段出现频率(8.7%),表明亲本双方ITS1区域的遗传信息都遗传给了子代并且X型片段的遗传信息明显占有优势,进而从分子水平上证明子代为褐牙鲆与夏鲆的杂交后代。本研究旨在分析牙鲆属亲本及子代的ITS1序列特征,为鱼类核糖体基因的研究积累数据。     

Stress mitigating and growth enhancing effect of dietary tryptophan in rohu (Labeo rohita,Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings

An experiment was conducted to study the stress mitigation and growth enhancing role of dietary l-tryptophan (TRP) under thermal stress in rohu, Labeo rohita fingerlings for 45 days. Seven hundred and twenty fishes were distributed in three major groups that are ambient temperature (26 °C), 34 and 38 °C in triplicate following a complete randomized design. Acclimation of fishes to 34 and 38 °C over average ambient temperatures were carried out at 1 °C/day. Each group was fed with a diet supplemented with 0, 0.36, 0.72 or 1.42 % l-TRP. Results showed that blood glucose and serum cortisol level were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the higher temperature groups than the ambient temperature group. Similarly, aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, CAT, superoxide dismutase activities were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the control groups (0 % l-TRP) and decreasing activities of these enzymes were observed with the increasing level of dietary l-TRP. In different temperature groups, l-TRP-supplemented groups were found to have higher (p < 0.05) growth, RGR and PER. The results obtained in the present study indicate that dietary l-TRP mitigates thermal stress and enhances growth. From the present study, we can conclude that dietary supplementation of l-TRP at the 0.72 % level in the diet is found to be optimum to reduce thermal stress even up to 38 °C in rohu, L. rohita. The baseline data obtained here could be useful for the farmers to formulate feeds to culture the fish in different agro-climatic zones.     

Age, growth, and reproductive characteristics of dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus in the waters off west Kyushu, northern East China Sea

The growth and reproductive characteristics of dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus collected in the waters off western Kyushu from May 2008 to April 2011 were determined based on scale and otolith readings and gonad histological examinations, respectively. Based on annual increments in scales and daily increments in sagittal otoliths, the von Bertalanffy growth curves in male and females were determined as $ FL_{t} = 1049[1 - \exp \{ - 0.835(t + 6.975 \times 10^{ - 14} )\} ] $ and $ FL_{t} = 938[1 - \exp \{ - 1.029(t + 6.975 \times 10^{ - 14} )\} ] $ , respectively, where FL _t is the mean fork length (mm) at age t. The spawning period was found to last from June to August for dolphinfish, based on an examination of the monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index and histological observations. Therefore, based on the relationship between the fork length and the developmental stage of the testes or ovaries, male and female dolphinfish were found to reach sexual maturity by the following spawning season after hatching in the northern East China Sea.     

Purification and Characterization of an Antioxidant Protein from Pearl Oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii)

Protein from pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii) was purified and characterized. Results showed that the pearl muscle protein (PMP) was composed of a single polypeptide with a molecular weight of approximate 11.6 kDa and contained 95.1% of the protein and 4.92% of the carbohydrate of the oyster. The polypeptide appears to be a glycoprotein, since the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the PMP shows the typical characteristics of protein and polysaccharides. The denaturation temperature of the PMP was 81.3°C by differential scanning calorimetry. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that the PMP has a highly ordered structure. The PMP (200 μg/mL) showed a high oxygen radical absorbance activity (ORAC) of 6.57 μmol Trolox/μmol protein. Its antioxidant activity was stable at temperatures from 30–80°C and pH 2–10. The antioxidant activity was significantly inhibited by Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, and EDTA and enhanced by Mn²⁺. The results suggest that the PMP could be used as a potential natural antioxidant.     

吉富罗非鱼与奥利亚罗非鱼完全双列杂交后代生长性能与肌肉营养成分的比较

以吉富罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)与奥利亚罗非鱼(O.aureus)为繁育亲本,采用完全杂交进行配组,分别对吉富罗非鱼奥利亚罗非鱼纯繁与正反交后代生长性能和肌肉营养成分进行了比较,并且研究了脂代谢相关基因mRNA水平与肌肉脂肪含量的相关性。将初始规格基本一致的4组F1罗非鱼饲养100 d后,吉富罗非鱼纯繁组F1特定生长率最高(P0.05),吉富罗非鱼奥利亚正反交组合无显著差异(P0.05),奥利亚纯繁组F1特定生长率最低(P0.05)。同时,奥利亚纯繁组F1的饲料转化率、肝体比与内脏比指数显著高于其他实验组(P0.05)。各实验组水分、灰分与粗蛋白含量间无显著差异(P0.05),吉富纯繁组F1的粗脂肪含量显著高于其他组合(P0.05)。奥利亚纯繁组F1的必需氨基酸、呈味氨基酸与氨基酸总含量均显著低于其他实验组(P0.05),4组F1的肌肉必需氨基酸组成均符合FAO/WHO的标准。吉富纯繁组F1的饱和脂肪酸、单不饱和脂肪酸、多不饱和脂肪酸以及n-6多不饱和脂肪酸含量均显著高于正反交组合与奥利亚纯繁组F1(P0.05)。肌肉FAS、LPL、HSL和G6PD mRNA水平与脂肪含量的相关性分析表明,FAS与G6PD mRNA水平与肌肉脂肪含量呈负相关,相关系数(R2)分别为0.761 5(P0.01)和0.538 7(P0.05);LPL和HSL mRNA水平与肌肉脂肪含量呈正相关,相关系数分别为0.782 5(P0.01)和0.562 4(P0.05)。研究结果表明,奥利亚纯繁组F1的生长与肌肉营养成分明显劣于其他实验组,证明杂交能够提高后代的生长性能,改良肌肉品质,增加选育的综合效果。同时,吉富罗非鱼奥利亚正反交组合间LPL与G6PD mRNA水平间无显著差异(P0.05),增加肌肉脂肪含量有助于提高LPL和HSL mRNA表达水平。     

龙须菜新品系GL 家系F1 配子体的性状分析

本研究旨在为深入构建龙须菜(Gracilaria/Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis)育种体系提供基础数据。采用DTOPSIS综合评价法对实验室构建的龙须菜GL家系的F1配子体的性状进行分析与评价,以期把F1配子体的综合性状这一模糊量化指标转化为该株系对理想解的相对接近度Ci值的量化指标,进而对各藻株的综合性状优劣进行综合分析,为未来良种的杂交以及选育提供依据。所测的100株藻体中,线性生长速率变化范围为2.0~7.3%/d,变异系数为26.79%,标准差达到1.28,各藻株之间存在明显的差异。藻株的分枝数分布很不集中,变异极为显著,其平均数为1.93个,标准差为0.8,变异系数为41.17%,差异明显,变异幅度相对很大。主枝基部直径变化范围1.4~2.2 mm,标准差达到0.18,变异系数在3个性状中最小,为9.87%。线性生长速率、分枝数、基部直径等性状分布均呈现明显的正态分布特征,标准差分析显示,各性状相对本身参数变化幅度较大,说明F1配子体存在一定的性状变异,可以挑选性状差异大的藻种进行杂交以期获得优良藻种。DTOPSIS综合评价分析显示20、47、93、6、31株系综合性状的评价值比较高,为后期人工选育优良藻种提供依据。     

Effects of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-carnitine against H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>-induced oxidative stress in grass carp ovary cells (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ctenopharyngodon idellus</Emphasis>)

This study was designed in vitro to investigate the effects of l-carnitine against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in a grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) ovary cell line (GCO). GCO cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of l-carnitine, followed by incubation with 2.5 mM H₂O₂ for 1 h to induce oxidative damage. The results indicated that adding l-carnitine at concentrations of 0.01–1 mM into the medium for 12 h significantly increased cell viability. Pre-treatment with l-carnitine at concentrations of 0.1–5 mM for 12 h significantly inhibited 2.5 mM H₂O₂-induced cell viability loss. The significant decreases in the level of reactive oxygen species and cell apoptosis were observed in 0.5 mM l-carnitine group compared to the H₂O₂ group. Malondialdehyde values of all of the l-carnitine groups were significantly lower than those of the H₂O₂ group, while total glutathione levels of all of the l-carnitine groups were significantly higher than of the H₂O₂ group. The activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as total superoxide dismutase (0.1 and 0.5 mM l-carnitine), catalase (0.5 mM l-carnitine) and γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (0.5 and 1 mM l-carnitine), was significantly increased. In addition, pre-treatment of l-carnitine in GCO cells exposed to 2.5 mM H₂O₂ significantly increased the mRNA expression of copper, zinc superoxide dismutase, catalase (0.5 mM l-carnitine), glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (0.1–1 mM) and glutathione peroxidase (0.1 mM l-carnitine). In conclusion, l-carnitine promotes GCO cell growth and improves antioxidant function, it plays a protective role against oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ in GCO cells, and the appropriate supplemental amount of l-carnitine is 0.1–1 mM.     

Trypsin Enzyme from Viscera of Common Kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia): Purification,Characterization, and Its Compatibility with Oxidants and Surfactants

The purification of trypsin from the common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia) viscera (pyloric caeca) resulted in a 28.3-fold increase and 12% yield by ammonium sulfate precipitation (30–60%), Sephadex G-75, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Trypsin showed a molecular weight of 23.2 kDa and appeared as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), native-PAGE, and zymography. The trypsin had optimal activity at pH 8.0 and 60°C for the hydrolysis of α-N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-ρ-nitroanilide hydrochloride (BAPNA) substrate. Trypsin was stable up to 50°C and at pH range of 7.0–10.0. Activity was significantly inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) and N-ρ-tosyl-L-lysine-chloromethylketone (TLCK) inhibitors (p < 0.05). The enzyme was relatively stable toward oxidizing agents, retaining 59.7 and 98.0% of its initial activity after 1 h incubation in the presence of 15% H₂O₂ and 1% sodium perborate, respectively. Trypsin was significantly activated by surfactants and Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Mn²⁺ and inactivated by Fe²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Al³⁺, Ba²⁺, and Co²⁺ (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, Na⁺ and K⁺ had no significant effect on trypsin activity (p > 0.05). The purified trypsin showed significantly higher catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m) than porcine pancreatic trypsin against BAPNA and N-α-p-Tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (TAME) substrates (p < 0.05).     

草鱼天然抗性相关巨噬蛋白基因的表达特征与蛋白表达

为探讨Nramp基因在草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)免疫应答中的作用,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术,对比研究了Nramp基因在草鱼不同发育阶段、不同组织及嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)攻毒感染后4个组织不同时间的差异表达,并利用原核表达技术对草鱼Nramp基因ORF区642 bp的目的片段进行蛋白表达,获得40 k D的融合蛋白。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,Nramp在草鱼胚胎发育过程中的表达量随着发育时间的增加而逐渐增强,在幼鱼期的表达量达到最大。成年健康草鱼不同组织中的表达量差异显著(P0.05),在肝中的表达量最高,其次是在脾、头肾、肠中的表达量较高,而在眼和鳔中的表达量最低。草鱼感染嗜水气单胞菌后,在头肾、肝、脾、肠中Nramp的表达量都显著上升(P0.05),在头肾中感染12 h后显著上升,48 h达到最大,在72 h和96 h时又显著下调,在7 d时表达量继续下调而逐渐回归到初始水平;在肝中Nramp基因的表达量在4 h时出现下调,在12 h又显著上调,随后在24 h出现下调,在48 h又上调,72 h达到最大并保持较高水平到7 d;在肠中m RNA表达量在12 h显著上调,48 h达到最大,在72 h和96 h显著下调,在7 d时表达量基本回归到初始水平;在脾中m RNA表达量在4 h开始上升,12 h达到最大,在24 h和48 h表达水平显著下调,在7 d时表达量回归到初始水平。草鱼感染致病菌可引起免疫相关组织中Nramp的表达量上升,说明Nramp在硬骨鱼类的天然免疫反应过程中发挥着重要作用。     

信江发现溯河洄游型刀鲚的实证研究

利用电子探针微区分析技术,对2014年8月1日采自江西省余干县瑞洪镇信江(鄱阳湖水系五大河流之一)江段的刀鲚(Coilia nasus)的矢耳石进行了锶和钙的微化学分析研究。元素定量线分析表明,样品的锶钙比值(Sr/Ca×103)波动显著,不仅具有对应淡水生活的低值(Sr/Ca×1033),而且出现了对应于海水生活的高值(3Sr/Ca×1037),显示出其典型的溯河洄游特征。耳石Sr含量的面分析结果与之相同,均具有对应淡水生活的低值(蓝色)区域和海水生活的高值(绿色)区域。这两种耳石微化学类型首次直观地证实,目前距长江河口约1000 km的信江中存在洄游型刀鲚。     

工厂化循环水养殖条件下云纹石斑鱼消化道产酶菌的分离鉴定

采用16S r DNA-PCR菌群分离鉴定的方法,对循环水养殖条件下云纹石斑鱼(Epinehelus moara)幼鱼的胃、幽门盲囊、前肠、中肠和后肠的菌群结构进行了鉴定,用产酶菌筛选培养法对产消化酶的菌株进行了分离鉴定,并测试了各菌株消化酶的活力。研究发现,云纹石斑鱼幼鱼消化道内可培养的主要菌群为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、微小杆菌属(Exiguobacterium)、不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)、寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)和葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus),其中产消化酶的菌株占可培养菌的55.6%。在产酶菌中,同一株菌产3种酶的有5株;产2种酶的有9株;中肠和后肠的菌株数最为丰富,胃次之,幽门盲囊和前肠菌群种类较少;产脂肪酶的菌株都集中在中肠。产消化酶的菌株主要以产蛋白酶和淀粉酶为主,且产酶量丰富,产蛋白酶活力最高达(87.732±1.134)U/m L;淀粉酶活力为(77.176±0.599)~(73.458±0.574)U/m L;产纤维素酶的菌仅一株,且酶活力较低。分析得知,消化道的菌群结构直接影响了外源性消化酶的种类与活性。本研究为工厂化循环水养殖条件下产酶有益菌的筛选提供了理论依据。     

不同养殖模式下雌核发育彭泽鲫雌雄鱼性别分化相关基因的表达差异

将同一批经雌核发育产生的F1彭泽鲫(Carassius auratus var.pengze)仔鱼(Pcc)分别置于实验室和池塘进行养殖,结果发现,与池塘养殖雄鱼比例极少相比,实验室养殖中出现了高比例的雄鱼。实验室养殖Pcc F1雄雌比例为(43.6±3.0)%,而池塘养殖Pcc F1雌雄比为(4.7±1.2)%。本研究比较了不同养殖模式下雌雄鱼性腺分化相关基因的表达,结果发现除Pcc-vasa、Pcc-esr1和Pcc-esr2b外,实验室养殖Pcc F1精巢中性腺分化、受体、类固醇合成酶类基因表达极显著(P0.01)或显著(P0.05)高于卵巢中对应基因的表达量。对于池塘养殖的Pcc F1,除Pcc-amh、Pcc-dmrt1b、Pcc-dmrt1c、Pcc-foxl2、Pcc-vasa和Pcc-esr2b外,精巢中性腺分化和受体基因表达极显著(P0.01)或显著(P0.05)高于卵巢中对应基因的表达量;但精巢中绝大部分类固醇合成酶类基因的表达量极显著低于卵巢(P0.01)。实验室和池塘养殖Pcc F1雌雄出现差异表达的基因主要是类固醇合成酶类及调控芳香化酶的转录因子,这些基因的差异表达可能与雌雄激素的合成或调控相关,从而导致不同养殖模式出现不同比例的雄鱼。     

Molecular cloning and biochemical characterization of medaka (Oryzias latipes) lysosomal neu4 sialidase

Glycoconjugates are known to be involved in many physiological events in vertebrates. Sialidase is one of the glycosidases, which removes sialic acid from glycoconjugates. In mammals, the properties and physiological functions of sialidases have been investigated, while there is little understanding of fish sialidase. Here, to investigate the significance of fish neu4 sialidase, neu4 gene was cloned from medaka brain mRNA and identified. Sialidase-specific motifs (GPG, YRVP and Asp-Box) were well conserved in the medaka neu4 polypeptide. Optimal pH of medaka neu4 sialidase was 4.6, but its activity was sustained even at neutral and weak alkaline pH. The neu4 considerably cleaved sialic acid from 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-α-d-neuraminic acid and sialyllactose, but not from ganglioside and fetuin, which are good substrates for human NEU4. neu4 activity was mostly detected in mitochondria/lysosome fraction after biochemical fractionation, and indirect immunofluorescence assays revealed neu4 localization in lysosome in neu4 overexpressed cells. Next, developmental change in medaka neu4 and other sialidase mRNA levels were estimated by real-time PCR. Each sialidases showed different expression patterns in embryonic development: neu4 was up-regulated at late developmental stage in embryo, and neu3a mRNA level was quite high in 0.5 dpf. On the other hand, neu3b expression was drastically increased after hatching, suggesting that each sialidase may play a different role in embryonic development.     

黄斑蓝子鱼LC-PUFA 合成代谢与渗透压调节的关系研究

为探讨黄斑蓝子鱼(Siganus canaliculatus)长链多不饱和脂肪酸(long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids,LC-PUFA)合成代谢与渗透压调节的关系,本研究以鱼油(FO)和混合植物油(苏子油与双低菜籽油,VO)为脂肪源配制两种等氮等脂饲料,投喂饲养在3种盐度(10、20和32)下的黄斑蓝子鱼幼鱼8周后,分析了各处理组幼鱼的生长性能和鳃的磷脂脂肪酸组成、Na+/K+-ATPase(NKA)活力及其基因表达。结果显示,相同盐度下,VO组和FO组鱼的生长性能差异不显著(P0.05);FO组鱼鳃磷脂中的n-3 LC-PUFA含量显著高于VO组(P0.05),但VO组鱼的n-6 LC-PUFA水平显著高于FO组(P0.05);VO组鱼鳃的NKA酶活力及其m RNA表达量都显著高于FO组(P0.05)。不同盐度下,无论VO组还是FO组的鱼,盐度10组鱼的生长性能显著低于盐度20和32组(P0.05),而其鳃的LC-PUFA含量、NKA酶活力及其m RNA表达量都显著高于盐度20和32组(P0.05),各指标在后两个盐度组之间差异不显著(P0.05)。由此可见,盐度10对黄斑蓝子鱼具有一定的胁迫性,导致其生长性能较差。摄食鱼油脂肪源饲料,可以提高鱼鳃磷脂的n-3 LC-PUFA水平;而摄食植物脂肪源饲料时,鱼体可能通过自身合成的n-6LC-PUFA调控鳃的NKA基因表达及其酶活力以调节渗透压。     

Environmental Effects on Seafood Availability,Safety, and Quality (Chemical & Functional Properties of Food Components). Edited by E. Grażyna Daczkowska-Kozon and Bonnie Sun Pan

Trypsin, with molecular weight of 28 kDa from the intestine of genetically improved Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and anion-exchange chromatography. Purified trypsin had maximal activity at pH 8.0 and 60°C for hydrolysis of N _α-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester. The enzyme was stable at temperatures up to 50°C and pH range of 6.0–11.0. Its activity was strongly inhibited by metal ions such as Pb²⁺ and Fe³⁺ and protease inhibitors including soybean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Also, the ion Ca²⁺ slightly inhibited this activity. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K _m) and catalytic constant (K _cat) of purified trypsin were 0.036 mM and 152 s^?1, respectively. Furthermore, trypsin contained low amounts of hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids as well as β-sheet (20.2%) and β-turn (25.0%).     

Metabolic and phylogenetic profiles of microbial communities from a mariculture base on the Chinese Guangdong coast

This study examined the phylogenetic and metabolic features of microbial communities in Baisha Bay mariculture areas of Nan’ao Island, a mariculture base on the Chinese Guangdong coast. Large seaweed (Gracilaria lemaneiformis) cultivation zones (LZ), fish culture zones (FZ), and control zones (CZ) were sampled. According to community-level physiological profiling, d-mannitol, d-mannitol/α-d-lactose, and d-mannitol/α-cyclodextrin were the carbon sources with the highest utilization rates in CZ, LZ, and FZ, respectively (R _s  > 1.9). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the dominant bacteria in CZ and LZ were Alphaproteobacteria (39.9 and 34.5%, respectively), whereas in FZ they were Flavobacteria (32.2%). The Shannon diversity in CZ and LZ was significantly higher than in FZ (P < 0.05). Some opportunistic pathogens, such as Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas and Loktanella, were abundant in FZ. The microbial communities and most of the dominant bacteria in FZ were more affected by environmental factors including salinity, chemical oxygen demand and total phosphorus. Some bacteria, such as Brevundimonas and Polaribater, have the potential to degrade agar in seaweed, and were isolated from samples rich in algae which are dominant in LZ. The cultivation of G. lemaneiformis created the notable structures and functions of macroalgae-associated bacterial communities that were less affected by the environmental factors examined.