Geographic variability in taxonomic composition,standing stock,and productivity of the mesozooplankton community around the Kuroshio Current in the East China Sea

Despite the low productivity that has been thought to characterize plankton communities in the western boundary current of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, many migratory fishes risk encountering low food availability during crucial life history stages by reproducing and recruiting in the Kuroshio region (i.e., the Kuroshio Paradox). Here, we report on geographic variability in taxonomic composition, biomass, and productivity of the mesozooplankton community in the Kuroshio Current and neighboring waters in the East China Sea. Calanoid copepods were the most abundant mesozooplankton taxon throughout our sampling stations. Small copepods, which include nauplii and poecilostomatoids, and gelatinous metazoans were the next most abundant. Seasonal variability in mesozooplankton standing stock (i.e., abundance and biomass) and productivity (i.e., production rate and protein synthetase activity) exceeded spatial variability across the stations and regions. The mesozooplankton community was characterized by high biomass and production rates in the summer, as well as high abundance and protein synthetase activity in the fall. No significant differences were found for mesozooplankton standing stock and productivity in the Kuroshio Path relative to those on the continental shelf or on the outside of the Kuroshio Path. Our results indicate that the standing stock and productivity of the mesozooplankton community in the Kuroshio Path are equivalent to those on the continental shelf, and that these communities are supported by small copepods and gelatinous zooplankton. We suggest that the mesozooplankton standing stocks and productivity provide adequate food availability for migratory fishes in the Kuroshio and neighboring waters in the East China Sea.     

Effect of supplemented sericin on the development,cell number,cryosurvival and number of lipid droplets in cultured bovine embryos

Sericin was investigated as an alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for bovine embryo culture. In vitro matured oocytes were developed using 0.05%, 0.1% or 0.15% sericin. The developmental rate, cryosurvival rate and blastulation time of these embryos were compared with those of embryos developed using 5% FBS. The number of lipid droplets was compared among the blastocysts developed using 5% FBS, using 0.05% sericin and in vivo. The rate of cleavage and blastocyst formation was similar among all groups. Blastulation occurred significantly earlier in the embryos developed using 5% FBS than in those developed using sericin at any concentration (P < 0.05). At 72 h after thawing, the cryosurvival rate of the blastocysts developed using 5% FBS and 0.05% sericin were significantly higher compared with those developed using 0.1% and 0.15% sericin (P < 0.05). The blastocysts developed using 0.05% sericin and in vivo produced a significantly fewer number of medium and large lipid droplets than those developed using 5% FBS. These results suggest that the blastocysts developed using 0.05% sericin show characteristics similar to those of the blastocysts developed in vivo and that the use of sericin as an alternative to FBS is feasible.     

Generation of recombinant bovine interferon tau in the human embryonic kidney cell line and its biological activity

The objective of this study was to generate recombinant bovine interferon tau (rbIFNT) in mammalian hosts. The complementary DNA encoding bovine IFNT2 was cloned for the construction of pRcRSV‐bIFNT2 expression vector. The expression vector was transfected to 293 cells. Transfected cells harboring expression vector were selected with G418. Highly expressing clonal line was adapted to serum‐free suspension culture in a spinner flask. The recombinant protein had 24 kDa apparent molecular mass, suggesting being expressed as a glycoprotein, and was purified from serum‐free conditioned medium by the combination of Diethylaminoethanol Sepharose ion exchange and Sephacryl S‐200 HR gel filtration. A total of 7.3 mg rbIFNT was obtained from 13.5 L conditioned medium. Generated rbIFNT was biologically active in terms of antiviral activity measured by the plaque inhibition assay with Madin‐Darby bovine kidney cells and the vesicular stomatitis virus. The recombinant protein was also utilized for immunization to raise antibodies in the rabbit. The generated antibody was capable of use in both Western blotting and the binding assay. The results in the present study suggest that a certain amount of rbIFNT is raised in mammalian hosts by using conventional plasmid vector and its antibody provides useful tools for studies in the biology of bovine IFNT.