The bioactivity of gonadotropin releasing hormones and its regulation in the gilthead seabream,Sparus aurata: in vivo andin vitro studies

Thein vivo andin vitro potency of native and modified forms of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) to release gonadotropin (GtH) was studied inSparus aurata and correlated with their relative susceptibility to degradation by cytosolic-bound enzymes of the pituitary, kidney, and liver. Salmon (s) GnRH and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) are equipotent whereas analogs of these peptides ((D-Arg⁶-Pro⁹NET)-sGnRH, (D-Ala⁶-Pro⁹NET)-LHRH, (D-Trp⁶)-LHRH) are superactive in inducingin vivo GtH release (at 10 μg/kg body weight). In anin vitro superfusion system of pituitary fragments all analogs are equipotent to the native peptides (at 10⁻¹⁰ to 2.5 × 10⁻⁷M). sGnRH and LHRH are rapidly degraded by cytosolic peptidases of the pituitary, liver, and kidney. The preferred site of cleavage is the Tyr⁵-Gly⁶ bond. Substitution of the position 6 glycine by D-amino acids renders the 5–6 bond resistant to degradation and shifts the main site of cleavage to the Pro⁹-Gly¹⁰NH₂ bond. Substitution at position 6 (as above) and at position 10 with Pro⁹NET results in analogs that are resistant to degradation. We propose that enzymatic cleavage terminates GnRH bioactivityin vivo and thus increased resistance to degradation is a major determinant of GnRH analog superactivity.     

Improved digestion and initial performance of whiteleg shrimp using organic salt supplements

Organic acids or their salts are promising feed additives for aquatic animals to improve growth performance. We determined the effect of supplementing diets with sodium salts (formate, acetate, lactate, propionate, butyrate, fumarate, succinate and citrate) on trypsin and chymotrypsin activities, in vitro digestibility and zootechnical performance in the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Shrimp trypsin and chymotrypsin activity increased in the presence of acetate and propionate and decreased in the presence of lactate and citrate. The highest in vitro protein digestibility of the experimental diets, using shrimp enzymes, was obtained for diets containing fumarate and succinate, which was significantly greater than the control diet (no supplements). In a growth trial, the highest final weights were in shrimp fed diets supplemented with fumarate, succinate, butyrate and propionate, increasing 53%, 46%, 38% and 29%, respectively, compared to the control. Shrimp that were fed diets with fumarate digested more feed and had a feed conversion ratio 23% higher than the control shrimp. Shrimp survival did not differ among treatments. We concluded that organic salts in the diet modify digestive enzymatic activity and in vitro protein digestibility of whiteleg shrimp. Fumarate, succinate, butyrate and propionate have potential as feed additives for L. vannamei.     

响应面法优化南极磷虾酶解液的脱氟工艺

[目的]利用响应面法对南极磷虾酶解液的脱氟工艺条件进行优化,为南极磷虾在食品工业中开发应用提供技术依据.[方法]在单因素试验的基础上,以脱氟率(Y)为响应值,选择醋酸钙添加量(A)、初始pH(B)、反应温度(C)为自变量,采用Box-Bohnken试验设计方法,研究各自变量及其相互作用对南极磷虾酶解液脱氟率的影响,并分析酶解液中主要营养成分的变化.[结果]建立二次回归方程:Y=84.94+2.75A+2.77B-2.31AC-9.70A2-8.90B2-3.20C2;醋酸钙添加量、初始pH及醋酸钙添加量与反应温度的交互作用对南极磷虾酶解液脱氟率的影响极显著(P<0.0l).南极磷虾酶解液脱氟工艺的最佳条件为:醋酸钙添加量21.5 mg/mL、初始pH 10.2、反应时间140 min、反应温度30.24℃,在此条件下的脱氟率为(84.15±1.37)%,与理论预测值(8537%)的相对误差较小.在最佳条件下脱氟后,酶解液中总氮和氨基态氮含量分别损失3.11%和2.52%,反应前后含量变化不显著(P>0.05).[结论]采用响应面法优化得到的南极磷虾酶解液脱氟工艺具有操作简单、对酶解液的营养成分影响较小等优点,有较高的可行性;建立的回归模型可用于实际预测.     

Analysis of mesh breaking loads in cotton gill nets: Possible solution to ghost fishing

ABSTRACT:   A small number of fishers in Chiba Prefecture of eastern Japan use cotton gill nets to catch Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus. To examine the advantages of cotton gill nets, we analyzed changes in mesh breaking load of a new cotton gill net used in a fishing operation. A new cotton gill net was also soaked in a seawater tank to simulate ghost fishing conditions. The average mesh breaking load of new cotton mesh was 50.3 N. This value decreased to 19.0 N after 38 days (∼912 h), and after 82 days (∼1968 h) the mesh could be easily torn (breaking load 0.07 N). Under fishing conditions, the cumulative soak time was only 744.4 h over 19 months. The average breaking load at the end of this period was 43.1 N, a strength 86% that of the presoaked mesh. The mesh breaking load of a cotton gill net continuously soaked for 744.4 h was 26.1 N, as estimated from tank experiment data. Thus, a cotton gill net maintains reasonable strength under typical use conditions, but will degrade if lost at sea.     

Evaluation of Agave lechuguilla by‐product crude extract as a feed additive for juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Agave lechuguilla is a succulent plant species, mainly distributed in the northeast of Mexico and south of the United States of America. The main use for this plant is the fibre´s extraction (known as Tampico fibres), resulting in 15% of fibres and 85% of a by‐product waste named guishe. The lechuguilla collectors, normally incinerate the guishe, thus causing environmental contamination. Interestingly, recent studies showed that guishe contains molecules with nutritional properties, such as saponins, flavonoids and sugars. Therefore, in this work, we evaluated the effect of the crude extract of guishe as a feed additive in whiteleg shrimp diets. According to that, MS‐HPLC analysis of the extract showed the presence of saponins such as diosgenin, smilagenin, hecogenin, manogenin, tigogenin hexose, yucagenin, chlorogenin, diosgenin diglucoside and the flavonol, quercetin. After chemical analysis, the crude extract was included into an experimental diet in four levels; 0% (L0%), 0.1% (L0.1%), 0.3% (L0.3%) and 0.6% (L0.6%). Dietary incorporation of the extract was evaluated by zootechnical performance, haemolymph biochemistry, histomorphology and digestive enzyme activity of shrimps. After 5‐week feeding, the L0.3% diet showed significantly higher growth and better feed utilization among treatments. A significant increase in tubule epithelium height and tubule coverage area from hepatopancreas in shrimp under L0.3% diet compared with the control diet suggest an improvement of the health and nutritional status of the shrimp. Inclusion of L0.3% and L0.6% of the crude extract resulted in a reduction in amylase activity, without effect in glucose levels in the haemolymph. Thus, we suggest that lechuguilla guishe crude extract contains nutritional molecules that may be used as a feed additive to promote shrimp productivity.     

文山州石漠化状况及成因分析

文山州石漠化面积10017．3km^2,占全州岩溶面积的59．65％,占国土面积的31．07％．目前石漠化已经成为制约文山州经济社会可持续发展最严重的生态地质环境问题,主要危害是：土地退化,环境污染日益严重;土地生态功能下降;加剧区域农民贫困．文山州石漠化的形成是由于岩溶地区地质环境脆弱,在不合理的人类活动和自然因素作用下,一些地区植被退化乃至消亡,导致水土严重流失,最终形成了连片分布的裸露石漠．     

急性病毒性坏死病毒引物酶表达及酶学活性分析

根据急性病毒性坏死病毒(acute viral necrosis virus,AVNV)ORF 024序列设计引物,以AVNV的DNA为模板进行扩增AVNV引物酶(primase)基因,同时构建表达质粒pET32a-prim,并转化至E.coli BL21(DE3)进行诱导表达。SDS-PAGE检测显示诱导表达两条蛋白条带,其中分子量为60 ku的蛋白条带与预期表达蛋白条带大小一致,另一蛋白条带分子量约为55 ku,经Western-blotting及质谱分析鉴定分子量60 ku的蛋白条带为AVNV-引物酶,而表达出的55 ku蛋白条带存在部分引物酶多肽片段。RNA结合荧光染料Pico-Green在30 min内荧光强度比较稳定,从而确定30 min为进行AVNV引物酶活性分析的最佳终止反应时间,并在引物合成实验中观察到30 min内引物酶活性较高。当使用多聚胞嘧啶寡核苷酸poly(d C)为模板时,重组引物酶能特异性催化底物GTP。0.1 mmol/L Zn2+可显著增强引物酶活性,而1mmol/L Mn2+和EDTA能抑制引物酶活性。     

滇池水环境退化与区域内物种多样性的丧失

本文论述了滇池草海的物种多样性指数由20世纪50年代的2.70(ShannonˉW iener Index)降到90年代的0.29;滇池外海在20世纪50年代末,湖水面积90%以上为海菜花群落、马来眼子菜群落等,70年代仅占20%弱,20世纪90年代末的水生植物覆盖率不及3%;分析了藻类的种群优势度向着蓝藻种群优势度不断增加的方向发展,浮游动物的多样性增加,大型底栖无脊椎动物物种结构趋向单一化,鱼类多样性指数由1957年的1.81降为1997年的0.11,滇池的物种多样性指数由20世纪60年代的1.08降到90年代的0.67,认为滇池水环境退化与物种多样性丧失呈双向恶化效应,物种多样性重建是滇池生态恢复的重要指标。     

珊瑚礁生态系统中造礁石珊瑚退化原因分析与维护技术进展

珊瑚对环境要求较高,温度、盐度、pH、重金属、悬浮泥沙、紫外线等因素都可能造成珊瑚的退化.又因为造礁石珊瑚是现代珊瑚礁的框架,本研究首先基于造礁石珊瑚的生存状况及其与珊瑚礁生态系统的密切关系,分析了其退化原因及可能产生的后果,进而从珊瑚礁生物增殖放流、人工养殖移植技术、相关功能基因研究、科学有效的监测管理等多个角度,综...