The diet,food selectivity and niche of Rhabdosargus sarba (Teleostei: Sparidae) in Natal estuaries

The juveniles and subadults of Rhabdosargus sarba are one of the most common components of the benthic fish community of Natal estuaries. The diet consists mainly of aquatic macrophytes and filamentous algae although a significant proportion is made up of bivalves and the amphipod Grandidierella lignorum. The last two taxa are positively selected when little plant material is consumed. R. sarba feeds during daylight with a peak in the early afternoon. The relationship between R. sarba and the very similar sympatric R. holubi and R. auriventris are discussed in relation to their diet, divergence and distribution. Resource partitioning in Natal estuaries between R. sarba, the Gerreidae and Pomadasys commersonii is also discussed.     

Influence of Tetracycline on the Expression of Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (cms) in Chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.)

To influence the expression of cytoplasmic male sterility (cms), different clone members of male sterile genotypes of chives were treated with different chemicals, especially antibiotics which are known to act as protein synthesis inhibitors. A remarkable number of male sterile plants turned to partial or full male fertility after the treatment with tetracycline HCl and tetracycline base. Pollen grains produced by tetracycline on male sterile plants were viable and able to fertilize the egg cells. By using the perennial nature of Allium schoenoprasum L. it could be shown that the fertility induced on male sterile plants by tetracycline is reversible. This could be of practical importance for the multiplication of male sterile parents in hybrid breeding. None of the chemicals had any effect on the fertility of male fertile plants. Differences in reaction indicated that genetic differences exist between male sterile plants responding to tetracycline and those which do not. The results are discussed in view of the influence of tetracycline on the mitochondrial protein biosynthesis.     

Insecticidal 2-hydroxy-3-alkyl-1,4-naphthoquinones: correlation of inhibition of ubiquinol cytochrome c oxidoreductase (complex III) with insecticidal activity

The insecticidal and in vitro activities of four homologous series of 2-hydroxy and acetoxy-3-substituted-1,4-naphthoquinones have been measured and correlated with their (Log) octanol/water partition coefficients (Log Ko/w). In vitro activity against mitochondrial complex III was only exhibited by 2-hydroxy-3-alkyl-1,4-naphthoquinones, indicating that the 2-acetoxy compounds act as proinsecticides. Good correlation was observed between in vivo activity against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae and inhibition of complex III isolated from blowfly flight muscle. Both hydroxy and acetoxy analogues of individual compounds exhibited similar levels of in vivo activity with optimum activity for analogues with Log Ko/w values of 7-8. In contrast, the acetoxy derivatives showed superior in vivo activity against the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Complex III isolated from whitefly was optimally inhibited by hydroxy analogues with lower Log Ko/w values (6.0-6.5) and was also more sensitive than the blowfly enzyme to all the compounds tested.     

解偶联蛋白及其基因多态性与能量代谢

解偶联蛋白（uncoupling proteins,UCPs）是线粒体内膜蛋白质, 目前已至少发现有5种（UCP1、UCP2、UCP3、UCP4和UCP5）,这个家族的蛋白质已经在人类、哺乳动物、禽类、鱼,甚至在植物的不同组织线粒体的内膜上被发现。UCPs 具有调节能量代谢, 促进脂肪酸的氧化作用,UCPs的基因多态性与脂肪代谢相关。     

Mitochondrial biogenesis and PGC‐1α gene expression in male broilers from ascites‐susceptible and ‐resistant lines

Ascites is a cardiovascular metabolic disease characterized by accumulation of fluid around the heart and in the abdominal cavity that eventually leads to death. This syndrome is the end‐point result of a series of metabolic incidents that are generally caused by impaired oxygen availability. Mitochondria are the major sites of oxygen consumption, therefore major contributors to oxidative stress. Genetic, metabolic and dietary factors can influence variations in mitochondrial biogenesis (mitochondrial size, number and mass) that might have an effect on oxygen consumption and reactive oxygen species production. This study evaluated the effect of genotype on PGC‐1α mRNA gene expression and mitochondrial biogenesis. These parameters were examined in male broiler chickens at 22 weeks of age from the SUS and RES lines divergently selected for ascites phenotype. From each line, five birds were sampled for right ventricle and breast muscle. Gene expression and mtDNA copy number were assessed by quantitative PCR. Results showed that birds from SUS had significantly higher PGC‐1α mRNA gene (p = .033) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (p = .038) in breast muscle. There was no difference in right ventricle PGC‐1α expression or mitochondrial DNA copy number between the two lines. These findings indicate that mitochondrial biogenesis and PGC‐1α mRNA gene expression differ between male broiler chickens from RES and SUS lines in a tissue‐specific manner.     

Polymerase chain reaction detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the chicken mitochondrial D-loop region

The D‐loop region in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced and compared among six chickens. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were observed. For six of the SNP sites, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers that had each base (A, C, G and T) as the penultimate base at the 3′ end (N2 base) and bases specific to both alleles at the 3′ end were produced to type the polymorphisms. Twenty‐one out of 96 primers succeeded in distinguishing the SNP by the presence or absence of PCR product. This method provides an easy way to discriminate SNP in chicken mtDNA.     

水稻线粒体基因orf290功能的初步研究

从红莲型不育系粤泰A(YTA)线粒体基因组中克隆并鉴定了一个6.7kb的CMS相关片段HLsp1,序列预测发现了2个orf,其中一个编码290个氨基酸,暂命名为orf290。构建带有线粒体信号肽的超表达载体35S::Rf1b5'::orf290,通过农杆菌介导转化受体保持系粤泰B(YTB),以水稻的单拷贝基因蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因(SPS)作为内参基因,以潮霉素抗性基因(hpt)作为目的检测基因,基于实时荧光定量PCR鉴定转基因T0代植株中外源基因的拷贝数,并对阳性植株进行花粉镜检和结实率统计。结果显示获得了2株单拷贝转35S::Rf1b5′::orf290植株,并且都有orf290的表达。单拷贝超表达orf290植株的平均花粉可育度30.8%,平均套袋结实率41.6%。这些结果初步证实,线粒体基因orf290可能与水稻细胞质雄性不育相关。     

Use of protocatechuic acid as the sole antioxidant in the base medium for in vitro culture of ovine isolated secondary follicles

This study evaluated the effect of the protocatechuic acid (PCA) as the sole antioxidant in the base medium for in vitro culture of ovine secondary follicles. Secondary follicles (200‐230 μm) were isolated and cultured in α‐minimal essential medium supplemented with BSA, insulin, glutamine and hypoxanthine (α‐MEM: antioxidant‐free medium) or α‐MEM also added by transferrin, selenium and ascorbic acid (α‐MEM+: with antioxidant) or α‐MEM added by PCA (56.25; 112.5; 225; 450; or 900 μg/ml). Moreover, after culture, oocytes were matured and the chromatin configuration and DNA fragmentation were evaluated. After 12 days, the treatment containing 56.25 μg/ml PCA showed higher percentage of normal follicles than control medium or the other treatments (p < .05), except for 900 μg/ml PCA (p > .05). The antrum formation was significantly higher in treatments containing 56.25, 112.5 or 900 μg/ml PCA, compared to the α‐MEM and similar (p > .05) to the other treatments. The rates of fully grown oocytes (≥110 μm) were similar (p > .05) among all treatments containing PCA and α‐MEM+, and those were superior (p < .05) than α‐MEM, except for 450 μg/ml PCA (p > .05). GSH levels and mitochondrial activity were higher (p < .05) in α‐MEM+ than in α‐MEM and similar (p > .05) to all PCA treatments. The rates of meiotic resumption and DNA fragmentation were similar (p > .05) among α‐MEM+ and 56.25 μg/ml PCA. In conclusion, PCA at 56.25 μg/ml as the sole antioxidant added to the medium for ovine isolated secondary follicle culture maintains follicular survival, GSH and active mitochondria levels, meiotic developmental competence and DNA integrity of cultured oocytes.     

Synthesis and structure–activity relationships of carbohydrazides and 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives bearing an imidazolidine moiety against the yellow fever and dengue vector,Aedes aegypti

BACKGROUND

1,3,4‐Oxadiazole and imidazolidine rings are important heterocyclic compounds exhibiting a variety of biological activities. In this study, novel compounds with oxadiazole and imidazolidine rings were synthesized from 3‐(methylsulfonyl)‐2‐oxoimidazolidine‐1‐carbonyl chloride and screened for insecticidal activities. The proposed structures of the 17 synthesized compounds were confirmed using elemental analysis, infrared (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR), and mass spectroscopy.

RESULTS

None of the compounds showed larvicidal activity at the tested concentrations against first‐instar Aedes aegypti larvae. However, nine compounds exhibited promising adulticidal activity, with mortality rates of ≥80% at 5 µg per mosquito. Further dose–response bioassays were undertaken to determine median lethal dose (LD₅₀) values. Compounds 1 , 2b , 2c , 2d , 2 g , 3b , 3c , 3 g, and 3 h were effective, with typical LD₅₀ values of about 5 ? 10 µg per mosquito against female Ae. aegypti. Compounds 2c (bearing a nitro group on the aromatic ring; LD₅₀ = 2.80 ± 0.54 µg per mosquito) and 3 h ( double halogen groups at 2,4 position on the phenyl ring; LD₅₀ = 2.80 ± 0.54 µg per mosquito) were the most promising compounds.

CONCLUSION

Preliminary mode of action studies failed to show consistent evidence of either neurotoxic or mitochondria‐directed effects. Further chemical synthesis within this series may lead to the development of new effective insecticides. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry

     

联苯胺对大鼠肝脏线粒体同工酶的表达差异研究

试验采用不同浓度的联苯胺(50、100、200 mg·kg-1)通过对大鼠进行体内染毒建立毒性作用动物模型.利用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法分析了大鼠肝脏线粒体SOD、GSH-Px、COX和Ca2 -ATPase同工酶的表达差异.结果表明,同工酶cox-L和ATPase-L只在低浓度联苯胺处理组中特异表达.分析认为,联苯胺可能经体内代谢活化后,对线粒体DNA及其转录和翻译系统产生了作用.