Cryopreservation of strip spawned sperm using non‐programmable freezing technique in the blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

In this study, a non‐programmable freezing technique has been developed with the strip spawned blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) sperm. The key parameters optimized including (1) cryoprotectant agents (CPAs); (2) cooling temperature; (3) thawing temperature; (4) sugar and amino acid supplementation and (5) sperm to egg ratio. The fertilization rate and/or integrity of plasma membrane and acrosome were used as sperm quality assessment indicators. The highest post‐thaw sperm fertilization rate of 95% was achieved, when sperm were cryopreservated in 8% dimethyl sulfoxide at 7.8 cm above the liquid nitrogen surface and thawed in a 60°C seawater bath. The addition of glucose, sucrose or trehalose in dimethyl sulfoxide did not, whereas 0.8% glycine did significantly improve the post‐thaw sperm fertilization rates. The fluorescent evaluation has demonstrated that the addition of glycine significantly improved the post‐thaw sperm acrosome integrity, revealing a positive role of glycine in the improvement of post‐thaw sperm quality in blue mussels.     

4种天津近海产贝类牛磺酸和糖胺聚糖的粗提及含量比较

以毛蚶(Arco subcrenat)、紫贻贝(Mytilus edulis)、脉红螺(Rapana venosa)和四角蛤蜊(Mactra veneriformis)的软体部分为原料,经水煮法粗提牛磺酸和酶解法粗提糖胺聚糖,并比较了4种贝类中牛磺酸和糖胺聚糖的含量。结果表明,四角蛤蜊、毛蚶、脉红螺中的牛磺酸平均含量分别为2.708、3.532、3.662g/kg,以脉红螺中牛磺酸含量最为丰富;四角蛤蜊、紫贻贝、毛蚶中糖胺聚糖平均含量为8.27%、4.53%、3.87%,以四角蛤蜊的含量最高。     

紫贻贝消化系统的组织学和组织化学研究

对紫贻贝消化系统进行了组织学和组织化学研究。紫贻贝消化系统由消化腺－肝胰遥和消化道－食道、胃（包括晶杆囊）、肠和直肠组成。消化腺为复管腺,腺上皮有消化细胞和嗜碱性细胞两种类型。消化道管壁由粘膜层、粘膜下层和外膜组成,无肌层。粘膜上皮主要为单层柱状纤毛细胞。组织化学研究表明：消化嗜碱性细胞富含蛋白质和ＲＮＡ,消化细胞富含脂类和多种酶类：蛋白酶、非特异性酯酶、脂酶、酸性磷酸酶及碱性磷酸酶。消化道中酶的     

温度和盐度对厚壳贻贝耗氧率的影响

采用实验生态学方法研究了温度和盐度对厚壳贻贝耗氧率（OR）的影响。根据厚壳贻贝的个体大小分为A、B、C 3组（壳长分别为5.72±0.18、7.12±0.14、8.40±0.19 cm,软体部干重分别为5.75±0.62、10.83±1.23、12.58±2.05 g）,温度设10℃、16℃、22℃、28℃、34℃5个梯度,盐度设14、19、24、29、34共5个梯度。结果表明：（1）温度、个体大小对厚壳贻贝的耗氧率有显著影响（F〉F0.01）,而温度和体重的交互作用对厚壳贻贝的耗氧率无显著影响（FF0.01）。盐度在14~29时,3组厚壳贻贝的耗氧率随盐度的升高而逐渐增加,当盐度升至34时耗氧率下降。厚壳贻贝单位耗氧率（ORS）与软体部干重（W）的关系可用回归方程表示为ORS=a2W-b2,a2值为0.533 9~1.487 3,平均值为0.971 6;b2值为0.307 8~0.566 9,平均值为0.431 7。     

MytiLec,a Mussel R-Type Lectin,Interacts with Surface Glycan Gb3 on Burkitt’s Lymphoma Cells to Trigger Apoptosis through Multiple Pathways

MytiLec; a novel lectin isolated from the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis); shows strong binding affinity to globotriose (Gb3: Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glc). MytiLec revealed β-trefoil folding as also found in the ricin B-subunit type (R-type) lectin family, although the amino acid sequences were quite different. Classification of R-type lectin family members therefore needs to be based on conformation as well as on primary structure. MytiLec specifically killed Burkitt''s lymphoma Ramos cells, which express Gb3. Fluorescein-labeling assay revealed that MytiLec was incorporated inside the cells. MytiLec treatment of Ramos cells resulted in activation of both classical MAPK/ extracellular signal-regulated kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK-ERK) and stress-activated (p38 kinase and JNK) Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways. In the cells, MytiLec treatment triggered expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (a ligand of death receptor-dependent apoptosis) and activation of mitochondria-controlling caspase-9 (initiator caspase) and caspase-3 (activator caspase). Experiments using the specific MEK inhibitor U0126 showed that MytiLec-induced phosphorylation of the MEK-ERK pathway up-regulated expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, leading to cell cycle arrest and TNF-α production. Activation of caspase-3 by MytiLec appeared to be regulated by multiple different pathways. Our findings, taken together, indicate that the novel R-type lectin MytiLec initiates programmed cell death of Burkitt’s lymphoma cells through multiple pathways (MAPK cascade, death receptor signaling; caspase activation) based on interaction of the lectin with Gb3-containing glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains on the cell surface.     

Evidence of Anti-Proliferative Activities in Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) By-Products

Shellfish waste components contain significant levels of high quality protein and are therefore a potential source for biofunctional high-value peptides. The feasibility of applying a pilot scale enzymatic hydrolysis process to whole Mytilus edulis and, by fractionation, recover hydrolysates presenting a biological activity of interest, was evaluated. Fractions were tested on four immortalized cancerous cell lines: A549, BT549, HCT15 and PC3. The 50 kDa fraction, enriched in peptides, presented anti-proliferative activity with all cell lines and results suggest a bioactive molecule synergy within the fraction. At a protein concentration of 44 µg/mL, the 50 kDa fraction induced a mortality of 90% for PC3, 89% for A549, 85% for HCT15 and of 81% for BT549 cell lines. At the low protein concentration of only 11 µg/mL the 50 kDa fraction still entails a cell mortality of 76% for A549 and 87% for PC3 cell lines. The 50 kDa fraction contains 56% of proteins, 3% of lipids and 6% of minerals on a dry weight basis and the lowest levels detected of taurine and methionine and highest levels of threonine, proline and glycine amino acids. The enzymatic hydrolysis process suggests that Mytilus edulis by-products should be viewed as high-valued products with strong potential as anti-proliferative agent and promising active ingredients in functional foods.     

硅烷化表面海洋细菌对厚壳贻贝稚贝附着的影响

为探讨厚壳贻贝稚贝对自然微生物膜中海洋细菌的附着行为反应,本论文研究了厚壳贻贝（Mytilus coruscus）稚贝附着与硅烷基化附着基表面、微生物膜密度以及细菌种属系统发育之间的相互关系。研究表明所测海洋细菌均能显著促进厚壳贻贝稚贝的附着;其中Staphylococcus sp. 1和Cobetia sp. 1表现出较低诱导活性,且这两株细菌形成的微生物膜密度与稚贝附着率之间无显著相关性;其他7株海洋细菌均表现出中等程度诱导活性,且所形成的微生物膜密度与稚贝附着率之间呈显著相关性。系统发育分析表明所测海洋细菌对厚壳贻贝稚贝附着的诱导活性与细菌种属无关。因而,硅烷基化表面的海洋附着细菌对厚壳贻贝附着有着显著性促进作用,本研究将为后续开展厚壳贻贝稚贝附着机制奠定了基础。     

Effect of different ions on larval metamorphosis of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Metamorphic responses of pediveliger larvae of Mytilus galloprovincialis to different ions were investigated through a series of bioassays. Effects of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) on inductive effects of these above ions were also investigated. Excess ions including Li⁺, Cs⁺, Rb⁺ and Ca²⁺ induced larval metamorphosis at 10^?3 M to 5 × 10^?2 M in 24‐h exposure assays. In continuous exposure assays, only excess Ca²⁺ showed inductive activity and induced 25% metamorphosis at 5 × 10^?2 M. Larval responses to Li⁺ and Rb⁺were inhibited by TEA, while induction of metamorphosis by Cs⁺and Ca²⁺ was independent of the presence of TEA. Thus, these ions used can be useful inducers of larval metamorphosis for application in the aquaculture industry. The finding provides new insights on the biochemical mechanism controlling larval metamorphosis in this species.     

MUSSEL CULTIVATION AS A CO-USE IN OFFSHORE WIND FARMS: POTENTIAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY

More than 50% of the annual worldwide harvest of mussels is produced in Europe. The mussel cultivation in Germany is based on an extensive on-bottom culture and depends entirely on natural resources for food, spat and space. Due to stakeholder conflicts and a lack of spat availability, mussel farmers tend to move offshore where space is not limited and adequate settlement guaranteed. Newcomers – the offshore wind farmers – are covering large areas in the German Bight which in contrast give the opportunity to use these areas in a multifunctional way by accepting mussel cultivation within the wind farms. This study compiles the basic data for offshore mussel cultivation in close vicinity to a designated offshore wind farm in the open sea of the German Bight and employs different case-scenario calculations to illustrate the impact of changing parameter values on overall profitability or non-profitability of this activity. Primary focus is placed on the production of consumer mussels but seed mussel cultivation is also taken into consideration. We show that production of consumer mussels with longline technology is sufficiently profitable even under the assumption of substantial cost increases. This is especially true, if existing capacities could be used. The cultivation of seed mussels depends on the possibility of using existing equipment. A substantial increase of seed mussel prices to at least 0.6 €, given the main cost categories remaining constant, turns this alternative into substantial profitability. This study concludes with providing some recommendations on how favorable terms or actions could further improve profitability of offshore mussel cultivation. Altogether, our results are intended to shed some light on business management topics that future offshore mariculture operators such as traditional mussel farmers should follow in order to be efficient.     

Characterization of single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers in the Mediterranean mussel,Mytilus galloprovincialis

The Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, is one of the most important aquaculture species in Europe. Appropriate molecular markers are required to evaluate genetic resources and to trace genealogies in breeding programmes for improving mussel culture. Microsatellites have been commonly applied to this purpose in other species. However, Mediterranean mussel microsatellites have demonstrated high frequencies of null alleles that hamper accurate estimates of population parameters and confident parentage inferences. As alternative markers, we have characterized in silico 25 potential single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the Mediterranean mussel from expressed sequence tag (EST) public databases. The genotyping of SNPs was performed using a single‐base extension approach. Their polymorphism was evaluated in 47 individuals from an Atlantic population. Out of the 25 potential SNPs tested, 12 were technically feasible (producing a single amplicon) and polymorphic. All were biallelic and had an unbiased heterozygosity ranging from 0.160 to 0.504. One SNP was from a mitochondrial gene. The combined potential of nuclear SNPs for parentage assignment gave an exclusion probability of a false couple of parents of 0.9471. These markers will be useful for evaluating resources and tracing genealogies in genetic breeding programmes implemented to solve the main problems of mussel culture.