Induction of ectodermal cells from vegetal-endodermal blastomeres of amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaunese) embryos by the calcium ionophore A23187

Timing of vegetal-endodermal cell determination in amphioxus embryos remains uncertain. We tentatively tested effects of A23187, the calcium ionophore, on the development of vegetal blastomeres isolated at the 16-cell stage. It was found that when vegetal blastomeres committed to endoderm were treated with A23187 prior to gastrulation, they were transformed into ectodermal cells as evidenced by the cell morphology and function characteristic of epidermis. However, the developmental fate of the same blastomeres untreated or treated with DMSO at the same stage or of those treated with A23187 after gastrulation remained unchanged. Thus, vegetal-endodermal cells in amphioxus embryos are not irreversibly determined before the gastrula stage, and artificial increase in intracelluar Ca²⁺ concentration can induce transdetermination of the predetermined endodermal cells into ectodermal cells. Project 39470091 supported by NSFC and partly supported by Shandong Natural Science Foundation, Grant No.93D0140.     

Interplay between amphioxus complement with sea bass macrophages: Opsonic activity of amphioxus humoral fluids

Previous studies have shown the existence of a complement system in the amphioxus Branchiostoma japonicum. However, whether it has an opsonic activity similar to that of vertebrates remains unknown. We demonstrated that the humoral fluid (HF) of amphioxus promoted the phagocytosis of yeast cells with sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus) macrophages, whereas the C3-depleted and heated HF significantly lost the phagocytosis-promoting capacity. In addition, the precipitation of factor B (Bf) led to a marked loss of opsonic activity. Moreover, C3 fragments in the HF were found to bind to yeast cell surfaces. The results indicate that the amphioxus complement system is an important element involved in the opsonic activity, which promotes the sea bass macrophage phagocytosis by tagging yeast cells with C3 fragments via the activation of alternative complement pathway.     

INDUCTION OF ECTODERMAL CELLS FROM VEGETAL- ENDODERMAL BLASTOMERES OF AMPHIOXUS(BRANCHIOSTOMA BELCHERI TSINGTAUNESE) EMBRYOS BY THE CALCIUM IONOPHORE A23187

INTRODUCnONAInPhioxusl6-celleInbryosconsistoftwotiersofblastomeres,eighboInalblas-tomeres,A8,andeightvegetalblastomeres,V8(Fig.l).Tungetal.(l958)shOWedthaV8isolatedatthel6-cellstage,whenculndexplan,gaVeriseInainlytointestineandoccasionalltonotochoal,muscleandneUraltube,butneverformedepidends-bendng-ly,thedeveloPmentalfateofV8blastomeresap~tobedetendnedatthel6-cellStag.HOWeVer,thesamauthors(l961)shoWedIaterthatifvegetal-mostblastomersatthe32-cellstage,thedescendansofV8,wereisolateda…     

Initiation of primary cell culture from amphioxus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense</Emphasis>

Amphioxus, a cephalochordate, is an important model fish for studies in evolution and comparative biology. A successful cell culture from amphioxus tissues in vitro would help understanding some basic issues. To determine the optimal culture conditions for proliferation of amphioxus cells, primary cultures were initiated from buccal cirri, tail, gill, gut and metapleural fold of amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense. The media tested were L-15, F-12, M 199, MEM, DMEM, PRMI 1640 and LDF, each was supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum. The optimal conditions include tail tissue cultured in L-15 or F-12 with supplement of 20% FBS and 1.5% NaCl at about 25°C. Supported by Doctoral Initial Fund of Ludong University (No.43304)     

Transcriptional changes in epigenetic modifiers associated with gene silencing in the intestine of the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka), during aestivation

The sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, undergoes aestivation to improve survival during periods of high-temperature. During aestivation, the metabolic rate is depressed to reduce the consumption of reserved energy. We evaluated the role of epigenetic modification on global gene silencing during metabolic rate depression in the sea cucumber. We compared the expression of epigenetic modifiers in active and aestivating sea cucumbers. The expression of three genes involved in DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling (DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1, Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2), and Chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 5) was significantly higher during aestivation (Days 20 and 40). Similarly, we observed an increase in the expression of genes involved in histone acetylation (Histone deacetylase 3) and Histone-binding protein RBBP4) during the early (Days 5 and 10) and late phases (Days 20 and 40) of aestivation. There was no change in the expression of KAT2B, a histone acetyltransferase. However, the expression of histone methylation associated modifiers (Histone-arginine methyltransferase CARMER and Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase MLL5) was significantly higher after 5 d in the aestivating group. The results suggest that the expression of epigenetic modifiers involved in DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone acetylation, and histone methylation is upregulated during aestivation. We hypothesize that these changes regulate global gene silencing during aestivation in A. japonicus.     

鞍带石斑鱼人工繁殖及胚胎发育研究

为建立鞍带石斑鱼(Epinephelus lanceolatus)人工繁殖技术,研究了鞍带石斑鱼亲鱼培育、催产及胚胎发育过程。根据性腺检查及催产结果,判定鞍带石斑鱼在广东的繁殖季节为每年的7-9月份,产卵水温在28~31℃。使用10~12尾雌鱼和3尾雄鱼搭配进行催产实验,亲鱼未出现发情和追尾现象,虽能产卵但均未受精,通过人工授精可得受精卵。对鞍带石斑鱼胚胎发育进行了观察,详细描述从受精卵到初孵仔鱼的28个具体发育时期的形态特征和发育时间,结果表明,将鞍带石斑鱼胚胎发育划分为卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期和器官形成期。在水温(27±0.5)℃、盐度31.0、pH 7.8的海水中,鞍带石斑鱼胚胎历时25 h 40 min完成整个胚胎发育孵化出膜。     

Expression and localization of a novel phosducin-like protein from amphioxus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Branchiostoma belcheri</Emphasis>

A full length amphioxus cDNA, encoding a novel phosducin-like protein (Amphi-PhLP), was identified for the first time from the gut cDNA library of Branchiostoma belcheri. It is comprised of 1 550 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 241 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 28 kDa. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a tissue-specific expression pattern of Amphi-PhLP with the high levels in the ovary, and at a lower level in the hind gut and testis, hepatic caecum, gill, endostyle, and epipharyngeal groove, while it was absent in the muscle, neural tube and notochord. In the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the expression plasmid pEGFP-N1/Amphi-PhLP, the fusion protein was targeted in the cytoplasm of CHO cells, suggesting that Amphi-PhLP is a cytosolic protein. This work may provide a framework for further understanding of the physiological function of Amphi-PhLP in B. belcheri. Supported by the Pilot Projects of Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-211-03 and MGE2008KG06)     

Morphological and functional studies on the epidermal cells of amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense) at different developmental stages

Epidermal cells of amphioxus at different developmental stages were investigated by electron microscopy and colloidal carbon tracing experiments. Amphioxus epidermal cells showed different ultrastructural characteristics at larval and adult stages. The epidermal cells at all larval stages studied (24–96 h) had numerous vesicles containing electron dense materials in their apical cytoplasm. In tracing experiments, carbon particles were found in apical vesicles and interoellular spaces. Under scanning electron microscope, many crater-like protrusions were observed on the surface of the cells. These results indicated that amphioxus larval epidermal cells may be capable of endocytosis. The epidermal cells of 3-month and adult amphioxus were obviously secretory ones characterized by well-developed peripheral filaments, a prominent Golgi apparatus and abundant apical secretory vesicles. This study also showed that adult amphioxus body surface mucus contained lectin that could agglutinate human red blood cells. The authors propose that the epidermal cells of amphioxus larva and adult may contribute to the immune defense of the amimal by different means. Project 3860811 supported by NSFC and study also supported by the Shandong Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 92D1144).     

Molecular cloning and mRNA expression analysis of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) from fast skeletal muscle of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella

The myosin heavy chain (MyHC) is one of the major structural and contracting proteins of muscle. We have isolated the cDNA clone encoding MyHC of the grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella. The sequence comprises 5 934 bp, including a 5 814 bp open reading frame encoding an amino acid sequence of 1 937 residues. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 69% homology to rabbit fast skeletal MyHC and 73%–76% homology to the MyHCs from the mandarin fish, walleye pollack, white croaker, chum salmon, and carp. The putative sequences of subfragment-1 and the light meromyosin region showed 61.4%–80% homology to the corresponding regions of other fish MyHCs. The tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expressions of the MyHC gene were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The MyHC gene showed the highest expression in the muscles compared with the kidney, spleen and intestine. Developmentally, there was a gradual increase in MyHC mRNA expression from the neural formation stage to the tail bud stage. The highest expression was detected in hatching larva. Our work on the MyHC gene from the grass carp has provided useful information for fish molecular biology and fish genomics.     

Variations of ion-transport enzyme activities during early development of the shrimps <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fenneropenaeus chinensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marsupenaeus japonicus</Emphasis>

The ion-transport enzyme activities were studied in the nauplii 1–2, zoea 1–3, mysis 1–3, and postlarva 1–7 of the shrimps Marsupenaeus japonicus and Fenneropenaeus chinensis. The results showed that total ATPase, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, and V-ATPase (V-type H⁺-ATPase) activities increased during the early development for both the species, from zero in nauplii to stable levels after zoea stage. The enzyme activities of the latter species were significantly higher than those of the former species after zoea stage (F>F _0.05). The contributions of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, V-ATPase and HCO₃ ⁻-ATPase to the total ATPase activity of the two species varied in different developmental stages and accounted for 40%–70%, 22%–46% and 2%–13% in M. japonicus from zoea to postlarva stage, whilst the shares of them were 42%–69%, 28%–44% and 2.5%–22%, respectively in F.chinensis. These findings suggest the possible culture of the two species with varying water quality, especially the salinity and pH.     

苏氏圆腹胚胎发育的初步观察

观察两批苏氏圆腹受精卵的胚胎发育,描述并记录胚胎发育各期的形态特征及发育时间。结果表明:苏氏圆腹成熟卵呈圆球形,淡黄色,富有光泽,卵黄分布均匀,相对密度略大于水,卵径0.93～1.11 mm,平均0.98±0.19 mm。受精卵吸水后呈微黏性,属黏性卵,卵膜略膨胀,卵径0.99～1.15 mm,平均1.08±0.27 mm。苏氏圆腹胚胎发育属于盘状卵裂,与其他淡水硬骨鱼类基本相似。其发育过程可分为:受精卵、卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠期、神经胚期、器官分化期、出膜期和初孵仔鱼。在水温26±1℃的条件下,苏氏圆腹胚胎孵化历时24 h 45 min,总积温640.90 h.℃。初孵仔鱼体全长3.20～3.60 mm。     

MORPHOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL STUDIES ON THE EPIDERMAL CELLS OF AMPHIOXUS (BRANCHIOSTOMA BELCHERI TSINGTAUENSE) AT DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES

ImODUcrroNTheVertchrateepidennisisinintirnatecontaCtwiththeenvironmentandre~environmentaladaptions.TheepidermisofterreStrialanbolsiskeratinedwhilethatofamPhibiousandaquaticfonnsisrelataltomucus-produCti0n.Theepidennisadsasafi-nalbatherbetweentheorganismanditsenvironmentandoneofitSrnainfunCtionsistoproteCttheorganismagainstextemalpathogens.lnadditiontoIneCanicalproedonofthebody,theepidertnisofamPhibiansandfishescansededinsandotherantibacterialpeptidesthathelpinthebonedefenSeoftheanhal(Su…     

Quantitative comparison of the expression of myogenic regulatory factors in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) embryos and adult tissues

MyoD, Myf5, and myogenin are myogenic regulatory factors that play important roles during myogenesis. It is thought that MyoD and Myf5 are required for myogenic determination, while myogenin is important for terminal differentiation and lineage maintenance. To better understand the function of myogenic regulatory factors in muscle development of flounder, an important economic fish in Asia, real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to characterize the expression patterns of MyoD, Myf5, and myogenin at early stages of embryo development, and in different tissues of the adult flounder. The results show that, Myf5 is the first gene to be expressed during the early stages of flounder development, followed by MyoD and myogenin. The expressions of Myf5, yoD, and myogenin at the early stages have a common characteristic: expression gradually increased to a peak level, and then gradually decreased to an extremely low level. In the adult flounder, the expression of the three genes in muscle is much higher than that in other tissues, indicating that they are important for muscle growth and maintenance of grown fish. During embryonic stages, the expression level of MyoD might serve an important role in the balance between muscle cell differentiation and proliferation. When the MyoD expression is over 30% of its highest level, the muscle cells enter the differentiation stage.     

CYTOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF GAMETOGENESIS OF SCALLOPS, ARGOPECTEN IRRADIANS AND CHLAMYS FARRERI

Histological characteristics of gametogenesis of two kinds of scallops, gonochoric Chinese scallop, Chlamys farreri and hermaphroditic bay scallop, Argopecten irradians were investigated in this study. Spermatogenesis in C. farreri has different developmental stages: spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, second spermatocyte, spermatid and spermatozoon. A large number of same developmental stage spermatic cells converge at a definite area of the testis. Premeiotic, previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes can be found during oogenesis in C. farreri, where oocyte distribution is obviously irregular. The A. irradians gonad consists of two different parts in one individual: one part functions as testis, the other as ovary. Between these two parts is a special appearance area, where a large number of spermatic cells are bound with two layers of acellular substance with many oocytes in it.     

Development of suspended conchocelis ofPorphyra haitanensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

This Mar. 1993 to Aug. 1994 study on suspended conchocelis ofPorphyra haitanensis showed that there were three patterns for development of vegetative filaments: filaments to filaments by “budding”; filaments to sporangial branchlets by “budding”, or cell swelling. There were also three patterms for sporangial branchlet development: vegetatively propagating, changing into conchospores, or dying. Each developmental stage had one or more different developmental directions between vegetative filaments and sporangial branchlets. Developments from conchosporangial branchlets to conchospores were sequential and irreversible. Although sporangial branchlets formed at 29°C could give rise to filaments, they could not propagate as healthily under the same conditions as those formed at 25°C did. Probably the crucial period of plant cell differentiation is in the late stage of sporangial branchlets. In line with the developmental directions of different stages, the authors regulated the development of conchocelis to get ideal different developmental stages materials to obtain very developmentally homogeneous stages, including filaments and sporangial branchlets. Contribution No 3283 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Study supported by the Climbing Project B PD-B6-4-2 of the State Science and Technology Commission of China.     

Molecular identification,expression pattern,and in-vitro bioactivity analysis of insulin-like growth factor 2 in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are key regulators of development and growth. Here, we characterized the igf2 gene from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and determined its temporal and spatial expression. We set up an in-vitro protein expression system in eukaryotic human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells and explored its effects on cell proliferation. The flounder igf2 cDNA contained a 648-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 215 amino acids (aa), which spanned the complete signal peptide (47 aa), mature peptide (70 aa), and E domain (98 aa). In adult flounder, igf2 mRNA was detected in all selected tissues. In early development, igf2 mRNA was detected throughout development from unfertilized eggs to hatching-stage embryos. In-situ hybridization analysis indicated that igf2 mRNA was specially expressed in the brain region, floor plate, hypochord, otic vesicle, and pectoral fin during embryogenesis. Western blotting analysis indicated that the soluble recombinant flounder IGF2 protein was successfully produced through eukaryotic expression in HEK293T cells. In addition, the recombinant IGF2 protein significantly promoted the proliferation of human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and HEK293T cells. These results provide new information about the structural and functional conservation, expression patterns, and biological activity of the igf2 in teleosts.

     

Production of DMS and DMSP in different physiological stages and salinity conditions in two marine algae

Dimethylsulfide(DMS) and dimethylsulfoniopropionate(DMSP) production by Scrippsiella trochoidea and Prorocentrum minimum was investigated to characterize the effects of physiological stage and salinity on DMS and DMSP pools of these two marine phytoplankton species.Axenic laboratory cultures of the two marine algae were tested for DMSP production and its conversion into DMS.The results demonstrated that both algal species could produce DMS,but the average concentration of DMS per cell in S.trochoidea(12.63 fmol/L) was about six times that in P.minimum(2.01 fmol/L).DMS and DMSP concentrations in algal cultures varied significantly at different growth stages,with high release during the late stationary growth phase and the senescent phase.DMS production induced by three salinities(22,28,34) showed that the DMS concentrations per cell in the two algal cultures increased with increasing salinity,which might result from intra-cellular DMSP up-regulation with the change of osmotic stress.Our study specifies the distinctive contributions of different physiological stages of marine phytoplankton on DMSP and DMS production,and clarifies the influence of salinity conditions on the release of DMS and DMSP.As S.trochoidea and P.minimum are harmful algal bloom species with high DMS production,they might play an additional significant role in the sulfur cycle when a red tide occurs.     

Description of the biology of Caspian vimba, Vimba vimba (Linnaeus, 1758), in Gorgan Bay-Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge (southeast Caspian Sea)

We collected Vimba vimba throughout the spawning season (mid April to mid June, 2007) in Gorgan Bay (south-western Iran) and investigated its age, growth, and reproductive traits. The maximum age was 5⁺ years. Both sexes grew allometrically (positive for males: b=3.140 9 and negative for females: b=2.791 4). The von Bertalanffy growth functions were described by the formulae L _t =32.565(1-e^{−0.184(t+0.530)}) for males and L _t =35.950(1-e^{−0.179(t+0.529)}) for females. The overall sex ratio was balanced, but males were predominant in the smaller size classes and females in the larger size classes. Based on the gonadosomatic index (GSI) values, spawning appears to occur between late April and late May in the bay. The highest mean GSI was 6.44 for males in early May and 20.36 for females in late April. Absolute fecundity varies from the minimum of 5 436 eggs for age 3⁺ fish to the maximum of 36 141 eggs for age 5⁺ fish. Fecundity was also positively correlated with fish size (length and weight). Egg diameter ranged from 1.05 to 1.70 mm in the mean of 1.42 mm. There was no correlation between female size and ova diameter.     

CO2 concentration and flux near ground in marsh of the Sanjiang plain of Northeast China

There is limited information available on CO₂ concentration and flux over marsh. The objective of this work was to characterize CO₂ concentration and flux within and above marsh plant (Carex lasiocarpa Ehrh. and C. pseudocuraica F. Schm) canopy at heights 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m. CO₂ concentration was measured sequentially every 3 hours by using an infrared gas analyzer. Soil and air temperature, wind speed, net radiation and soil heat flux were also measured simultaneously. Extremely daily minimum and maximum CO₂ concentration ranged from 250 to 754 μmd/mol for the 4-year work. The typical minimum and maximum values ranged from 314 to 464 μmol/mol at the height of marsh plant (about 0.5 m) during the fruiting period and mature date. The seasonal changes in CO₂ concentration show that the minimum CO₂ concentration occurred in the fruiting period and mature date, and both of their minimum values were 314 μmol/mol. This illustrates that CO₂ consumed by photosynthesis was stable during the period. The flux of CO₂ can be thought as a turbulent diffusion phenomenon. By micrometeorological methods, the diurnal CO₂ fluxes were measured in the flowering period, fruiting period, early mature date, late mature date and yellow-ripe stage. Their values were −0.18, 38.15,24.13,10.9 and 4.91 μmol/mol respectively.     

Development study on some digestive enzymes of Takifugu rubripes larvae and juvenile

The activities of some digestive enzymes are studied for Takifugu rubripes larvae and juvenile from the first feeding to 27d after hatching at selected stages of development. The homogenate of whole larvae body is used for enzymatic determination. Activity of acid protease decreases notably during the beginning days after the commencement of completely exogenous feeding and the days before the beginning of the juvenile stage. Alkaline protease specific activity also decreases at metamorphosis. The activities are associated with the morphology of the developing digestive tract. Amylase activity increases before the first feeding, followed by a decreasing and then a rather constant level. Lipase activity remains low during the larvae and juvenile periods. Alkaline phosphatase activity increases gradually. This reflects the development of brush border membranes of enterocytes.