Secondary metabolites of a deep sea derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor CXCTD-06-6a and their bioactivity

In order to obtain novel secondary metabolites, a deep sea inhabiting fungus Aspergillus versicolor CXCTD-06-6a was investigated. One new diketopiperazine brevianamide W(1a), as well as five known diketopiperazine alkaloids, diketopiperazine V(1b), brevianamide Q(2), brevianamide R(3), brevianamide K(4), and brevianamide E(5), were isolated from the Et OAc extract of the fermentation broth. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopy techniques(NMR, MS). The six compounds exhibited moderate radical scavenging activity against DPPH with clearance ratio of 55.0%(1a and 1b), 53.7%(2), 46.2%(3), 61.4%(4) and 19.3%(5) at a concentration of 13.9 μmol L-1, respectively; while the positive control ascorbic acid showed a ratio of 70.3% at the concentration of 28.4 μmol L-1.     

Chemical profile of the secondary metabolites produced by a deep-sea sediment-derived fungus Penicillium commune SD-118

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract from Penicillium commune SD-118, a fungus obtained from a deep-sea sediment sample, resulted in the isolation of a known antibacterial compound, xanthocillin X (1), and 14 other known compounds comprising three steroids (2-4), two ceramides (5 and 6), six aromatic compounds (7-12), and three alkaloids (13-15). Xanthocillin X (1) was isolated for the first time from a marine fungus. In the bioassay, xanthocillin X (1) displayed remarkable antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7, HepG2, H460, Hela, Du145, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Meleagrin (15) exhibited cytotoxicity against HepG2, Hela, Du145, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. This is the first report of the cytotoxicity of xanthocillin X (1).     

Structures and antiviral activities of butyrolactone derivatives isolated from Aspergillus terreus MXH-23

A new butyrolactone derivative, namely butyrolactone VIII(1), and six known butyrolactones(2-7) were separated from the ethyl acetate(Et OAc) extract of the fermentation broth of a fungus, Aspergillus terreus MXH-23. The chemical structures of these metabolites were identified by analyzing their nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) and mass spectrometry(MS). Known butyrolactone derivatives contain an α,β-unsaturated γ-lactone ring with α-hydroxyl and γ-benzyl, and butyrolactone VIII(1) was the first butyrolactones contains α-benzyl and γ-hydroxyl on α,β-unsaturated lactone ring. All of the butyrolactone derivatives were tested for their anti-influenza(H1N1) effects. Derivatives 4 and 7 showed moderate antiviral activities while the newly-identified, derivative 1, did not.     

Phenylquinolinones with antitumor activity from the Indian Ocean-derived fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus versicolor</Emphasis> Y31-2

Two phenylquinolinones, including one new compound (1) and a previously isolated compound (2), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of the fungus Aspergillus versicolor Y31-2, which was obtained from seawater samples collected from the Indian Ocean. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic analyses. 4-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)-3-methoxyquinolin-2(1H)-one (1) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma cell line) and SMMC-7721 (human liver cancer cell line) cells with IC₅₀ values of 16.6 and 18.2 μmol/L, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first reported account of the isolation of compounds 1 and 2 as the secondary metabolites of the seawater derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor from the Indian Ocean.     

Alkaloids from an algicolous strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Talaromyces</Emphasis> sp.

Compounds isolated and identified in a culture of the alga-endophytic fungus Talaromyces sp. cf-16 included two naturally occurring alkaloids, 2-[(S)-hydroxy(phenyl)methyl]-3-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (1a) and 2-[(R)-hydroxy(phenyl)methyl]-3-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (1b), that were identified for the first time. In addition, seven known compounds (2–8) were obtained from the culture. Following chiral column chromatography, compounds 1a and 1b were identified as enantiomers by spectroscopic analyses and quantum chemical calculations. Bioassay results showed that 5 was more toxic to brine shrimp than the other compounds, and that 3–6 could inhibit Staphylococcus aureus.     

Isolation,identification, and cytotoxicity of a new isobenzofuran derivative from marine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> sp. W007

A new isobenzofuran derivative (1) was isolated from the marine Streptomyces sp. W007 and its structure was determined through extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR, and ESI-MS. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by a combination of experimental analyses and comparison with reported data, including biogenetic reasoning, J-coupling analysis, NOESY, and ¹H-¹HCOSY. Compound 1 exhibited no cytotoxicity against human cells of gastric cancer BGC-823, lung cancer A549, and breast cancer MCF7.     

Study on the Preparation and Antileukemic Activity of New Lipophilic 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine Derivatives

Cytarabine(1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, Ara-C), isolated from a Caribbean sponge species Tethyacrypta, is the first antitumor drug from a marine resource. In 1980, the US Food and Drug Administration approved this drug for the treatment of different types of leukemia. This drug has a short plasma half-life, low stability, limited bioavailability, and severe side effects. To improve stability and bioavailability, we synthesized nine novel derivatives by blocking the cytarabine metabolic sites and improving lipophilicity. The c Log P values of the newly synthesized compounds were calculated. All the synthesized compounds were more lipophilic than cytarabine, resulting in membrane permeability and bioavailability improvement. The antitumor activities against leukemia cell line HL-60 were evaluated by using the MTT assay. The bioassay results revealed that the IC_(50) values of compounds 5, 8 and 9 were 0.080, 0.090 and 0.057 μmol L~(-1), respectively, which was similar with that of cytarabine(0.056 μmol L~(-1),). In comparison, compound 4 with a phosphate group at O5' was inactive. Because phosphoester bonds are easily hydrolyzed by alkaline phosphatase and are commonly used in producing prodrug strategies, compound 4 might also be metabolized in vivo and generate compound 3 or even cytarabine through a multi-step reaction. Thus, compound 4 might be a promising compound to be developed as a prodrug.     

Morphology and controlling factors of the longitudinal profile of gullies in the Yuanmou dry-hot valley

The morphology of the gully longitudinal profile (GLP) is an important topographic index of the gully bottom associated with the evolution of the gullies. This index can be used to predict the development trend and evaluate the eroded volumes and soil losses by gullying. To depict the morphology of GLP and understand its controlling factors, the Global Positioning System Real-time Kinematic (GPS RTK) and the total station were used to measure the detail points along the gully bottom of 122 gullies at six sites of the Yuanmou dry-hot Valley. Then, nine parameters including length (Lt), horizontal distance (Dh), height (H), vertical erosional area (A), vertical curvature (Cv), concavity (Ca), average gradient (Ga), gully length-gradient index (GL), normalized gully length-gradient index (Ngl), were calculated and mapped using CASS, Excel and SPSS. The results showed that this study area is dominated by slightly concave and medium gradient GLPs, and the lithology of most gullies is sandstone and siltstone. Although different types of GLPs appear at different sites, all parameters present a positively skewed distribution. There are relatively strong correlations between several parameters: namely Lt and H, Dh and H, Lt and A, Dh and A, H and GL. Most GLPs, except three, have a best fit of exponential functions with quasistraight shapes. Soil properties, vegetation coverage, piping erosion and topography are important factors to affect the GLP morphology. This study provides useful insight into the knowledge of GLP morphology and its influential factors that are of critical importance to prevent and control gully erosion.     

Geochemistry of re and trace elements in ferromanganese nodules and their genesis

Trace and RE element geochemistry and genesis have been studied with respect to ferromanganese nodules from the sediments of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.     

Combined effects of light intensity and NH^＋4-enrichment on growth,pigmentation, and photosynthetic performance of Ulva prolifera （Chlorophyta）

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of light intensity and enhanced nitrogen supply on the growth and photosynthesis of the green-tide macroalga, Ulva prolifera. Thalli of U. prolifera were grown in natural or NH 4 +-enriched seawater under two different light intensities for 7 days, and then the growth rate, pigmentation, and photosynthetic performance of the thalli were evaluated. The results show that the relative growth rate(RGR) was markedly higher under the high light level than under the low light level. Enrichment with NH 4 + enhanced the RGR under high light intensity, but did not affect RGR under low light intensity. In low light conditions, NH 4 +-enrichment resulted in a marked decrease in the maximal photosynthetic rate( P m) and the maximum carbon fixation rate( V max), but it did not affect the half saturation constant for carbon( K 0.5) or the ratio of V max to K 0.5, which reflects the carbon acquisition efficiency. In high light conditions, P m, K 0.5, and the dark respiration rate( R d) increased under NH 4 + enrichment, but V max and the V max / K 0.5 ratio decreased. Regardless of the light intensity, NH 4 +-enrichment did not affect the apparent photosynthetic efficiency( α), which refl ects the ability of the alga to use light energy at low light levels. Under both low and high light intensities, the chlorophyll a(Chl a), chlorophyll b(Chl b), and carotenoids(Car) contents in thalli were higher in NH 4 +-enriched than in natural seawater, except that there was a decrease in the Chl b content of thalli in NH 4 +-enriched seawater under low light intensity. Therefore, NH 4 + enrichment improved the growth and photosynthetic performance of U. prolifera under high light intensity, but not under low light intensity. We discuss the possible mechanisms underlying these physiological responses.     

Bioreactor technology for production of valuable algal products

INTRODUCTIONManystudiesonvascularplantSduringthenontwperiodhavedrireP0redinChinaandabroad.TherearefeWreportSonwhethertherearesomevasctilarplantS,andhowmanyspedessurvive,underice,andontheirbiomassesandphotosyntheticproduCtivitiesduringwinter,espedal1yduringbeAfpinchLillyamepe0ylenctal.,l976,Liuetal.,l994).WeimtlycarriedoutaseadriontheunderforvascularplantsdurinwinderinsomewaterbodieswherevascularplantSgrowluxdrianhydurinInildareonsinnorthemareas,soastoimproveourknowedgeofvascularplaflt…     

Palynological assemblages from the holocene sediments of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Delta and its implications

The palynolpgical study on the Quaternary sediments of 42 cores in the region of the Yangtze River Delta and the sections of 4 relics had been done since 1960. Palynological assemblages from the region of the Yangtze River Delta, showing obviously .common characteristics but with slight differences because of the vast areas covered, can be divided into five spores and pollen zones and three subzones in ascendant order:I.Quercus alienc-Pinus-Cupressaceae-Chenopodiaceae spores and pollen zone reflecting the cool, then cold and dry climate--Preboreal.II.Quercus dentata-Quefcus acutissima-Pinus-Castanea-Artemisia spores and pollen zone reflecting the temperate and cool, but a little dry climate--Boreal.III.Quercus glauca-Caslanopsis-Myrica-Caslanea spores and pollen zone reflecting the hot and moist climate--Atlantic.IV.Quercus acutissima-Pinus-Castanea-Quercus glauca- Chenopodiaceae spores and pollen zone reflecting the warm, and a little dry climate--Subboreal.V.Quercus acutissima-Costarica-Quercus glauca     

Isolation and characterization of bioactive fungi from shark <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carcharodon carcharias</Emphasis>’ gill with biopharmaceutical prospects

Until recently, little was known about the fungi found in shark gills and their biomedicinal potential. In this article, we described the isolation, bioactivity, diversity, and secondary metabolites of bioactive fungi from the gill of a shark (Carcharodon carcharias). A total of 115 isolates were obtained and grown in 12 culture media. Fifty-eight of these isolates demonstrated significant activity in four antimicrobial, pesticidal, and cytotoxic bioassay models. Four randomly selected bioactive isolates inhibited human cancer cell proliferation during re-screening. These active isolates were segregated into 6 genera using the internal transcribed spacer-large subunit (ITS-LSU) rDNA-sequence BLAST comparison. Four genera, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor, and Chaetomium were the dominant taxa. A phylogenic tree illustrated their intergenera and intragenera genetic diversity. HPLC-DAD-HRMS analysis and subsequent database searching revealed that nine representative strains produced diverse bioactive compound profiles. These results detail the broad range of bioactive fungi found in a shark’s gills, revealing their biopharmaceutical potential. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study characterizing shark gill fungi and their bioactivity.     

Cadmium flux and genotoxicity in an experimental marine food chain

Cadmium flux through a lab food chain (Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin- Penaeus orientate Kishinouye- Hexagrammos otakii Jordan et Starks) and its genotoxicity were investigated. The results are as follows:1. High doses of cadmium (>0.003 mol / L) induced flocculation and quick precipitation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum; lower doses of cadmium could be adsorbed on and absorbed by P. tricornutum without delaying its growth. Cadmium concentrations in algae increased with dosage, and cadmium ions removed from the medium were in proportion to dosage. In vivo chelation and organizable combination of absorbed cadmium ions by metabolites of P. tricornutum can be considered as bio-detoxification.2. Cadmium concentration decreased in the transfers from P. tricornutum to P. orientalis and from the latter to H. otakii. Transfer coefficient of cadmium in the first flux was 66.6% and 29.9% in the second. Results of t tests showed that mutagenicity of ashed internal organs of experimental prawns was significantly hi     

Equality testing for soil grid unit resolutions to polygon unit scales with DNDC modeling of regional SOC pools

Matching soil grid unit resolutions with polygon unit map scales is important to minimize the uncertainty of regional soil organic carbon(SOC) pool simulation due to their strong influences on the modeling.A series of soil grid units at varying cell sizes was derived from soil polygon units at six map scales,namely,1:50 000(C5),1:200 000(D2),1:500 000(P5),1:1 000 000(N1),1:4 000 000(N4) and 1:14 000 000(N14),in the Taihu Region of China.Both soil unit formats were used for regional SOC pool simulation with a De Nitrification-DeC omposition(DNDC) process-based model,which spans the time period from 1982 to 2000 at the six map scales.Four indices,namely,soil type number(STN),area(AREA),average SOC density(ASOCD) and total SOC stocks(SOCS) of surface paddy soils that were simulated by the DNDC,were distinguished from all these soil polygon and grid units.Subjecting to the four index values(IV) from the parent polygon units,the variations in an index value(VIV,%) from the grid units were used to assess its dataset accuracy and redundancy,which reflects the uncertainty in the simulation of SOC pools.Optimal soil grid unit resolutions were generated and suggested for the DNDC simulation of regional SOC pools,matching their respective soil polygon unit map scales.With these optimal raster resolutions,the soil grid units datasets can have the same accuracy as their parent polygon units datasets without any redundancy,when VIV 1% was assumed to be a criterion for all four indices.A quadratic curve regression model,namely,y = – 0.80 × 10~(–6)x~2 + 0.0228 x + 0.0211(R~2 = 0.9994,P 0.05),and a power function model R? = 10.394?~(0.2153)(R~2 = 0.9759,P 0.05) were revealed,which describe the relationship between the optimal soil grid unit resolution(y,km) and soil polygon unit map scale(1:10 000x),the ratio(R?,%) of the optimal soil grid size to average polygon patch size(?,km~2) and the ?,with the highest R~2 among different mathematical regressions,respectively.This knowledge may facilitate the grid partitioning of regions during the investigation and simulation of SOC pool dynamics at a certain map scale,and be referenced to other landscape polygon patches' mesh partition.     

Anatomical variation of five plant species along an elevation gradient in Mexico City basin within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt,Mexico

Change in environmental conditions with altitudinal gradients induces morpho-anatomical variations in plants that have been poorly documented in intertropical regions. Five species with three life forms, cryptophyte (Alchemilla procumbens, Geranium seemannii), hemicryptophyte (Acaena elongata, Lupinus montanus), and phanerophyte (Symphoricarpos microphyllus), distributed along an altitudinal gradient in the Sierra Nevada of central Mexico, were studied. The aims were to identify and evaluate their morpho-anatomical modifications under the hypothesis that the sizes of individuals and of their wood and leaf cell types decrease as elevation increases. Three individuals per species per site were collected at seven locations along the altitudinal gradient (2949-3952 m). Their morpho-anatomical characters were analyzed through multiple regression analyses. Elevation was the variable that best explained anatomical changes in the leaf and wood of the five species. Canopy density and potassium content in the soil also contributed to explain the variation in anatomical variables along the gradient. As elevation increased a bimodal pattern was observed in various anatomical characters as in the leaf width of A. elongata, A. procumbens and G. seemannii and in the vessel diameter of A. procumbens, G. seemannii, and L. montanus. Other features as the vessel diameter of A. elongata, the fiber length of S. microphyllus, and the ray width of A. elongata increased as the elevation increased. Anatomical traits have a tendency to decrease in size but just toward the end of the gradient, which is probably related to changes in canopy density. The plant response to the altitudinal gradient is more focused on anatomical adaptations than morphological variation; it is also species dependent.     

Early embryo and larval development of inviable intergeneric hybrids derived from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassostrea angulata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccostrea cucullata</Emphasis>

To detect the intergeneric hybridization between the oyster Crassostrea angulata and Saccostrea cucullata coexisting along the southern coast of China, reciprocal crosses were conducted between the two species. Barriers for sperm recognizing, binding, penetrating the egg, and forming the pronucleus were detected by fluorescence staining. From the results, although fertilization success was observed in hybrid crosses, the overall fertilization rate was lower than that of intraspecific crosses. A large number of hybrid larvae died at 6–8 d after hatching, and those survived could not complete metamorphosis. C. angulata ♀× S. cucullata ♂ larvae had a growth rate similar to that of the maternal species, whereas S. cucullata ♀ × C. angulata ♂ larvae grew the slowest among all crosses. Molecular genetics analysis revealed that hybrid progeny were amphimixis hybrids. This study demonstrated that hybrid embryos generated by crossing C. angulata and S. cucullata could develop normally to the larval state, but could not complete metamorphosis and then develop to the spat stage. Thus, there is a post-reproductive isolation between C. angulata and S. cucullata.     

Photosynthetic response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scirpus validus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Typha orientalis</Emphasis> to elevated temperatures in Dianchi Lake,Southwestern China

Understanding the effects of simulated warming on photosynthetic performance of aquatic plants may provide strong supports for predicting future dynamics of wetland ecosystems in the context of climate change. The plateau wetlands located in Yunnan province are highly sensitive to climate warming due to their high altitude and cold temperature. Here, we conducted a temperaturecontrolled experiment using two temperature manipulations (ambient temperature as the control and 2°C higher than ambient temperature as the warmed treatment) to determine the photosynthetic characteristics of two lakeside dominant species (Scirpus validus Vahl and Typha orientalis C. Presl.) in Dianchi Lake. Net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (G_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), and transpiration rate of S. validus that grew under warmed treatment were all significantly higher than those under the control. G_s and C_i of T. orientalis showed similar patterns as S. validus did. For the response curves of P_n to photosynthetic active radiation (Pn-PAR) and intercellular CO₂ concentration (P_n-C_i), S. validus had higher P_n values under elevated temperatures than the control, while P_n-PAR and P_n-C_i curves of T. orientalis did not separate clearly under two temperature scenarios. Both S. validus and T. orientalis had higher maximum net photosynthetic rate, light saturation point, dark respiration rate, the maximum rate of RuBP carboxylation (V_cmax), maximum electron transport rate driving RuBP regeneration (J_max), the ratio of V_cmax to J_max, triosephosphate utilization, and 1, 5-bishosphate carboxylase ribulose content under warmed treatment than those under the control. This study provides a preliminary step for predicting the future primary production and vegetation dynamics of plateau wetlands in Yunnan province.     

Valuation of debris flow mitigation measures in tourist towns: a case study on Hongchun gully in southwest China

The estimation of the value on the engineering project in tourist towns is usually very challenging and controversial. In this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the economic value of the debris flow control engineering in tourist towns by integrating both welfare and disaster economics. The total value of debris flow prevention and control engineering in tourist towns (VDFE) includes investment cost (IC), disaster mitigation benefit (DMB), and loss of brand value (LBV). Here DMB is assessed by the cost-benefit method. The LBV is estimated by incorporating brand equity and cost-benefit methods. The engineering for debris flow control in the Hongchun Gully of southwest China was built to protect Yingxiu tourist town and was assessed as an example. The IC for the engineering is 180 million RMB, however, the VDFE reaches as high as 3401 million RMB, of which the LBV is 169 million RMB, and the input-output ratio is 1:18. Thus, the LBV cannot be neglected in case of VDFE estimation process. The more developed the tourism in one town or city is, the greater the LBV and the higher the VDFE are.     

Comparison of stem taper models for the four tropical tree species in Mount Makiling,Philippines

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of six stem taper models on four tropical tree species, namely Celtis luzonica (Magabuyo), Diplodiscus paniculatus (Balobo), Parashorea malaanonan (Bagtikan), and Swietenia macrophylla (Mahogany) in Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR), Philippines using fit statistics and lack-of-fit statistics. Four statistical criteria were used in this study, including the standard error of estimate (SEE), coefficient of determination (R ²), mean bias \(( \bar E )\), and absolute mean difference (AMD). For the lack-offit statistics, SEE, \(\bar E\) and AMD were determined in different relative height classes. The results indicated that the Kozako2 stem taper model offered the best fit for the four tropical species in most statistics. The Kozako2 model also consistently provided the best performance in the lack-of-fit statistics with the best SEE, \(\bar E\) and AMD in most of the relative height classes. These stem taper equations could help forest managers and researchers better estimate the diameter of the outside bark with any given height, merchantable stem volumes and total stem volumes of standing trees belonging to the four species of the tropical forest in MMFR.