Efficient gusA Transient Expression in Porphyra yezoensis Protoplasts Mediated by Endogenous Beta-tubulin Flanking Sequences

1 Introduction Porphyra yezoensis is one of the most widely con-sumed and cultivated seaweeds in the world. Over the past decades, much effort has been made in improving the cultured stocks and developing breeding techniques of alga. At present, nuclear transformation systems of eu-karyotic algae such as green unicellular alga Chlamydo-monas reinhardii (Rochaix and Dillewijn, 1982), diatom Phseodactylum tricornutum (Lioudmila et al., 2000) and simple multicellular green alga Volvox carteri (…     

Preliminary study on mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences and phylogeny of flatfishes （Pleuronectiformes）

A 605 bp section of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene from Paralichthys olivaceus, Pseudorhombus cinnamomeus, Psetta maxima and Kareius bicoloratus, which represent 3 families of Order Pleuronectiformes was amplified by PCR and sequenced to show the molecular systematics of Pleuronectiformes for comparison with related gene sequences of other 6 flatfish downloaded from GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis based on genetic distance from related gene sequences of 10 flatfish showed that this method was ideal to explore the relationship between species, genera and families. Phylogenetic trees set-up is based on neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods that accords to the general rule of Pleuronectiformes evolution. But they also resulted in some confusion. Unlike data from morphological characters, P olivaceus clustered with K.bicoloratus, but P cinnamomeus did not cluster with t3. olivaceus, which is worth further studying.     

Expression profiles of sex-related genes in gonads of genetic male Takifugu rubripes after 17β-estradiol immersion

Estradiol treatment during early life stages of tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes induces feminization in genetic males. However, the ovaries in genetic males may revert to testes once estradiol treatment is halted.Therefore studies should investigate molecular mechanisms underlying ovary-to-testis recovery in genetic males after treatment. In the present study, tiger puffer were exposed to 10, and 100 μg/L 17 p-estradiol(E_2)from 15 to 100 days post-hatching(dph), then gonad phenotypes and expression profiles of six sex-related genes(cyp19a,foxl2, dmrtl, amh, sox9a, and sox9b) were characterized after the exposure. Results showed that both 10 and 100 μg/L E_2 induced ovarian development in genetic males at 100 dph. However, all ovaries induced by 10 μg/L E_2 first developed into intersexual gonads and subsequently reverted to testes after the exposure. As for treatment of 100 pg/L E_2, while the rest of the ovaries maintained morphological stability,percentages of intersexual gonads reached 38%-57%, and none were reverted to testes. Increased mRNA levels of cyp19 a,foxl2 and sox9b and decreased mRNA levels of dmrtl, amh, and sox9a were observed during the ovarian development in genetic males. While contrary gene expression profiles were detected during ovary-to-testis transformation. The mRNA levels of all the six genes were increased during the development of intersexual gonads. These results indicated that up-regulation of dmrtl, amh and sox9a is associated with initial ovary-to-intersexual transformation, and suppression of foxl2, cypl9a and sox9b is essential for complete ovary-to-testis recovery in genetic males. This research will help to trace the molecular processes underlying gonadal transformation in teleosts.     

Histopathological Observation of Lymphocystis Disease and Lymphocystis Disease Virus （LCDV） Detection in Cultured Diseased Sebastes schlegeli

Lymphocystis nodules occurring in the cultured sting fish Sebastes schlegeli were observed under light and electron microscope. Lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) in the tissues of diseased fish was detected with indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT). Results showed that lymphocystis cells had overly irregular nuclei, basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies with virions budding from the surface, and hyaline capsules outside the cell membrane. Numerous virus particles about 200 nm in diameter scat- tered in the cytoplasm, electron-dense particles 70-80 nm in diameter filled in perinuclear cisterna, and membrane-enveloped parti- cles with electron-dense core of 70-80 nm appeared around cellular nucleus. IFAT using monoclonal antibody against LCDV from Paralichthys olivaceus revealed that specific green fluorescence was present in the cytoplasm of lymphocystis cells, epithelium of stomach, gill lamellae, and muscular fibers under epidermis of S. schlegeli, just as that in the cytoplasm of lymphocystis cells of P. olivaceus, suggesting the presence of LCDV in these tissues.     

Heterologous gene expression driven by carbonic anhydrase gene promoter in Dunaliella salina

1 INTRODUCTION The unicellular Dunaliella salina, is one of the well studied microalgae for mass culture and is of commercial importance as a source of natural beta-carotene (Avron and Ben-Amot, 1992). D. sa- lina has desirable properties of halotolerance…     

Establishment and characterization of a testicular Sertoli cell line from olive flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis>

The culture of Sertoli cells has become an indispensable resource in studying spermatogenesis. A new Sertoli cell line (POSC) that consisted predominantly of fibroblast-like cells was derived from the testis of the olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus and sub-cultured for 48 passages. Analysis of the mtDNA COI gene partial sequence confirmed that the cell line was from P. olivaceus. Cells were optimally maintained at 25°C in DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum, basic fibroblast growth factor, and epidermal growth factor. The growth curve of POSC showed a typical “S” shape. Chromosome analysis revealed that the cell line possessed the normal P. olivaceus diploid karyotype of 2n=48t. POSC expressed dmrt1 but not vasa, which was detected using RT-PCR and sequencing. Immunocytochemistry revealed that the cells exhibited the testicular Sertoli cell marker FasL. Therefore, POSC appeared to consist of testicular Sertoli cells. Bright fluorescent signals were observed after the cells were transfected with pEGFP-N3 plasmid, with the transfection efficiency reaching 10%. This research not only offers an ideal model for further gene expression and regulation studies on P. olivaceus, but also serves as valuable material in studying fish spermatogenesis, Sertoli cell-germ cell interactions, and the mechanism of growth and development of testis.     

Molecular Cloning and Expression ofPoIR2, a Novel Gene Involved in Immune Response in Japanese Flounder （Paralichthys olivaceus）

A novel immune-related gene was expressed in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) injected with Vibrio anguillarum. The complete cDNA contained a 169 bp 5’UTR, a 336 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 111 amino acids and a 556bp 3’UTR. Six exons and five introns were identified in the PoIR2 gene. Blastp similarity comparison showed its encoding protein had 50% similarity to Danio rerio neuromedin S (NMS), but further alignment indicated they did not have NMS C-terminal conservational signature domain. So it was not defined as an NMS homologue. Protein structure analysis indicated it had a 26aa signal peptide and was a secretory pathway protein. RT-PCR demonstrated that the expression of PoIR2 was quickly induced and drastically increased in liver, kidney, spleen, gills, intestine, heart, and skeletal muscle after infected with V. anguillarum. These results indicated that the PoIR2 might play some important role in Japanese flounder immune response system. This gene was named PoIR2 (P.olivaceus immune-related gene 2, GenBank accession number: EU224372). The mature PoIR2 peptide was expressed in BL21(DE3) pLysS using pET-32a(+) vector and a great part of the recombinant mature peptide existed as soluble type.     

Computational identification and characterization of microRNAs and their targets in Penaeus monodon

Study on shrimp miRNAs was limited and just 7 mature miRNA sequences of Marsupenaeus japonicus are deposited in mir Base database. In this study, miRNAs and their target gene candidates were computationally identified from shrimp Penaeu s monodon and then experimentally validated. Using 39 908 expressed sequence tags(ESTs) and 21 124 genome survey sequences(GSSs) of P. monodon(pmo) as reference dataset, a comprehensive approach based on inter-species homolog search was employed to investigate the candidate miRNAs(i.e. pmo-miRNA). A total of eight miRNAs belonging to 7 families were computationally identified and five out of them were subsequently validated by PCR and sequencing. Of these, pmo-miR-4961a, pmo-miR-4961b, pmo-miR-4979 and pmo-miR-3819 were first identified from shrimps. Both the mature pmo-miRNAs and the corresponding precursors were conserved among different species. Based on perfect or near-perfect match to the target region, the target gene candidates of pmomiRNAs were predicted from 10 331 mRNA sequences of P. monodon. A total of 20 genes were predicted as the targets of pmo-miR-4961a, pmo-miR-4961b, pmo-miR-4979 and pmo-miR-6492. Experimental validation by dual luciferase reporter assay confi rmed the targeting between 3 pmo-miRNAs and one or two of their target genes, especially the pmo-miR-4979 which could significantly down-regulate the expression of target gene(JR226772). This study updates the miRNAs and their targets in P. monodon and lays a solid foundation for future RNAi study.     

Genetic variation of natural and cultured stocks of Paralichthys olivaceus by allozyme and RAPD

Population genetics of the left-eyed flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, including natural and cultured stocks distributed in the coastal waters near Qingdao of eastern maritime China, was analyzed in allozyme and RAPD. The results showed that among total 29 gene loci of 15 isozymes, 9 and 7 were po- lymorphic in natural and cultured stocks, respectively. The status of genetic diversity in P. olivaceus is low in terms of polymorphic loci in chi-square test and genetic departure index of Hardy-Weinberg equi- librium. More alleles in IDHP, CAT, GDH and Ldh-C allozymes were found in the fish, which could be used as markers in assortive breeding and distinguishing stock, population or species evolution. Total 88 and 86 RAPD bands ranging from 200 to 2 500 bp were recognized individually in average of 7.8–8.0 bands per primer. The genetic diversity in cultured stock is lower than that in natural ones showing an ob- viously decreasing genetic divergence. Therefore, effective countermeasures must be taken to protect ge- netic resources of marine cultured fishes. The 2 markers have their own pros and cons. Combining the 2 markers to investigate the genetic variation of populations is suggested. The results provide basic data of this flounder and they are useful for studying genetic improvement and genetic resources of the fish.     

Ontogeny of the Lymphoid Organs of Japanese Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

Histological study on the ontogeny of the lymphoid organs, kidney, thymus and spleen of Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, from hatching to 40d was carried out. The pronephric kidney duct appeared early in hatching although the primordial haemopoietic stem cells wereobserved within a week after hatching. The spleen was first seen after 8d of hatching. The thymus appeared after 15d, situated near the pronephric kidney. Small lymphoid cells appeared during the later phase of the post-larval stage in the sequence of thymus, kidney and spleen. During the 40d of observations, there were no distinct inner or outer zones in thymus and no red or white pulp in spleen. These results suggest that the nonspecific defense immune system plays a very important role in the early larval stage of Japanese flounder.