Interactive effects of cadmium and hypoxia on metabolic responses and bacterial loads of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica Gmelin

Pollution by toxic metals including cadmium (Cd) and hypoxia are important stressors in estuaries and coastal waters which may interactively affect sessile benthic organisms, such as oysters. We studied metabolic responses to prolonged hypoxic acclimation (2 weeks at 5% O₂) in control and Cd-exposed (30 d at 50 μg L⁻¹ Cd) oysters Crassostrea virginica, and analyzed the effects of these stressors on abundance of Vibrio spp. in oysters. Hypoxia-acclimated oysters retained normal standard metabolic rates (SMR) at 5% O₂, in contrast to a decline of SMR observed during acute hypoxia. However, oysters spent more time actively ventilating in hypoxia than normoxia resulting in enhanced Cd uptake and 2.7-fold higher tissue Cd burdens in hypoxia. Cd exposure led to a significant decrease in tissue glycogen stores, increase in free glucose levels and elevated activity of glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase and aldolase) indicating a greater dependence on carbohydrate catabolism. A compensatory increase in activities of two key mitochondrial enzymes (citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase) was found during prolonged hypoxia in control oysters but suppressed in Cd-exposed ones. Cd exposure also resulted in a significant increase in abundance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus levels during normoxia and hypoxia, respectively. Overall, Cd- and hypoxia-induced changes in metabolic profile, Cd accumulation and bacterial flora of oysters indicate that these stressors can synergistically impact energy homeostasis, performance and survival of oysters in polluted estuaries and have significant consequences for transfer of Cd and bacterial pathogens to the higher levels of the food chain.     

mRNA expression of a cadmium-responsive gene is a sensitive biomarker of cadmium exposure in the soil collembolan Folsomia candida

The gene expression of environmental organisms is useful as a biomarker of environmental pollution. One of its advantages is high sensitivity. We identified the cDNA of a novel cadmium-responsive gene in the soil collembolan Folsomia candida. The deduced protein, designated “metallothionein-like motif containing protein” (MTC), was cysteine-rich and contained a metallothionein-like motif with similarity to metallothionein, but had a much longer sequence than metallothionein and contained repeated sequences of amino acids. Expression of MTC mRNA was sensitively induced by cadmium exposure at 0.3 mg/kg of dry food, a concentration at which toxic effects are not observed, but expression was not affected by γ-ray exposure (an inducer of oxidative stress). These findings suggest that MTC is involved in cadmium-binding processes rather than in oxidative-stress responses. In conclusion, we suggest that gene expression of MTC may be a candidate biomarker for detecting low levels of cadmium contamination in soil.     

重金属暴露铜锈环棱螺全组织均一化cDNA文库构建及表达序列标签特征分析

构建cDNA文库是寻找生物新功能基因的有效手段.采用SM ART技术构建了重金属铜和镉暴露铜锈环棱螺全组织均一化cDNA文库,文库库容为1.78×106克隆,重组率大于99%.从初始文库中随机挑取6000个克隆进行测序,获得5 473个高质量表达序列标签(ESTs)序列.经聚类分析得到3 961个Unigene(平均长...     

DNA和cDNA水平对比研究施肥对稻田土壤细菌多样性的影响

依托长沙农业环境观测研究站不同施肥方式长期定位试验,直接从土壤中抽提总DNA和RNA,应用T-RFLP和RTPCR技术在DNA和c DNA水平对比研究施肥对亚热带稻田土壤细菌丰度和群落结构的影响.结果表明,施肥和秸秆还田显著改变了土壤细菌群落组成(DNA水平)和转录组成(c DNA水平)结构,且不同处理中DNA水平的T-RFLP图谱与cDNA水平相差很大.施肥和秸秆还田降低了土壤中存在的细菌多样性,对土壤中转录的细菌多样性没有影响.土壤16S rRNA基因丰度(DNA水平)平均是其转录丰度(c DNA水平)的337倍,与不施氮肥处理(N0)相比,平衡施肥(NPK)没有改变土壤细菌的数量,在平衡施肥的基础上进行秸秆还田增加了土壤细菌的数量,但高量与低量秸秆还田没有显著差异.RDA分析表明,稻田土壤中铵态氮含量是调控各处理土壤中存在及转录的细菌群落的关键因子.总体而言,不管在DNA还是c DNA水平,研究施肥对土壤细菌丰度的影响均是可行并可信的;但只有在c DNA水平开展研究,才能有效发现细菌群落对环境的适应性.     

BALB／C鼠睾丸组织中冷诱导RNA结合蛋白的cDNA克隆与序列分析

冷诱导RNA结合蛋白(Cold inducible RNA-binding protein,CIRP)在多种冷应激细胞(包括重组中国仓鼠卵巢细胞)中被发现.迄今为止,冷应激对活体生物基凶表达的影响还未见报道.和细胞相比,生物体具有更加复杂的冷应激调节机制.本研究以冷处理的BALB/C鼠为实验动物,从其睾丸组织巾克隆出了CIRP的cDNA.结果表明,CIRP在生物体中能够被低温诱导,可能防止生物体遭受冷损伤.根据克隆的cDNA所推测的氨基酸序列与GenBank上公布的小鼠、大鼠、人类、牛蛙、美西螈、非洲爪蟾胚胎细胞和卵母细胞的CIRP氨基酸序列同源性分别为100%、99.40%、95.5%、67.4%、58.4%、76.9%和79.1%.这表明CIRP在生物进化过程中是高度保守的,可能具有多种生理功能.因此,这一研究将为探索人类和动物冷应激分子机制创立系统试验模型和奠定新的实践基础.图5参14     

Effects of nonylphenol on brain gene expression profiles in F1 generation rats

The effects of nonylphenol (NP) were examined on brain gene expression profiles of F1 generation rats by means of microarray techniques. The mRNA were extracted from the brain of two-day-old F1 generation rats whose F0 male generation were treated with NP, then reversely transcribed to cDNA and labeled with Cy5 and Cy3 fluorescence. Subsequently, the cDNA probes were hybridized to the mouse 40S cDNA microarray and the fluorescent signals of Cy5 and Cy3 were scanned and analyzed. Sixteen identified genes were expressed significantly differently from control, including 13 down-regulated, of which five were related to brain energy metabolism. Data suggest that it is possible that NP affects function of energy metabolism in male rats when administered perinatally.     

家蚕丝心蛋白轻链cDNA和基因调控片段的克隆及序列分析

从家蚕品种菁松×皓月后部丝腺中提取总RNA ,用RT -PCR扩增技术克隆到家蚕丝心蛋白轻链cDNA .序列分析表明 ,该片段全长为 798个碱基 .比较 4种不同品种来源的家蚕丝心蛋白轻链基因外显子区域序列 ,同源性在98.0 %～ 99.4 %之间 ,推测的氨基酸同源性在 98.0 %～ 99.6 %之间 ,4个品种间发生的变异比较一致地集中在不同位置的 8个碱基上 .提取家蚕品种菁松×皓月后部丝腺总DNA ,进行PCR反应 ,获得家蚕丝心蛋白轻链基因调控片段 ,长度约为 1.2kb,测定了其邻近起始密码子一端包括 5 76个碱基的DNA序列 .结果表明 ,该片段包括一些典型的调控元件和多个可能参与丝蛋白基因特异性表达调控的元件 ,该部分序列与J - 139L链基因相应区域同源性高达 98.8% .图 3参 8     

粘红酵母(Rhodotorula glutinis CIBAS A 1401)苯丙氨酸解氨酶cDNA核心序列的克隆与分析

L苯丙氨酸因其在工业、医药上的重要作用而日益受到人们的重视.苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)生物转化肉桂酸生产L苯丙氨酸成了该领域研究与开发的热点.本文利用简并寡核苷酸PCR法结合cDNA末端快速扩增PCR法,从粘红酵母中克隆了苯丙氨酸解氨酶cDNA核心序列,为克隆其cDNA全长序列及体外表达其活性蛋白奠定了基础.图5参22     

Effects of nonylphenol on endocrine regulation-associated gene expression profiles in whole brain of F1 generation male rats

In order to determine the effects of nonylphenol (NP) on endocrine regulation-associated gene expression profiles in whole brain of F1 generation rats, mRNA extracted from the brain of 2-day old F1 generation rats whose F0 male generation was treated with NP. The mRNA was then reversely transcribed to cDNA and labeled with cy5 and cy3 fluorescence. Subsequently, cDNA probes were hybridized to the Mouse40S cDNA microarray and the fluorescent signals of cy5 and cy3 were scanned and analyzed. Sixteen genes were identified which expressed differently, including 13 that were down-regulated in which 4 were related to brain regulation of endocrine function. Data suggest that NP mainly affects metabolism and synthesis of steroid hormone in various ways and disturbs the reproductive function of male rats when administered perinatally.