培养方式对纤细裸藻脂肪酸与氨基酸含量的影响

以纤细裸藻(Euglena gracilis)为实验对象,研究了培养方式对纤细裸藻生长、脂肪酸、氨基酸的影响,并探讨了可能的作用机理。结果表明,与其他培养方式相比,光诱导可提高纤细裸藻总脂肪酸、单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)和多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)含量,分别为2.69、0.52和1.475 g/100 g;饱和脂肪酸(SFA)含量由高到低依次为异养组、光诱导组、自养组和兼养组,其中异养组含量达1.008 g/100 g;游离氨基酸含量由高到低依次为光诱导组、兼养组、异养组和自养组,分别为381.57、358.1、330.17和231.1 mg/g;兼养组必需氨基酸含量最高,为134.37 mg/g。实验结果说明光诱导培养可显著提高纤细裸藻总脂肪酸、MUFA和PUFA含量(P<0.05);异养培养可显著提高纤细裸藻饱和脂肪酸含量(P<0.05);兼养培养可显著提高纤细裸藻必需氨基酸含量(P<0.05)。研究结果为阐明纤细裸藻对不同培养方式的响应提供了科学依据,同时为其开发应用提供数据支持。     

温度和氮磷浓度对平裂藻和栅藻生长及竞争的影响

为了解温度及氮磷浓度对平裂藻和栅藻生长及竞争的影响,分别在18、25和35℃条件下,以BG11培养基为基础,设置了不同的氮磷浓度组,进行了2种藻的单独培养试验和混合培养试验,结果表明:在纯培养条件下,低营养浓度组(磷浓度分别为0.1和0.5 mg/L)平裂藻在3种温度下基本停止生长,高营养盐浓度组(磷浓度分别为1.0和1.5 mg/L)除18℃1.0 mg/L组停止生长外,其余均能正常生长增殖,且细胞最大密度表现为25℃ 18℃ 35℃, 1.5和1.0 mg/L浓度组细胞生长差异不显著。栅藻在纯培养条件下,细胞密度总体表现为随着营养盐浓度升高而增加的趋势,细胞最大密度表现为18℃ 25℃ 35℃。在混合培养试验中,除35℃、1.5 mg/L组平裂藻对栅藻的竞争抑制参数大于栅藻对平裂藻的竞争抑制参数外,其余试验组均表现为栅藻受平裂藻影响较小。在混合培养体系中, 0.1 mg/L组平裂藻仍基本停止生长, 0.5 mg/L组受栅藻的刺激作用,生长优于纯培养体系。1.0和1.5 mg/L组均受栅藻的抑制作用,且浓度越高抑制作用越强。       

溶藻菌R1的分离鉴定以及对栅藻共处代谢的影响

【目的】分离并鉴定溶藻菌和栅藻,并对溶藻菌抑制栅藻的机理进行分析。【方法】溶藻菌分离采用高氏一号培养基,经多次划线纯化而得;溶藻菌鉴定采用生理生化性质判定;栅藻分离和鉴定主要采用镜检和《中国常见淡水浮游藻类图谱》完成;溶藻菌对栅藻的影响分析测定包括:测定栅藻叶绿素a变化、水体中溶解氧变化、藻细胞数目变化、藻蛋白表达变化、抑藻特殊物质测定等。【结果】共分离出4株溶藻菌(R1-R4),通过对其理化性质测定初步判定均属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus sp.),其中溶藻菌R1对栅藻生长的影响最明显,其对栅藻叶绿素a的抑制率为65%、溶解氧最低达6.5 mg/L,远低于栅藻单独培养下的10.4 mg/L;栅藻单独培养条件下的蛋白质表达为0.845 7 mg/L,与溶藻菌R1共培养时栅藻蛋白表达仅有0.192 6 mg/L;傅里叶红外光谱(FTIR)测定表明溶藻菌对栅藻细胞结构产生影响;相差显微镜对溶藻菌R1-栅藻共培养动态观察图可以看出,溶藻菌R1对栅藻的生长具有明显的抑制作用。【结论】从影响栅藻细胞结构、栅藻蛋白表达、栅藻光合作用等方面进行了分析,为揭示溶藻菌对栅藻抑制的机理提供了一定的理论基础。     

微囊藻和栅列藻光吸收特性的实验研究

在室内模拟槽中,以人工灯为光源,分别检测不同密度的微囊藻和栅列藻细胞悬液的光谱衰减,检测各样品的叶绿素含量和过滤后清液的溶解性有机碳(DOC)含量,并在紫外分光光度计上检测DOC光谱吸收,然后换算成吸收系数。再根据近似的线性加和关系计算出细胞悬液中各组分(藻细胞、水、DOC)的吸收系数。结果表明,微囊藻和栅列藻光衰减的波谱特征相似,在3个较高密度下的衰减系数的变化趋势相近,其衰减系数贡献率的平均值分别为84.95%和88.15%。将衰减系数除以各自的叶绿素浓度即可得到叶绿素的比吸收系数,两种藻3个较高密度的比吸收系数的平均值具有相似的波谱特征,在380～500、660～690nm两个波段有较明显的峰值,栅列藻和微囊藻在435nm的比吸收系数峰值分别为0.1118、0.0413(m2·mg-1chla),在670nm处的峰值分别为0.075、0.032(m2·mg-1chla)。但两者的比吸收系数差异较大,三个密度栅列藻在340～800nm的平均比吸收系数是0.0573(m2·mg-1chla),而微囊藻仅为0.0234(m2·mg-1chla),且微囊藻的所有波长的比吸收系数均小于栅列藻。根据这些参数来讨论两种藻类在分光衰减中的贡献率和光谱特征方面的差异及其生态学意义,以及在浮游植物的遥感监测方面的参考价值。     

氯氰菊酯对斜生栅藻的毒性研究

研究了农药氯氰菊酯对斜生栅藻的毒性效应,结果显示：以丙酮为溶剂量,其96h EC50为112.45mg/L;以乙酸乙酯为溶剂时,其96hEC50为112.81mg/L。同时也研究了氯氰菊酯对斜生栅藻的光合色素含量、色素光谱、可溶性蛋白质含量和超氧物歧化酶活性的影响。     

不同的氮和磷化合物对斜生栅藻生长繁殖的影响

单细胞绿藻和其他植物一样,在生命活动过程中,需要利用各种化学元素,通过光合作用以合成有机物貭,从而进行生长与繁殖。在单细胞绿藻所必需的各种化学元素中,除了C、H、O等三种有机元素主要是从水和二氧化碳中获得以外,另一种重要的有机元素．N以及其他一系列的必需元素,如P、S、Mg、K、Ca、Na、Fe等等,     

CO2浓度升高对斜生栅藻生长和光合作用的影响

升高大气中CO2 浓度可提高斜生栅藻的生物量和光合作用速率 ,对光合效率、暗呼吸速率、光饱和点和光系统Ⅱ的光化学效率 (Fv Fm)没有明显影响 ,但藻细胞光合作用对无机碳的亲和力降低     

家用洗涤剂磷对斜生栅藻生长的影响

以斜生栅藻为材料研究了四种家用洗涤剂对藻类生长的效应。结果发现,不同种类的家用洗涤剂对斜生栅藻生长均有明显的促进作用,斜生栅藻现存量超过国内外通用的富营养化评价标准。尤其是高磷洗衣粉,在日常生活用量的情况下,对斜生栅藻生长的促进作用较低磷洗衣粉增加60％。在整个实验中,无磷对照组斜生栅藻生长率均低于有磷实验组,磷量的增加将引起藻的现存量的增加。因此,限制洗涤剂磷盐的输入,减少营养供应率,降低水体中营养浓度,可起到控制水体富营养化的作用。     

利用平板反应器大量培养高产油绿藻——尖状栅藻的生长和油脂积累规律

以新近分离的淡水绿藻--尖状栅藻(Scenedesmus acuminatus)为研究对象,将改良的BG-11培养基中的初始NaNO₃浓度降低为6.0mmol/L和3.6mmol/L,利用新设计的内置拉筋平板式光生物反应器对尖状栅藻(S. acuminatus)进行大量培养。测定不同时相的生物量、总脂含量、脂组分含量及脂肪酸组成和含量,分析尖状栅藻(S. acuminatus)大量培养时的生长和油脂积累规律。当初始NaNO₃浓度为6mmol/L时其最高生物量(6.27g/L)明显高于初始NaNO₃浓度为3.6mmol/L时的生物量(5.30g/L);而最高的总脂含量在初始NaNO₃浓度为3.6mmol/L时获得为干重的56.6%,高于初始NaNO₃浓度为6mmol/L时的总脂含量(51.6%)。总脂经硅胶柱层析分级后得到三种类型的脂组分:中性脂、糖脂和磷脂,随着培养时间的延长中性脂含量逐渐增加,培养至18d后,中性脂的含量分别达到总脂的 90.9%(6 mmol/L NaNO₃)和 92.0%(3.6 mmol/L NaNO₃)及干重的 47.5%(6.0 mmol/L NaNO₃)和 51.4%(3.6 mmol/L NaNO₃)。主要脂肪酸组成为棕榈酸、棕榈油酸、硬脂酸、油酸、亚麻油酸和亚麻酸,这六种脂肪酸在不同时相的含量变化范围分别为89.92%~96.18%(占总脂肪酸)和12.5%~50.7%(占细胞干重)。总脂、中性脂及总脂肪酸单位体积产率分别为:0.18 g/L/d,0.16 g/L/d和0.15 g/L/d(6.0 mmol/L NaNO₃)及0.16 g/L/d,0.15 g/L/d和0.15 g/L/d(3.6 mmol/L NaNO₃)。研究结果表明,尖状栅藻(S. acuminatus)是一株易于规模化培养、脂肪酸组成适合于生物柴油生产的高产油微藻。     

绿藻栅藻对微囊藻的抑制效应及评价

为筛选具有控制微囊藻水华潜力的绿藻, 研究基于藻类之间的化感作用, 对34株绿藻开展筛选及评价工作。结果发现, 栅藻FACHB-1229的抑制率最高, 其滤液对微囊藻FACHB-3550和FACHB-905的抑制率分别为53.95%和48.39%; 通过对滤液中的物质进行GC-MS检测, 推测该藻株的效应物质可能为邻苯二甲酸二(2-甲氧基乙基)酯。进一步对FACHB-1229生长和光合放氧、氨氮耐受等指标进行评价, 结果发现: 该藻株在孔板中的生长速率(0.38±0.06)/d高于微囊藻生长速率(0.13±0.03)/d; 栅藻FACHB-1229的光合放氧速率高于同期测定的其他绿藻光合放氧速率, 可达(229.91±10.49) μmol O₂/(mg Chl.a·h); 同时该藻株对氨氮的耐受能力最强, 在氨氮浓度为1888.60 mg/L时其生长速率可达(0.30±0.08)/d。此外, 在与微囊藻FACHB-3550进行共培养时, 栅藻FACHB-1229所占比例持续升高。综上, 栅藻FACHB-1229具备与微囊藻竞争的优势, 有望成为微囊藻水华生物控制的优选材料。     

南极大磷虾粉对卤虫脂肪酸和氨基酸的营养强化作用

以卤虫(Artemia sp.)Ⅱ龄无节幼体作为试验材料,研究0、75、150、225 mg·L-1的南极大磷虾(Euphausia superba)粉对卤虫体内脂肪酸和氨基酸的强化效果,试验共进行18 h,每6h取样检测一次.结果表明:强化组各时段的二十二碳六烯酸、ω3-系列多不饱和脂肪酸总量以及多不饱和脂肪酸总量均显著高于对照组;除了75和225 mg·L-1组6h的二十碳五烯酸与对照组无显著差异外,其他各时段的二十碳五烯酸亦显著高于对照组;75mg·L-1组18h以及150 mg·L-1组12和18h的二十碳四烯酸亦显著升高;150 mg·L-1组的必需氨基酸总量和总氨基酸含量均显著高于对照组,此外,150 mg·L-1组各时间段的必需氨基酸总量/氨基酸总量比值显著高于其他两个强化组和对照组,225 mg·L-1组12 h的必需氨基酸总量/氨基酸总量比值显著高于对照组;南极大磷虾粉对卤虫的脂肪酸和氨基酸均具有较好的营养强化效果,并以150 mg·L-1的强化浓度,12和18 h的强化时间为宜.     

家蚕体内因缺乏维生素B6而引起的若干代谢变动

采用不含桑叶粉末、以去维生素牛乳酪蛋白为蛋白源的准合成饲料饲育家蚕Bombyx mori 5龄幼虫,探讨了缺乏维生素B₆（VB₆）对蚕体氨基酸代谢、脂肪酸代谢以及转氨酶活力的影响。缺乏VB₆引起支链氨基酸分解代谢受阻,幼虫体液中大量积累亮氨酸、缬氨酸和异亮氨酸。同时因绢丝腺发育停滞,丝氨酸也在体液中积累。另一方面,缺乏VB₆幼虫体液中赖氨酸、脯氨酸、精氨酸、甲硫氨酸和谷氨酸含量减少,其中赖氨酸尤为突出。推测缺乏VB₆引起赖氨酸分解代谢亢进。结果还表明,缺乏VB₆幼虫体内脂肪酸代谢异常,谷丙转氨酶活力显著低下。     

Effects of rumen-protected betaine supplementation on meat quality and the composition of fatty and amino acids in growing lambs

Rumen-protected betaine (RPB) can enhance betaine absorption in the small intestine of ruminants, while betaine can alter fat distribution and has the potential to affect the meat quality of livestock. Hence, we hypothesized that RPB might also affect the meat quality of lambs. Sixty male Hu sheep of similar weight (30.47 ± 2.04 kg) were selected and randomly subjected to five different treatments. The sheep were fed a control diet (control treatment, CTL); 1.1 g/day unprotected-betaine supplemented diet (UPB); or doses of 1.1 g/day (low RPB treatment; L-PB), 2.2 g/day (middle RPB treatment; M-PB) or 3.3 g/day (high RPB treatment; H-PB) RPB-supplemented diet for 70 days. Slaughter performance, meat quality, fatty acid and amino acid content in the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle, shoulder muscle (SM) and gluteus muscle (GM) were measured. Compared with CTL, betaine (including UPB and RPB) supplementation increased the average daily weight gain (ADG) (P < 0.05) and average daily feed intake (P < 0.01) of lambs. Rumen-protected betaine increased ADG (P < 0.05) compared with UPB. With increasing RPB doses, the eye muscle area of the lambs linearly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with CTL, betaine supplementation decreased water loss (P < 0.05) in SM and increased pH₂₄ in the SM (P < 0.05) and GM (P < 0.05). Compared with UPB, RPB decreased water loss in the GM (P < 0.01), decreased shear force (P < 0.05) in the LD and SM and increased the pH of the meat 24 h after slaughter (pH₂₄). With increasing RPB doses, the shear force and b* value in the LD linearly decreased (P < 0.05), and the pH₂₄ of the meat quadratically increased (P < 0.05). Compared with CTL, betaine supplementation increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid in the GM (P < 0.05). Compared with UPB, RPB supplementation decreased the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content in the LD (P < 0.05) and increased the unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acids and UFA/SFA ratio in the LD (P < 0.05). Compared with CTL, the content of histidine in the LD increased with betaine supplementation. Compared with UPB, RPB supplementation increased the content of total free amino acids and flavor amino acids in the LD of lambs (P < 0.05). With increasing RPB, the isoleucine and phenylalanine contents in the LD linearly increased (P < 0.05). Overall, the data collected indicated that the meat quality of lambs (especially in the LD) improved as a result of betaine supplementation, and RPB showed better effects than those of UPB.     

Biomass production and fatty acid profile of a Scenedesmus rubescens-like microalga

This investigation examined the effects of nitrogen–phosphate combined deficiency on the biomass yield, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) production and composition from Scenedesmus rubescens-like microalga. A 15-day indoor culture was performed as a 3 × 3 factorial design (NaNO₃ levels: 3, 10 and 20 mM; KH₂PO₄ levels: 20, 50 and 150 μM). The algae grown under medium nitrogen concentration (10 mM) and high phosphate concentration (150 μM) reached the highest biomass (1223.5 ± 152.5 mg/L). Both nitrogen and phosphate had a significant influence on the FAME yield (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The FAME yield from algae grown under low nitrogen (3 mM) and phosphate concentration (20 μM) increased throughout the experiment and the highest FAME yield (42.2 ± 2.5% of AFDW) as well as C16 and C18 content (95.8 ± 1.6% of AFDW) was achieved under these conditions. Algae grown under medium nitrogen concentration (10 mM) and low phosphate concentration (20 μM) had the highest FAME productivity (426.0 mg/L ± 135.0 mg/L). Thus, the lower nitrogen concentration (3 mM–10 mM) and low phosphate concentration (20 μM) would be an optimal combination tested to produce the most FAME from S. rubescens-like algae.     

蚯蚓活动对土壤氨基酸组分及含量的影响

通过室内培养试验,研究了赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)和威廉环毛蚓(Metaphire guillelmi)对土壤氨基酸组分及含量的影响,并探讨了两种不同生活型蚯蚓作用效果的异同。结果表明:蚯蚓活动可显著改变土壤氨基酸含量,爱胜蚓作用下土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸分别增加5.08 g/kg和7.72 mg/kg,环毛蚓作用下土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸分别增加3.86 g/kg和4.44mg/kg。各处理酸解氨基酸均以中性氨基酸所占比例为最大(平均51.9%),酸性氨基酸次之(平均23.3%),而含硫氨基酸(平均14.4%)及碱性氨基酸最少(平均10.4%)。各处理游离氨基酸同样以中性氨基酸为主,平均54.4%,而以碱性氨基酸含量最少,平均仅为7.2%。蚯蚓活动并未改变土壤氨基酸可检出种类,各处理分别检测出16种酸解氨基酸和14种游离氨基酸。土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸组分含量在蚯蚓作用下均有明显改变:加入爱胜蚓后土壤酸解氨基酸组分中天冬氨酸、精氨酸、甲硫氨酸、丙氨酸、赖氨酸和甘氨酸增幅较高,均在85.7%以上,缬氨酸、苏氨酸、丝氨酸、谷氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸和组氨酸增幅较小在40.7%—62.7%间波动;加入环毛蚓后土壤酸解氨基酸组分中甲硫氨酸、赖氨酸、天冬氨酸、酪氨酸和丙氨酸增幅较大,均在71.9%以上,甘氨酸、精氨酸、异亮氨酸增幅适中,分别为56.8%、55.6%和54.9%;丝氨酸、亮氨酸、苏氨酸、谷氨酸、组氨酸和苯丙氨酸增幅最小,均在40%以下;游离氨基酸组分中组氨酸、精氨酸、甘氨酸、亮氨酸、异亮氨酸和丙氨酸在加入爱胜蚓后增加的幅度较大,增幅在150.0%以上,增幅较为缓和的氨基酸组分有天冬氨酸、苏氨酸、丝氨酸、缬氨酸、谷氨酸和苯丙氨酸,介于58.8%—92.1%之间;环毛蚓作用下,天冬氨酸、精氨酸、丝氨酸和异亮氨酸增幅最大,分别为184.2%、173.3%、163.0%和116.6%;苏氨酸、亮氨酸、缬氨酸和甘氨酸增幅较缓,介于52.3%—92.7%之间;谷氨酸、组氨酸、苯丙氨酸、丙氨酸和甲硫氨酸增幅较低,均在33.1%之下;而半胱氨酸在蚯蚓作用下显著降低,降幅为11.8%。对比两种生活型蚯蚓作用效果可知,土壤氨基酸总含量及各组分含量在爱胜蚓和环毛蚓作用下的增加或减少趋势相同(土壤酸解氨基酸组分缬氨酸除外),但改变幅度却存在明显差异,总体而言,爱胜蚓作用效果优于环毛蚓。     

Branched-chain amino acid metabolism controls membrane phospholipid structure in Staphylococcus aureus

Branched-chain amino acids (primarily isoleucine) are important regulators of virulence and are converted to precursor molecules used to initiate fatty acid synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus. Defining how bacteria control their membrane phospholipid composition is key to understanding their adaptation to different environments. Here, we used mass tracing experiments to show that extracellular isoleucine is preferentially metabolized by the branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase complex, in contrast to valine, which is not efficiently converted to isobutyryl-CoA. This selectivity creates a ratio of anteiso:iso C₅-CoAs that matches the anteiso:iso ratio in membrane phospholipids, indicating indiscriminate utilization of these precursors by the initiation condensing enzyme FabH. Lipidomics analysis showed that removal of isoleucine and leucine from the medium led to the replacement of phospholipid molecular species containing anteiso/iso 17- and 19-carbon fatty acids with 18- and 20-carbon straight-chain fatty acids. This compositional change is driven by an increase in the acetyl-CoA:C₅-CoA ratio, enhancing the utilization of acetyl-CoA by FabH. The acyl carrier protein (ACP) pool normally consists of odd carbon acyl-ACP intermediates, but when branched-chain amino acids are absent from the environment, there was a large increase in even carbon acyl-ACP pathway intermediates. The high substrate selectivity of PlsC ensures that, in the presence or the absence of extracellular Ile/Leu, the 2-position is occupied by a branched-chain 15-carbon fatty acid. These metabolomic measurements show how the metabolism of isoleucine and leucine, rather than the selectivity of FabH, control the structure of membrane phospholipids.     

氨基酸转运载体LAT1研究进展

哺乳动物氨基酸的跨膜运输由多种氨基酸转运载体蛋白介导,其中L型氨基酸转运载体1（LAT1）属于L系统,主要转运大分子支链氨基酸和芳香族中性氨基酸。研究表明,LAT1广泛存在于哺乳动物肝脏、骨髓、大脑、胎盘、心脏和睾丸组织中,LAT1在恶性肿瘤中大量表达,对其不断的增殖起着重要的作用。目前国内对氨基酸转运载体LAT1的研究仍是空白,鉴于LAT1的研究在医学、营养等生命科学领域的研究意义,本文就氨基酸转运载体蛋白LAT1的表达、调节及其相关研究进展作一综述。     

Evaluation of the Chinese indigenous pig breed Dahe and crossbred Dawu for growth and carcass characteristics, organ weight, meat quality and intramuscular fatty acid and amino acid composition

The objectives of the experiment were to evaluate growth and carcass characteristics, organ weight, meat quality and intramuscular fatty acid (FA) and amino acid composition between the Chinese indigenous pig breed Dahe and the crossbred Dawu. The Dahe pigs had lower average daily gain (P < 0.001) and a higher feed conversion ratio (P < 0.001) compared with the Dawu pigs. The Dahe pigs contained less lean meat percentage (P < 0.001) and more carcass fat percentage (P < 0.001) compared with the Dawu pigs. For organ weight, the Dahe pigs had lower relative heart weight and small intestine weight, respectively, compared with that of the Dawu pigs (P < 0.001). In addition, the Dahe pigs showed higher pH values (at 45 min and 24 h, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), higher Marbling score (P < 0.05), lower Minolta L values (at 45 min and 24 h, P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) and lower muscle fiber area (P < 0.05) than did the Dawu pigs. C18:1, C16:0, C18:0 and C18:2 were the main FAs and nine essential amino acids were found in the Longissimus dorsi of the two breeds.     

氨基酸前体对棘白霉素B发酵合成的影响

以构巢曲霉(Aspergillus nidulans)发酵生产酯肽类化合物棘白霉素B,研究棘白霉素B己肽环结构的前体性氨基酸对产物的代谢影响,显示出脯氨酸、鸟氨酸、苏氨酸在发酵48 h 补入,对发酵代谢有促进作用.利用响应面统计学方法进行前体及有机氮源配方优化,得出优化配方:脯氨酸4.55 mg/mL,鸟氨酸1.85 mg/mL,苏氨酸0.97 mg/mL,棉籽粉2.62％,摇瓶发酵水平达到3 270μg/mL,较原水平提高30.2％.新工艺在50 L罐上放大,发酵水平进一步提高至3 520 μg/mL,显示出良好的工业应用前景.     

Grouping of amino acid types and extraction of amino acid properties from multiple sequence alignments using variance maximization

Understanding of amino acid type co-occurrence in trusted multiple sequence alignments is a prerequisite for improved sequence alignment and remote homology detection algorithms. Two objective approaches were used to investigate co-occurrence, both based on variance maximization of the weighted residue frequencies in columns taken from a large alignment database. The first approach discretely grouped amino acid types, and the second approach extracted orthogonal properties of amino acids using principal components analysis. The grouping results corresponded to amino acid physical properties such as side chain hydrophobicity, size, or backbone flexibility, and an optimal arrangement of approximately eight groups was observed. However, interpretation of the orthogonal properties was more complex. Although the principal components accounting for the largest variances exhibited modest correlations with hydrophobicity and conservation of glycine, in general principal components did not correspond to physical properties of amino acids. Although not intuitive, these amino acid mathematical properties were demonstrated to be robust and to improve local pairwise alignment accuracy, relative to 20 amino acid frequencies alone, for a simple test case.