Ecology of the whiskered sole in the Sado Estuary, Portugal

The abundance of the wiskered sole Monochirus hispidus in the Sado Estuary showed a marked seasonal pattern, the highest densities occurred in spring and summer. The density of this species was mainly related, non‐linearly, to depth, water transparency and percentage of gravel, fine sand and mud in the sediment. Monochirus hispidus fed mainly on crustaceans and polychaets. Significant differences were found between the proportions of prey items eaten and total length class; larger fish consumed more decapods and polychaets. The von Bertalanffy growth equation coefficients differed between sexes. The asymptotic length L _∞ obtained for females was higher compared to males, while the growth coefficient ( K ) was higher for males. Individuals with mature gonads were found between March and September, but the main spawning period of M. hispidus in the Sado Estuary was from March to June.     

外源因子对桦褐孔菌发酵产桦褐孔菌醇的影响

食药用真菌因其丰富的天然活性物质成为具有开发潜力的药物来源。桦褐孔菌Inonotus obliquus作为一种珍稀的药用真菌,因其对糖尿病、消化系统疾病、心血管疾病、肝病和癌症等疾病有良好的治疗效果而受到广泛关注。桦褐孔菌醇（inotodiol）是桦褐孔菌特有的一种羊毛甾烷型三萜类化合物,具有多种抗癌活性。本文的主要目的是研究外源因子的添加对桦褐孔菌液态发酵产桦褐孔菌醇的影响,以及对桦褐孔菌醇合成途径中酶活的影响。结果表明：最佳外源因子是香叶醇,最佳添加浓度和添加时间分别为0.02%（V/V）和第144小时。发酵结束时（240h）桦褐孔菌醇的产量为27.89mg/L是对照组（9.23mg/L）的3.02倍。通过对比添加香叶醇后桦褐孔菌醇的产量变化以及合成途径中4种酶（法尼基焦磷酸合酶、角鲨烯合酶、角鲨烯环氧化酶和羊毛甾醇合酶）的活性变化,对香叶醇的作用机制进行了初步探究。研究结果表明添加香叶醇后,4种酶活性均较对照组有显著的提高,与此对应的桦褐孔菌醇产量也显著增加,说明这4种酶在桦褐孔菌醇合成途径中起到了积极的作用。     

Immunostimulating activity by polysaccharides isolated from fruiting body of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inonotus obliquus</Emphasis>

In this study, we investigated the immunostimulating activity of polysaccharides isolated from fruiting body of Inonotus obliquus (PFIO). Additionally, the signaling pathway of PFIO-mediated macrophage activation was investigated in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. We found that PFIO was capable of promoting NO/ROS production, TNF-α secretion and phagocytic uptake in macrophages, as well as cell proliferation, comitogenic effect and IFN-γ/IL-4 secretion in mouse splenocytes. PFIO was able to induce the phosphorylation of three MAPKs as well as the nuclear translocation of NF-κB, resulting in activation of RAW264.7 macrophages. PFIO also induced the inhibition of TNF-α secretion by anti-TLR2 mAb, consequently, PFIO might be involved in TNF-α secretion via the TLR2 receptor. In addition, our results showed that oral administration of PFIO suppressed in vivo growth of melanoma tumor in tumorbearing mice. In conclusion, our experiments presented that PFIO effectively promotes macrophage activation through the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, suggesting that PFIO may potentially regulate the immune response.     

粗毛纤孔菌的化学成分及抗肿瘤活性成分

本文研究了粗毛纤孔菌的化学成分及抗肿瘤活性成分。对粗毛纤孔菌的甲醇提取物进行石油醚、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇萃取,采用Sephadex LH-20凝胶色谱法,反相C18柱色谱法及高效液相色谱法对不同萃取组分进行分离纯化。分离得到8个化合物,经鉴定分别为麦角甾醇、齿孔酸、4-(3,4-二羟苯基)-3-丁烯-2-酮、phellibaumin A、3,3?-亚甲基双[6-[2-(3,4-二羟苯基)乙烯基]-4-羟基-2H-吡喃-2-酮](MBP)、肌苷、原儿茶酸和原儿茶醛。其中化合物MBP为首次从自然界中分离得到,对其进行了MTT抗肿瘤筛选和细胞凋亡分析。结果表明此化合物对人肝癌细胞HepG2的细胞增殖具有抑制作用,IC50值为2.3μg/mL,并且可以诱导HepG2细胞凋亡,且呈一定的剂量依赖关系。本研究明确了MBP的提取方法,初步断定该化合物抗肿瘤活性是通过诱导细胞凋亡实现的。     

Where does all the calcium go? Evidence of an important regulatory role for trichomes in two calcicoles

In previous studies of the calcicoles Centaurea scabiosa and Leontodon hispidus, the stomata on isolated epidermis closed partially when the concentration of calcium in the medium was above 1 mol m^?3. This is a much smaller concentration than that believed to be delivered into the leaves in xylem sap when the plants are growing in a calcium-rich medium, and hence the mechanism for ‘protecting’ stomata from excessive exposure to free calcium is thought to be of great physiological significance. It is shown here that, in the leaves of both species, a substantial amount of the calcium they contain is located within meso-phyll cells, and virtually all of that which does enter the epidermis is contained within trichomes, probably as calcium oxalate. The amounts of calcium in the vicinity of the stomata thus remain small despite high concentrations elsewhere, ensuring that the essential role of Ca²⁺ in intra-cellular signalling in guard cells can continue to be performed without disturbance.     

桦褐孔菌酚类化合物及其免疫促进作用

Phenolic compounds from field-grown Inonotus obliquus sclerotia (Chaga) consist mainly of hispidin analogs and melanins, and are thought to be the active constituents to treat several human diseases. In submerged cultures of the fungus, however, no information is currently available on the production of phenolic compounds and their corresponding pharmacological functions. In this study, phenolic compounds from Chaga and submerged cultures of the fungus were assayed for their composition and immune-stimulating effects. Phenolic compounds produced by I. obliquus in submerged cultures mostly consist of flavonoids, together with small amounts of hispidin analogs and melanins. This is quite contrary to the situation in Chaga, where flavonoids are determined as trace elements. Furthermore, phenolic compounds from Chaga show capacity about two-fold higher than those produced in submerged cultures in inhibiting cyclophosphamide-induced reduction of bodyweight, spleen index and viability of peripheral lymphocytes in test mice. Thus less production of hispidin analogs and melanins is likely to be responsible for less immune-stimulating effects in phenolic compounds from submerged cultures, and additional factors should be imposed during submerged cultures of I. obliquus to regulate biosynthesis of phenolic compounds directed to the composition similar to Chaga.     

Allelic diversity at the Mhc-DQA locus in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and a comparison of DQA sequences within the family Muridae (Mammalia: Rodentia)

 The cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a common murid rodent of the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Using single-stranded conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing techniques, 11 DQA exon 2 alleles were detected among 180 S. hispidus from Caddo County, Oklahoma, USA. The alleles represent a single locus exhibiting a high level of polymorphism. Nucleotide and amino acid distance values among DQA alleles of S. hispidus were higher than those within Mus musculus and species of Rattus. Although the distribution of polymorphic amino acid residues among alleles of S. hispidus was similiar to that of Mus and Rattus, some residues of the α-helix region were more variable in S. hispidus. Comparisons of nonsynonymous and synonymous substitutions indicated a trend toward higher numbers of nonsynonymous substitutions; however, this difference was not significant statistically among S. hispidus alleles. To examine evolution of DQA alleleswithin Muridae, we performed a phylogenetic analysis that included DQA alleles from S. hispidus, Peromyscus leucopus, M. musculus, R. norvegicus, and six Australian species of Rattus. Results depicted monophyly for each genus, and this concordance between species and gene trees represents a lack of evidence for trans-species persistence of alleles among these genera. Received: 22 October 1998 / Revised: 17 March 1999     

Population genetics of the hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus): patterns of genetic diversity at the major histocompatibility complex

The hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus, is a common rodent widely distributed across the southern USA and south into South America. To characterize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) diversity in this species and to elucidate large-scale patterns of genetic partitioning, we examined MHC genetic variability within and among 13 localities, including a disjunct population in Arizona and a population from Costa Rica that may represent an undescribed species. We also tested the hypothesis that populations within the USA are at equilibrium with regard to gene flow and genetic drift, resulting in isolation-by-distance. Using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis we identified 25 alleles from 246 individuals. Gene diversity within populations ranged from 0.000 to 0.908. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 83.7% of observed variation was accounted for by within-population diversity and 16.3% was accounted for by among-population divergence. The disjunct population in Arizona was fixed for a single allele. The Costa Rican population was quite divergent based on allelic composition and was the only population with unique alleles. Within the main portion of the geographical distribution of S. hispidus in the USA there was considerable divergence among some populations; however, there was no significant pattern of isolation-by-distance overall (P = 0.090). Based on the significant divergence of the only sampled population to its east, the Mississippi River appears to represent a substantial barrier to gene flow.