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Volatiles with a pleasant smell are typical characteristics of both raw and cooked seafood. However, the effect of salinity on volatiles in marine bivalves remains unclear. In the current study, the volatiles in raw and cooked Sinonovacula constricta cultured under different salinities were investigated by head space-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Overall 28 volatiles were identified in the raw samples and mainly comprised 1-pentanol (15.32-23.95%), 1,5-octadien-3-ol (14.20-16.73%) and 1-octen-3-ol (14.20-15.63%). A total of 41 volatiles, dominated by pentanal (32.33-46.80%), 1-pentanol (10.88-16.48%) and hexanal (5.64-13.70%), were determined in the cooked samples. Irrespective of whether they were raw or had been cooked, S. constricta cultured under high salinity possessed more abundant volatiles than those reared under low salinity. When the culture salinity of S. constricta was raised, changes in the volatile content occurred. For S. constricta cultured at low salinity, rearing at high salinity for several days prior to harvest could greatly improve the volatile content. This finding is of value for the improvement of volatiles important for odor and taste in other marine bivalves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much attention has been paid on studies of astaxanthin accumulation process in Haematococcus pluvialis industry. However, growth of H. pluvialis in motile vegetative stage is still the most important and problematic part in the whole cultivation process, such as low growth rate and cell yields. Motile vegetative cells are extremely sensitive to various stresses which make it difficult to maintain the cells of this state to grow. Previous reports showed that motile vegetative cells may have higher biomass yields if applied monochromatic red light. However, metabolic responses of these cells are not completely understood, which constraints application of this illumination protocol in industry. The aim of this study was to examine how critical biochemical changes of H. pluvialis motile vegetative cells were affected by red light when compared with white light. Variation of photosynthetic pigments composition and lipids were mainly studied. By comparing growth process of cultures in red light and white light, prominent variation of pigments composition and lipids changes were observed. The results showed that, even though cell proliferation was the same during exponential growth phase, variation of photosynthetic pigment composition and lipids occurred. The final biomass of cell number was higher in red light group than in white light group. The variations were significant different. Increase or decrease of major photosynthetic membrane lipids to some extent did not influence photosynthesis of the vegetative cells during this phase. However, vegetative cells under polychromatic white light other than monochromatic red light need further metabolic process to adjust its pigment composition and lipids, possibly this is energetically and biochemically unfavorable for motile vegetative cells to growth under white light, a light condition normally not considered as a stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Glycogen metabolism was mainly affected by Karlodinium veneficum. • FAAs content decreased in clam feeding on Karlodinium. • Anabolic metabolism of carnosine was initiated by feeding on Karlodinium. • K. veneficum affect the production of endogenous C 18 PUFA precursors. • VOCs composition differed by feeding different microalgae. • High density of Karlodinium affected the taste and odor. Phytoplankton composition is an important factor affecting the growth and physiological biochemical characteristics of filter-feeding bivalves. With the increasing trend in dinoflagellate biomass and blooms in mariculture areas, how the physio-biochemical traits and seafood quality of the mariculture organism are affected by the dinoflagellates, especially those at nonfatal levels, is not well understood. Different densities of two Karlodinium species, namely K. veneficum (KV) and K. zhouanum (KZ), mixed with high quality microalgal food Isochrysis galbana was applied in feeding manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in a 14-day temporary culture, to comparatively study how the critical biochemical metabolites such as glycogen, free amino acids (FAAs), fatty acids (FAs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the clam were affected. The survival rate of the clam showed dinoflagellate density and species specificity. The high-density KV group inhibited survival to 32% lower than that of the pure I. galbana control, respectively, while KZ at low concentrations did not significantly affect the survival compared with the control. In the high-density KV group, the glycogen and FAA contents decreased (p < 0.05), indicating that energy and protein metabolism were significantly affected. Amount of carnosine (49.91 ± 14.64 to 84.74 ± 8.59 μg/g of muscle wet weight) was detected in all the dinoflagellate-mixed groups, while it was not present in the field samples or in the pure I. galbana control, showing that carnosine participated in the anti-stress activities when the clam was exposed to the dinoflagellates. The global composition of FAs did not significantly vary among the groups. However, contents of the endogenous C 18 PUFA precursors linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid significantly decreased in the high-density KV group compared to all the other groups, indicating that high density of KV affected the metabolisms of fatty acids. From the results of the changed VOC composition, oxidation of fatty acids and degradation of free amino acids might occur in the clams exposed to dinoflagellates. The increased VOCs, such as aldehydes, and decreased 1-octen-3-ol probably produced a more fishy taste and reduced food flavor quality when the clam was exposed to the dinoflagellates. This present study demonstrated that the biochemical metabolism and seafood qulity of the clam were affected. However, KZ with moderate density in the feed seemed to be beneficial in aquaculture for increasing the content of carnosine, a high-valued substance with multiple bioactivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphingolipid compositions are crucial for the structural and physiological properties of microalgae membranes. In the present study, we developed a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometric method based on MS E data collection for the identification of sphingolipids with high efficiency, selectivity, sensitivity and mass accuracy and applied this method for precise structural identification and quantitative profiling of ceramides and glycosphingolipids in total lipid extracts from 17 strains of microalgae, including 11 strains of diatom, 3 strains of dinoflagellate and 3 strains of haptophyta. Using this method, four species of sphingolipids including 27 ceramides, 13 monosaccharide ceramides, 18 disaccharide ceramides and 18 trisaccharide ceramides were identified. The compositions of sphingolipid-included glycosyl moieties, long chain bases and N -acyl chains showed a significant difference among different microalgae categories. Some long chain bases including d19:2, d19:3 and d19:4, glycosyl moieties including disaccharide and trisaccharide, and N -acyl chains such as 14:0, 14:1, 24:0, 24:1, h18:1, h19:1 and h22:0–2 can be chosen as the molecular signature for microalgae from three major phyla. This methodology will be useful for a wide range of physiological and pathological studies of sphingolipids. Furthermore, the diversity of sphingolipid structure could provide a new criterion for microalgae chemotaxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid and sterol changes in razor clam Sinonovacula constricta (Lamarck 1818) reared at different salinities were investigated. In one experiment, juvenile S. constricta with shell length of 1.63 ± 0.11 mm were firstly cultured at 13 psu for 10 days, and then cultured at 8, 13, 18, and 23 psu for another 5 days. In another experiment, adult S. constricta with shell length of 15.54 ± 0.80 mm were cultured at 13 and 23 psu for 40 days. On the 25th day, half of the S. constricta cultured at 13 psu were transferred to 23 psu for another 15 days. The results showed that higher salinity significantly decreased growth rate and crude lipid content in S. constricta . The proportions of long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs, C ≥ 20, double bonds ≥ 3) were significantly increased in S. constricta cultured at higher salinity as compared with those at lower salinity. The proportion of cholesterol was firstly increased and then significantly decreased with increasing salinity. The proportion of brassicasterol was higher in S. constricta cultured at higher salinity, while proportions of other plant sterols showed no obvious change trends. Interestingly, when S. constricta were around 60 days old with shell length of 32.06 ± 1.13 mm, the inhibitory effect of high culture salinity on growth rate was weakened, but the nutritional value was significantly improved. The results of this study suggest an optimal culture mode for S. constricta , i.e. if S. constricta were firstly cultured at lower salinity (10–15 psu) and then exposed to higher salinity (20–25 psu) for a short period of time before harvest, a combination of both optimal production and nutritional value would be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we explored the effects of seven light treatments (white, violet, blue, cyan, green, yellow, and red) on juvenile Sinonovacula constricta (length, 693.79 ± 82.91 μm), employing dark treatment as a control. A rearing experiment was conducted for one week in which the feeding rate was examined daily, e.g., one, two and three h after feeding. At the conclusion of the experiment, overall growth was calculated, and enzymatic activity related to digestion, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase pertaining to antioxidant biomarkers, as well as expression levels of genes related to antioxidation and stress response, were examined. The results showed that the highest growth rates were observed in the yellow light group, while the lowest growth rates were found in the violet and blue light groups; on the other hand, no significant differences were found among the other groups. Meanwhile, when exposed to white, yellow, or green light, juveniles exhibited high feeding rates, while those in the violet and blue light groups showed low feeding rates. Regarding enzymatic activity related to digestion, those of α -amylase, lipase, pepsin, and trypsin were relatively higher in the yellow light group than in the other groups. Regarding oxidative stress, the yellow light group showed higher superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities than the other groups. In contrast, the lowest malonaldehyde level was found in the white light group, followed by yellow light, while there were no significant differences among the other groups. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to antioxidation and stress response (heat shock protein 70 and glucose-regulated protein 78) in juveniles generally exhibited higher levels in the red light group, whereas they showed relatively lower levels in the yellow light group. Collectively, these results suggest that the application of yellow light may facilitate the growth of juvenile S. constricta , while red and violet light have opposite effects. • Light spectrum differently influenced the growth of juvenile S. constricta. • Yellow light facilitated the growth of juvenile S. constricta. • Yellow light induced less stress to S. constricta. • Red and violet lights impaired the growth of juvenile S. constricta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution associated with aquaculture activities is one of the major bottlenecks encountered in the sustainable development of fisheries. Accumulating organic carbon (org-C) is an inevitable but undesirable consequence of aquaculture activities, and its degradation influences nutrient flux. However, neither the variations in org-C accumulation nor its impact on phosphorus (P) dynamic has been clearly untangled and reliably quantified so far. Therefore, we carried out a field survey to examine the influences of org-C accumulation on sediment P release in mariculture ponds. The results suggested that org-C contents varied considerably between ponds, being significantly lower in monoculture ponds with bivalve shellfish than in polyculture ponds with bivalve shellfish, shrimp, crab, and fish, likely due to the less-artificial-feeding practice and the function of bivalve shellfish as "environmental cleaners." Sediment P in mariculture ponds mainly occurred in iron-bound P (44%) and organic-P (hot NaOH-extractable organic + acid-soluble organic P = 56%), while calcium-bound P (Ca P) only contributed a tiny proportion of about 1%. The positive correlation between P-flux from sediment and org-C suggested that org-C enrichment can stimulate sediment P release. Further analysis of the linear mixed model combined with piecewise structural equation modeling indicated that the two main forces driving P release - enzymatic hydrolysis release and anoxic desorption - operate with sediment org-C being a significant factor (accounted for 75% of the variation in P-flux). At the same time, other factors such as alkaline phosphatase activity, pH, and Ca P may play minor roles in affecting P release. Our findings indicated that org-C accumulated in the aquaculture ponds might trigger sediment P release, posing a potential risk of contaminating the downstream water bodies during tailwater discharge. • Accumulating organic carbon can increase P flux from sediment. • P release was more pronounced in polyculture than in monoculture systems • Organic carbon plays a key role in shaping the phoD -harboring bacteria. • Enzymatic hydrolysis release was the leading force in driving P release. • Anaerobic desorption explains some of the released P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinonovacula constricta is an important bivalve with strong photosensitivity and a robust circadian rhythm. To elucidate the light entrainment of the molecular circadian clock in this species, this study identified the clock genes, characterized their tissue distribution, and investigated their transcriptional variations under different light regimes: LD (12 h light/12 h dark cycle), LL (continuous light), and DD (continuous dark). The results showed that the S. constricta clock system consists of seven genes [ Circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (ScClock), Brain and muscle ARNT-like protein (ScBmal), Cryptochrome (ScCry1 and 2), Period (ScPer), and Timeless (ScTimeless1 and 2)] that are closely related to their orthologs in marine mollusks and contained corresponding conserved functional regions, indicating the conserved evolution of the circadian clock among organisms. These genes were expressed in all tissues, with high expression in the labial palps and hepatopancreas, suggesting a complex peripheral biological clock in S. constricta and the critical role of these two tissues in circadian functions. When exposed to different light regimes in labial palps, genes from the positive loop (ScClock and ScBmal) displayed a daily/circadian rhythm under both LD and DD and their acrophases were shifted by 5–7 h, whereas genes from the negative loop displayed daily rhythms (ScCry1 and ScPer) under LD and circadian rhythms (ScCry2 and ScTimeless2) under DD. However, only one gene (ScTimeless2) displayed a circadian rhythm under LL conditions. These results suggest that the S. constricta circadian system may be regulated by different clock genes to adapt to various light environments. Although similar phenomena were observed in the hepatopancreas, markedly different clock gene expression patterns occurred between the two tissues, indicating a tissue-specific regulated circadian system. Collectively, this study reveals how the circadian oscillators of S. constricta respond to light and may promote light environment optimization in the S. constricta farming industry. • The molecular circadian clock was conserved in S. constricta. • A peripheral and tissue-specific clock might exist in S. constricta. • The S. constricta circadian clock was synchronized by photoperiod. • A functional clock exists in S. constricta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin affects physiological processes that have circadian and seasonal cycles and causes behavioural changes in nearly all organisms, ranging from bacteria to mammals. However, no studies have focused on the presence, biosynthetic pathway, and rhythms of melatonin in bivalves, which are considered as the class of molluscs with the highest economic value. Here, the metabolic pathway and tissue distribution of melatonin, tissue transcription profiles of melatonin-related genes [key synthases arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase type 2 and 5 (aanat2 , aanat5), N-acetylserotonin methyltransferase (asmt), and melatonin receptor type 1 A1 and C3 (MTNR1A1 , MTNR1C3)], daily changes in melatonin, transcripts of genes, and effects of four lights (blue, cyan, orange, and red) during the night on melatonin secretion were studied in a bivalve species, razor clam Sinonovacula constricta. Our results showed the presence of complete metabolic and circadian entrainment pathways of melatonin. The melatonin content in the lymphocytes and labial palp was higher than that in the other studied tissues, and aanat2 , aanat5 , asmt , MTNR1A1 , and MTNR1C3 mRNA levels were the highest in the labial palp. Melatonin fluctuated rhythmically in lymphocytes and labial palps and increased at night. Similarly, aanat2 , aanat5 , asmt , MTNR1A1 , and MTNR1C3 mRNA levels were rhythmic in the labial palp, peaking at night. In addition, blue light effectively inhibited the nocturnal secretion of melatonin in the clam. In summary, our results suggest that melatonin plays a role in light signal transduction and the circadian system in S. constricta. • Melatonin could be biosynthesized by the clam Sinonovacula constricta. • Labial palp probably is an important tissue where melatonin exerted its function. • The biosynthesis and secretion of melatonin in the clam are enhanced under the dark phase of the photoperiod. • Blue light inhibits melatonin production in the clam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we aimed to explore the optimal light intensity for the breeding of Sinonovacula constricta , and the effect of light intensity on the growth of S. constricta at different developmental stages was studied. Four developmental stages (spawning, fertilized eggs, planktonic larvae, and juveniles) and different light intensities were set up in our current experiments. The results showed that various light intensities had significantly different effects on spawning amount and initial spawning time, while it had little influence on the hatchability of fertilized eggs (P > 0.05). The spawning amount of the razor clam peaked at a light intensity of 44–250 lx (P < 0.05). In the planktonic larvae experiment, the highest survival rate appeared at 487 ± 31 lx (58.61 ± 4.0%).For juvenile S. constricta , two substratum thicknesses (1 and 5 mm) and four light intensities, including L 1 (14 ± 11 lx), L 2 (380 ± 145 lx), L 3 (3792 ± 2105 lx), and L 4 (12,244 ± 5290 lx), were set up in a 10-day experiment. When the substratum thickness of 1 mm was applied, the body length and survival rate of S. constricta juveniles (0.26 ± 0.02 mm) in the L 2 group were found to be the largest, which were significantly different compared with the other groups. When the substratum thickness was changed to 5 mm, the body length and survival rate among those groups showed no significant difference. However, when the shellfish samples were changed to a larger size of razor clam (1.45 ± 0.16 mm), a more obvious effect of light intensity on the growth was observed in a 1-mm substratum group compared with the 5-mm group. These results indicated that light intensity exerted a significant effect on the growth of S. constricta at different stages, and each stage exhibited a distinct sensitivity to light intensity. Further study from the aspects of photoreceptors and relevant genes is currently in progress in our laboratory. • Spawning, hatching and growth of S. constricta were affected by light intensity. • All developmental stages of S. constricta were photosensitive, except zygote. • Optimal light intensity is critical for S. constricta breeding and farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel BPQDs/OV-BiOBr S-scheme heterojunction was prepared by a simple deposition method. • LSPR effect is induced by the in-situ precipitation of Bi metal on OV-BiOBr. • 10BPQDs/OV-BiOBr demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance in degrading ofloxacin. • Intimate contact of interface and the stability of BPQDs are improved by introducing moderate OVs. A novel BPQDs/OV-BiOBr S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with tight interfacial contacts was successfully prepared by hydrothermal deposition of appropriate amount of black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) on bismuth bromoxide with oxygen vacancies (OV-BiOBr). The BPQDs/OV-BiOBr S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts exhibited excellent degradation activity for ofloxacin (OFLO) under visible light irradiation. The special oxytropism of oxygen vacancies (OVs) on OV-BiOBr was cleverly used to build an oxygen-deficient environment for BPQDs, which significantly enhanced the intimate contact of heterojunction interface and the stability of BPQDs. Meanwhile, the local surface plasmon resonance effect generated by the precipitation of Bi metal on OV-BiOBr significantly improved its photoresponsiveness. The direction of the internal electric field and the special electron transfer mechanism of the S-scheme heterojunction were analyzed in detail by the combination of density functional theory calculation and experiment. This work provides new insights and ideas for the study of OVs regulation of the S-scheme heterojunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum disilicide (MoSi 2) is a novel crack-healing material used in the traditional thermal barrier coating, which reacts with ZrO 2 to attain a corresponding volume expansion of approximately 138%. However, the pre-oxidation of MoSi 2 causes the "pesting" phenomenon, which degrades the microstructure and mechanical properties throughout the service. To address this issue, the aluminum oxide was fabricated on the MoSi 2 surface using the sol-gel method and low-pressure post-heat treatment to prevent oxygen penetration. The orthogonal experiment investigated the effect of pH, temperature, and water amount on sol generation. Because the Zeta potential difference has reached its maximum value (about 27 mV) at pH 4, the aluminum sol was notably adsorbed on the MoSi 2 particles. The modified MoSi 2 @Al 2 O 3 particles were characterized to understand their morphologies, surface adsorption energy, and crystal structures. The oxygen adsorption energy on the MoSi 2 (103) surface was lower than that on the Mo 5 Si 3 (411) surface, which indicated that the oxidization process can be divided into two independent steps. The Al 2 O 3 shell was uniformly formed on the MoSi 2 particles, especially in the low-vacuum environment (10 MPa) for 3 h post-treatment. The dense core-shell structure can prevent oxygen penetration into the MoSi 2 surface, thus prolonging the self-healing property of MoSi 2. [Display omitted] • Heterogeneous charge between MoSi 2 and C 9 H 21 AlO 3 is maximum at pH 4.0. • "Pesting" phenomenon occurs by the preferential oxidization of adjacent Mo atoms. • MoSi 2 @Al 2 O 3 core-shell structure is uniformly generated in a low-vacuum atmosphere. • MoSi 2 @Al 2 O 3 can prevent oxygen from reacting with the MoSi 2 surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carotenoid profiling of Mytilus coruscus generally depends on the dietary microalgae, and the ingested carotenoids are modified and processed depending on the properties of different tissues. Although much research effort has focused on analyzing carotenoid profiling between microalgae and shellfish, the detailed metabolic pathways of dietary carotenoids in shellfish are poorly understood. In the present study, we carried out feeding experiments with different unialgal cultures (Chaetoceros mulleri and Dicrateria inornata) during the growth stages and examined the carotenoid profiles between the dietary microalgae and the corresponding tissues in order to study the resorption and metabolic transformations of dietary carotenoids in M. coruscus. The results showed that 1) carotenoids mainly occurred in the pre-spawning phase of M. coruscus; the contents of most carotenoids showed the same trends as in dietary microalgae. 2) An association analysis of the total content of carotenoids and relevant gene expression demonstrated that the main tissue for carotenoid synthesis in M. coruscus was the hepatopancreas. The synthetic reactions of the allenic to acetylenic carotenoids pathway and the 4-keto oxidative pathway in M. coruscus coexisted. 3) Quantitative analysis revealed that the carotenoids mytiloxanthin, alloxanthin, and pectenolone containing acetylene groups were selectively assimilated in gonad (69.3–74.1%), mantle (83.2–102%), and muscle (86.9–100%), forming a large percentage of the carotenoids present in those tissues. These results provide new insights into the biosynthetic and metabolic transformation pathways of carotenoids in M. coruscus. • The main tissues for carotenoid synthesis in Mytilus coruscus were hepatopancreas. • The synthetic reactions of allenic to acetylenic carotenoids pathway and 4-keto oxidative pathway in M. coruscus coexisted. • The carotenoids: mytiloxanthin, alloxanthin, and pectenolone containing acetylene groups were selectively assimilated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a greenwater technology, coculturing microalgae with shrimp can improve the rearing water microenvironment and optimize aquaculture sustainability. However, little is known about the extent to which rearing water bacterial communities can be regulated by coculturing and how it occurs. Here, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we investigated the assembly of the bacterial community in a shrimp rearing system cocultured with Nannochloropsis oculata. Lower nutrient concentrations were detected in the N. oculata cocultivation system. Furthermore, a significant regulatory effect of N. oculata cocultivation on the bacterial community structure was also observed. Specifically, N. oculata cocultivation enriched the bacteria affiliated with the orders Flavobacteriales, Desulfuromonadales, Rhizobiales and Rhodobacterales but depleted some opportunistic pathogens such as Vibrionales, Sphingobacteriales and Xanthomonadales. Estimation of the β-nearest taxon index (βNIT) indicated that N. oculata cocultivation could drive the bacterial community assembly from stochastic processes to deterministic processes, and these deterministic effects were attributed to the concentrations of orthophosphate and ammonium (explained 24% of community variation) and the microalgae (explained of 12% community variation) through canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and variance partitioning analysis (VPA). Additionally, network analysis revealed that N. oculata cocultivation could also remodel the co-occurrence patterns and niche characteristics in bacterial community. By linking the modules with nutrient factors, two bacteria affiliated with the genus Psychroserpens and the and order Rhizobiales were negatively correlated with nitrate and orthophosphate, thereby identified as functional bacteria that might cooperate with N. oculata to remove nutrients. Our findings about the assembly processes and co-occurrence patterns of rearing water bacterial community will contribute to understanding and developing greenwater technology for improving rearing water quality. • Nannochloropsis oculata cocultivation enhanced nutrient removal and directionally regulate rearing water microbiome. • N. oculata cocultivation enriched beneficial functional bacteria but depleted opportunistic pathogens. • N. oculata cocultivation strengthened the dominance of deterministic process in bacterial community assembly. • Two functional bacteria identified by modular structure might cooperate with N. oculata to remove nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CuO/ZnO composites were prepared by mechanical grinding. • The UV emission intensity is greatly reduced for the CuO/ZnO composites. • The red-shift of the UV emission peak is observed for the CuO/ZnO composites. • The absorption in the visible range of the CuO/ZnO composites is enhanced compared with pure ZnO. In this work, ZnO and CuO were first prepared by thermal evaporation and direct precipitation, respectively, and then CuO/ZnO composites were obtained by mechanical grinding the mixtures of CuO and ZnO. Scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Raman imaging, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to analyze the morphology, structure, and optical properties of CuO/ZnO composites. Raman spectra suggest that the prepared ZnO has a high crystalline quality, while the CuO/ZnO composites have an internal stress. Compared with ZnO, the absorption edge of CuO/ZnO composites shows a red-shift, and the absorption intensity in the visible region is increased greatly. Pure ZnO shows a strong ultraviolet (UV) emission and a weak green emission. As for the CuO/ZnO composites, with the increase of CuO content, the intensity of the UV emission is gradually reduced and the UV peak is gradually moving towards the longer wavelength direction. The decrease in the UV emission intensity should be attributed to interface effects, and the red-shift of UV emission peaks may be caused by unintentional Cu-doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the production of aquatic animals is very important for fishery management and aquaculture applications. Ovaries have important functions in producing oocytes and hormones. The Chinese clam (Mactra chinensis) is a nutritious saltwater shellfish. Significant biochemical changes take place during the sexual maturation of M. chinensis ; however, the genetic mechanisms of this process are unclear. Transcriptome sequencing can determine gene expression changes as development occurrs. In the present study, transcriptome sequencing was used to produce a comprehensive transcript dataset for the ovarian development of M. chinensis. The different ovarian developmental stages were determined using hematoxylin-eosin staining. There was identification of 54,172 unigenes at the intermediate stage and 63,081 at the ripening stage, and 80,141 all-unigenes were assembled to determine the molecular mechanism of ovarian development in M. chinensis. Quantitative real-time PCR for nine mRNAs confirmed the RNA-seq data. Functional annotation of the transcripts indicated there were important pathways in ovarian development, such as those involving the vitellogenin gene. Six pathways associated with ovarian development were identified: estrogen signaling pathway, GnRH signaling pathway, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, ovarian steroidogenesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and steroid biosynthesis. Significant upregulation of protein kinase alpha (PKA) and calmodulin (CAM) in four of the pathways indicates that PKA and CAM are active in M. chinensis ovarian development during maturation. Results of the present study provide the first comprehensive transcriptomic resource for M. chinensis ovaries, which will increase understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual maturation and promote molecular nutritional studies of M. chinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity-related chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant risk to individuals' health and wellbeing, but the pathological mechanisms and treatment strategies are currently limited. Trans-cinnamic acid (CA) is a key active monomer found in cinnamon bark and is known for its diverse pharmacological activities. However, its effect on obesity-related renal injury remains unknown. In the current study, the in vitro and in vivo experiments were combined to investigate the beneficial effect of CA on renal injury induced by HFD or PA. We found that CA significantly reduced the obesity of zebrafish body and the accumulation of fat in kidney tissues. The histopathological changes and dysfunction induced by HFD were effectively mitigated by CA administration, as evidenced by the detection of Hematoxylin-Eosin straining, NAG activity, creatinine level, and expression of functional-related genes, respectively. Additionally, the in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrated that CA dramatically reduced the oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptosis in HFD-induced kidney tissues or PA-treated HEK293T and HK-2 cells. Finally, the results regarding ERK, JNK, and P38 proteins phosphorylation confirmed that CA may alleviate HFD-induced renal injury by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and P38 MAPK proteins. This theory was further supported by the results of co-treatment with anisomycin (a JNK activator) or lipopolysaccharide and CA in HEK293T cells. This study proves that CA alleviates the obesity-related CKD probably through inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Isochrysis galbana is valuable in aquaculture due to its production of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). However, achieving high yields of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) presents challenges, leading to exploration of innovative approaches. This study investigated the influence of Bacillus jeotgali on the growth of I. galbana and its fatty acid composition. Co-culturing I. galbana with B. jeotgali significantly increased chlorophyll a content and cell abundance, particularly at higher bacterial population densities (algae-to-bacteria ratio of 1:10). Physiological and biochemical analyses found elevated soluble protein content in microalgae co-cultured with B. jeotgali, accompanied by decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Fatty acid composition analysis demonstrated a distinctive profile in co-cultured I. galbana, characterized by increased PUFAs, especially EPA and DHA. Gene expression analysis indicated an upregulation of desaturase genes (d4FAD, d5FAD, d6FAD, and d8FAD) associated with PUFA synthesis pathway in I. galbana during co-culturing with B. jeotgali. This study advances our understanding of bacteria-microalgae interactions and presents a promising strategy for enhancing the production of DHA and EPA., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Phaeodactylum tricornutum a prominent source of industrial fucoxanthin production, faces challenges in its application due to its tolerance to high-temperature environments. This study investigates the physiological responses of P. tricornutum to high-temperature stress and its impact on fucoxanthin content, with a specific focus on the role of cis -zeatin. The results reveal that high-temperature stress inhibits P. tricornutum 's growth and photosynthetic activity, leading to a decrease in fucoxanthin content. Transcriptome analysis shows that high temperature suppresses the expression of genes related to photosynthesis (e.g., psbO , psbQ , and OEC ) and fucoxanthin biosynthesis (e.g., PYS , PDS1 , and PSD2 ), underscoring the negative effects of high temperature on P. tricornutum . Interestingly, genes associated with cis -zeatin biosynthesis and cytokinesis signaling pathways exhibited increased expression under high-temperature conditions, indicating a potential role of cis -zeatin signaling in response to elevated temperatures. Content measurements confirm that high temperature enhances cis -zeatin content. Furthermore, the exogenous addition of cytokinesis mimetics or inhibitors significantly affected P. tricornutum 's high-temperature resistance. Overexpression of the cis-zeatin biosynthetic enzyme gene tRNA DMATase enhanced P. tricornutum 's resistance to high-temperature stress, while genetic knockout of tRNA DMATas e reduced its resistance to high temperatures. Therefore, this research not only uncovers a novel mechanism for high-temperature resistance in P. tricornutum but also offers a possible alga species that can withstand high temperatures for the industrial production of fucoxanthin, offering valuable insights for practical utilization.IMPORTANCEThis study delves into Phaeodactylum tricornutum 's response to high-temperature stress, specifically focusing on cis -zeatin. We uncover inhibited growth, reduced fucoxanthin, and significant cis -zeatin-related gene expression under high temperatures, highlighting potential signaling mechanisms. Crucially, genetic engineering and exogenous addition experiments confirm that the change in cis -zeatin levels could influence P. tricornutum 's resistance to high-temperature stress. This breakthrough deepens our understanding of microalgae adaptation to high temperatures and offers an innovative angle for industrial fucoxanthin production. This research is a pivotal step toward developing heat-resistant microalgae for industrial use., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Phototransduction is based on opsins that drive distinct types of Gα cascades. Although nonvisual photosensitivity has long been known in marine bivalves, the underlying molecular basis and phototransduction mechanism are poorly understood. Here, we introduced the eyeless razor clam Sinonovacula constricta as a model to clarify this issue. First, we showed that S. constricta was highly diverse in opsin family members, with a significant expansion in xenopsins. Second, the expression of putative S. constricta opsins was highly temporal-spatio specific, indicating their potential roles in S. constricta development and its peripheral photosensitivity. Third, by cloning four S. constricta opsins with relatively higher expression (Sc&#95;opsin1, 5, 7, and 12), we found that they exhibited different expression levels in response to different light environments. Moreover, we demonstrated that these opsins (excluding Sc&#95;opsin7) couple with Gαq and Gαi cascades to mediate the light-dependent Ca 2+ (Sc&#95;opsin1 and 5) and cAMP (Sc&#95;opsin12) signaling pathways. The results indicated that Sc&#95;opsin1 and 5 belonged to Gq-opsins, Sc&#95;opsin12 belonged to Gi-opsins, while Sc&#95;opsin7 might act as a photo-isomerase. Furthermore, we found that the phototransduction function of S. constricta Gq-opsins was dependent on the lysine at the seventh transmembrane domain, and greatly influenced by the external light spectra in a complementary way. Thus, a synergistic photosensitive system mediated by opsins might exist in S. constricta to rapidly respond to the transient or subtle changes of the external light environment. Collectively, our findings provide valuable insights into the evolution of opsins in marine bivalves and their potential functions in nonvisual photosensitivity., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Isochrysis zhangjiangensis is an important microalgal species used as bait in aquaculture. However, its optimal cultivation temperature is around 25 °C, limiting its use in summer when temperature is higher. To overcome this limitation, we aimed to develop a consortia of I. zhangjiangensis and bacteria that are more resistant to heat stress. Here, six thermotolerance-promoting bacterial strains were isolated from the culture of a heat-tolerant mutant strain of I. zhangjiangensis (IM), and identified as Algoriphagus marincola, Nocardioides sp., Pseudidiomarina sp., Labrenzia alba, Nitratireductor sp., and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. Further, co-culturing I. zhangjiangensis with A. marincola under high temperature conditions increased cell density, chlorophyll a, PSII maximum photochemical efficiency (F v /F m ), and soluble protein content of microalgae. The presence of A. marincola positively influenced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in I. zhangjiangensis cells, while concurrently reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, gene expression studies confirmed that co-culturing with A. marincola upregulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes (sod and pod) and stress tolerance genes (heat shock protein genes). Our findings indicate that A. marincola effectively helps I. zhangjiangensis withstand high temperature stress, leading to improved yield of microalgae during high temperature conditions. The thermotolerance-promoting bacteria can be exploited as potential inoculants for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of bait microalgae in aquaculture., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

To evaluate the pollution level and health risk of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), seawater, sediments, and aquatic organisms were sampled from the southern sea area of Zhejiang Province (Yangtze River Delta, China) between 2017 and 2019. TPH was widely present in the aquatic environment and products, and its concentration was highly variable. The average value of pollution index (PI) exceeded 1 from 2017 to 2018, and 45.46-69.19% of seawater samples and 56.87-50.00% of sediment samples were polluted. The results showed significant differences in the TPH concentration in various species of aquatic organisms. The average TPH value in aquatic organisms could be ranked in the order as follows: bivalve > shrimp > crab > fish, further reflecting that the ability to accumulate and metabolize TPH existed differently among aquatic organisms within the same pond aquaculture environment. It was relatively safe to eat aquatic products since the exposure risk index was found to be far below the threshold value in this study. Therefore, it would be prudent to undertake regular monitoring of TPH to ensure effective ecosystem functioning and seafood safety in the southern Zhejiang ocean., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Triflumizole (TFZ) toxicity must be investigated in the aquatic environment to understand the potential risks to aquatic species. Accordingly, the adverse effects of TFZ exposure in zebrafish were investigated. Results demonstrate that, after TFZ exposure, the lethal concentration 50 (LC 50 ) in 3 d post-fertilization (dpf) embryos and 6 dpf larvae were 4.872 and 2.580 mg/L, respectively. The development (including pericardium edema, yolk sac retention, and liver degeneration) was apparently affected in 3 dpf embryos. Furthermore, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in 6 dpf larvae were significantly increased. Additionally, the expression of heat shock response genes (including hsp70 , grp78 , hsp90 , and grp94 ), inflammatory genes (including p65-nfκb , il-1β , and cox2a ), and lipid synthetic genes (including srebp1 , fas , acc , and ppar-γ ) in 3 dpf embryos was significantly increased, which was also partially observed in the intestinal cell line form Pampus argenteus . Taken together, TFZ could affect the development of zebrafish, accompanied by disturbances of oxidative stress, heat shock response, inflammation, and lipid synthesis. Our findings provide an original insight into the potential risks of TFZ to the aquatic ecosystem.

Background: P-selectin is a molecule participating in the inflammatory response through mediating cellular adhesion and essential for wound repair. However, studies regarding P-selectin in Bivalvia are rare. This study identified 90 P-selectin genes among nine bivalve genomes and classified them into 4 subfamilies according to phylogenetic analysis., Results: Notable P-selectin gene expansion was observed in two Venerida species, Sinonovacula constricta and Mercenaria mercenaria. The synteny analysis revealed that P-selectin gene expansion was mostly caused by tandem duplication. In addition, the expression profiles of P-selectin genes in S. constricta showed that many P-selectins were specifically highly expressed in the gills, and the P-selectin expression patterns changed dramatically under low salt stress and ammonia nitrogen stress., Conclusions: The massive expansion of P-selectins may facilitate the tolerance to environmental stresses. This study sheds light on the characterizations and expression profiles of P-selectin genes in Bivalvia and provides an integrated framework for further investigation of the role of P-selectins in the environmental tolerance of bivalves., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Phloroglucinol improves shoot formation and somatic embryogenesis in several horticultural and grain crops, but its function in microalgae remains unclear. Here, we found that sufficiently high concentrations of phloroglucinol significantly increased fucoxanthin synthesis, growth, and photosynthetic efficiency in the microalga Thalassiosira pseudonana. These results suggested that the role of phloroglucinol is conserved across higher plants and microalgae. Further analysis showed that, after phloroglucinol treatment, the contents of cis -zeatin and brassinolide in T. pseudonana increased significantly, while the contents of trans -zeatin, N 6 -isopentenyladenine (iP), auxin, and gibberellin were unaffected. Indeed, functional studies showed that the effects of cis -zeatin and brassinolide in T. pseudonana were similar to those of phloroglucinol. Knockout of key enzyme genes in the cis -zeatin synthesis pathway of T. pseudonana or treatment of T. pseudonana with a brassinolide synthesis inhibitor (brassinazole) significantly reduced growth and fucoxanthin content in T. pseudonana , and phloroglucinol treatment partially alleviated these inhibitory effects. However, phloroglucinol treatment was ineffective when the cis -zeatin and brassinolide pathways were simultaneously inhibited. These results suggested that the cis -zeatin and brassinolide signaling pathways are independent regulators of fucoxanthin synthesis in T. pseudonana and that phloroglucinol affects both pathways. Thus, this study not only characterizes the mechanism by which phloroglucinol promotes fucoxanthin synthesis but also demonstrates the roles of cis -zeatin and brassinolide in T. pseudonana . IMPORTANCE Here, we demonstrate that phloroglucinol, a growth promoter in higher plants, also increases growth and fucoxanthin synthesis in the microalga Thalassiosira pseudonana and therefore may have substantial practical application for industrial fucoxanthin production. Phloroglucinol treatment also induced the synthesis of cis -zeatin and brassinolide in T. pseudonana , and the cis -zeatin and brassinolide signaling pathways were implicated in the phloroglucinol-driven increases in T. pseudonana growth and fucoxanthin synthesis. Thus, our work clarified the molecular mechanism of phloroglucinol promoting the growth and fucoxanthin synthesis of Thalassiosira pseudonana and suggested that cis -zeatin and brassinolide, in addition to phloroglucinol, have potential utility as inducers of increased microalgal fucoxanthin production.

Chrysotila is a genus of coccolithophores. Together with Emiliania , it is one of the representative genera in the Haptophyta which have been extensively studied. They are photosynthetic unicellular marine algae sharing the common characteristic of the production of CaCO 3 platelets (coccoliths) on the surface of their cells and are crucial contributors to global biogeochemical cycles. Here, we report the genome assembly of Chrysotila roscoffensis . The assembled genome size was ~636 Mb distributed across 769 scaffolds with N50 of 1.63 Mb, and maximum contig length of ~2.6 Mb. Repetitive elements accounted for approximately 59% of the genome. A total of 23,341 genes were predicted from C. roscoffensis genome. The divergence time between C. roscoffensis and Emiliania huxleyi was estimated to be around 537.6 Mya. Gene families related to cytoskeleton, cellular motility and morphology, and ion transport were expanded. The genome of C. roscoffensis will provide a foundation for understanding the genetic and phenotypic diversification and calcification mechanisms of coccolithophores.

Rationale: The precise identification of carotenoid esters of Penaeus monodon, especially those in the carotenoid skeleton, needs to occur during mass spectrometry analysis. Detailed structural information about carotenoid esters is significant not only for the assessment of nutritional quality, but also for tracing biosynthetic precursors., Methods: The profiling of carotenoid esters in P. monodon was elucidated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap-HRMS). The raw LC/MS data were analyzed using Exact Finder™ software., Results: The structurally relevant ions, *l and *m, were considered markers of the astaxanthin monoester. Moreover, the carotenoid skeleton was unequivocally identified using the diagnostic ions *i, *j/*j' and *g/*g' generated by the carbon-carbon bond cleavage between β-ionone ketones and conjugated polyene moieties. In total, 24 carotenoid esters were identified in P. monodon based on the fragmentation patterns discussed above. The identified carotenoid skeleton includes astaxanthin, astacene, oxidized astaxanthin and adonixanthin, which have been described for the first time., Conclusions: Characterization of the unknown carotenoid esters demonstrates the capabilities of this methodology, which is significant for enriching the carotenoid species in P. monodon., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background and Purpose: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) usually experience recurrent acute exacerbations. These patients, especially those with stable COPD, require an effective intervention for treating exacerbations. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Compound Caoshi silkworm granules (CCSGs) in stable COPD patients and to investigate their potential mechanism., Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed at Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University. Patients were enrolled in this study if they met the criterion of stable COPD. A total of 40 patients were randomly divided into the following 2 groups: Group A (n = 20, routine treatment (RT) group) and Group B (n = 20, RT plus CCSGs [RT plus CCSGs] group). The duration of treatment was 3 months. Stool samples were collected from all patients on day 0 and the gut microbiota was analyzed using 16s rRNA sequencing. The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores and lung function were assessed at month 0 and month 3., Results: The components of gut microbiota differed between stable COPD patients and the healthy population. The RT plus CCSGs group showed improved SGRQ scores compared to the RT group. There was no difference in forced expiratory volume-one second, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume-one second/forced vital capacity between the two groups. Furthermore, the abundance of gut microbiota in patients with the top 10 SGRQ scores (Group N) differed from the abundance of gut microbiota in those with the lowest 10 SGRQ scores (Group T)., Conclusion: CCSGs have beneficial effects in the improvement of symptoms in stable COPD patients over a 3-month treatment period. The potential underlying mechanism may be attributable to the difference in gut microbiota among patients. However, more research is needed to confirm this conclusion.

Background: Sinonovacula constricta is an economically important bivalve species in China, Korea and Japan that widely resides in estuarine and coastal areas where salinity fluctuates rapidly. However, little is known about its adaptation mechanisms to acute salt stresses., Objective: To reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in acute salt stresses in juvenile S. constricta., Methods: Nine cDNA libraries (triplicate each trial) were established from juvenile S. constricta, which were subjected to low salinity (5 psu), optimal salinity (15 psu) and high salinity (25 psu) for 6 h, respectively., Results: Illumina sequencing generated 478,587,310 clean reads totally, which were assembled into 427,057 transcripts of 246,672 unigenes. Compared with the control, 1259 and 2163 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under acute low and high salt stresses, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of DEGs revealed that several key metabolic modulations were mainly responsible for the acute salt stresses. According to the significantly highlighted KEGG pathways, some key DEGs were identified and discussed in details. Notably, based on which, some potential osmolytes were further speculated., Conclusion: Here, we carried out a unique report of comparative transcriptome analyses in juvenile S. constricta in response to acute salt stresses. The identified DEGs and their significantly enriched GO terms and KEGG pathways were critical for understanding and further investigating the underlying the physical and biochemical performances, and ultimately facilitated S. constricta breeding. Besides, the transcriptome data greatly enriched the genetic information of S. constricta, which were valuable for promoting its molecular biology researches.

Salmonella is a major pathogen that causes acute foodborne outbreaks worldwide. Seafood, particularly shellfish, is a proven source of Salmonella spp. infection because many people prefer to eat it raw or lightly cooked. However, traditional identification methods are too time-consuming and complex to detect contamination of bacteria in the food chain in a timely manner, and few studies have aimed to identify Salmonella in shellfish early in the supply chain. We herein developed a method for rapid detection of Salmonella in shellfish based on the method of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with lateral flow dipstick (LFD), which targets the invasion gene A (invA). The RPA-LFD was able to function at 30-45 °C, and at the temperature of 40 °C, it only took 8 min of amplification to reach the test threshold of amplicons. The established method had both a good specificity and a sensitivity of 100 fg DNA per reaction (20 µL). Regarding practical performance, RPA-LFD performed better than real-time PCR. Another advantage of RPA-LFD is that it was capable of being performed without expensive equipments. Thus, RPA-LFD has potential for further development as a detection kit for Salmonella in shellfish and other foods under field conditions.

Background: Steryl glycosides (SGs) are sterol conjugates found in various plants, especially in those making up human diets. It has been demonstrated that SGs have potential health benefits, and they could be used as food supplements in a variety of food matrixes. Marine microalgae are a potential resource for human food and ingredients. In this study, gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QQQ-MS) was used to characterize unknown SGs in eight microalgae belonging to different classes (Isochrysis galbana 3011, Pavlova viridis, Platymonas helgolandica, Conticribra weissflogii, Thalassiosira pseudonana, Nitzschia closterium, Gymnodinium sp., and Karlodinum veneficum)., Results: The SGs were first extracted from lyophilized algae with chloroform-methanol, purified by solid-phase extraction and analyzed as trimethylsilyl derivatives. Nine SGs have been identified. In particular, new SGs like occelasteryl glycoside and stellasteryl glycoside were found in Gymnodinium sp., 24-methylene cholesteryl glycoside was detected in P. helgolandica, and 4,24-dimethylcholestan-3-yl glycoside was identified as the main constituent of microalga K. veneficum. The results also showed that the compositions of SGs in different microalgae varied, with a range of 5.234 to 0.036 g kg -1 , and microalga P. viridis contained the most abundant SGs., Conclusion: GC-QQQ-MS is a powerful tool to detect SGs with different structures from a variety of microalgae. The compositions of SGs in different microalgae varied greatly. Microalgae are a good source of highly valued SGs. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.)

A quantitative method based on high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS) has been established for five pigments in marine phytoplanktons. The HPLC method used ternary solvent systems and a reversed-phase C16-amide column. In addition, methanol, acetonitrile and aqueous ammonium acetate were used as mobile phases. Five pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, β, β-carotene, lutein and fucoxanthin) were quantified in selective reaction mode. As results, good linear relationships were achieved between the concentrations and the peak areas of the five pigment standards. And their correlation coefficients (r2) were higher than 0.996. The recoveries of the pigment standards were between 82.77% and 99.83%. The inter-day and intra-day precisions were lower than 5% (n = 5). The detection limits of the pigments for this method were between 0.02 and 0.16 μg/L and the quantification limits were in the range from 0.06 to 0.54 μg/L. According to the above method, eleven algae (Heterosigma akashiwo (NMBRah03-2), Heterosigma akashiwo (NMBRah03-2-2), Karlodinium veneficum (NMBjah047-1), Prorocentrum minimum ( NMBjah042), Nannochloropsis oceanic (NMBluh014), Chlorella pyrenoidosa (NMBluh015-1), Pleurochrysis sp. (NMBjih026-1), Prymnesium sp. (NMBjih029), Skeletonema costatum (NMBguh004-1), Thalassiosira weiss- flogii (NMBguh021) and Thalassiosira pseudonana) (NMBguh005)) have been investigated for comparing the pigment distributions. The method is sensitive, accurate, reproducible, and useful for the study of alga compositions.

A method for the simultaneous determination of indole-3-acetic acid, N6-(2-isopentenyl) adenosine, N6-(2-isopentenyl) adenine, trans-zeatin riboside, zeatin, strigolactone, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, gibberellin A3 and jasmonic acid in five different parts of main branch, lateral branch, primary leaf, secondary leaf and stem of Sargasum fusiforme (Hary.) Seichell was established by high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-TQMS). The samples were extracted with methanol/water/formic acid (15 : 4 :1, v/v/v) (containing 0.5% 2, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, BHT) after vacuum freeze-drying. The separation was performed on a Hypersil Gold C18 column by using methanol and water as mobile phases with gradient elution. The analytes were detected by tandem mass spectrometry in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The electrospray ionization (ESI) source was used for the quantitative analysis in the positive mode or negative mode. Under the optimized conditions, the correlation coefficients (r) of the ten phytohormones were from 0. 9989 to 1. 0000 in the linear ranges. The detection limits of the ten phytohormones were 0. 001 2-4. 651 2 μ/L. The average recoveries were 72. 24% -91. 31% with the relative standard deviations not more than 6. 59%. In the five parts of fresh Sargasum fusiforme (Hary.) Seichell samples, the contents of the ten phytohormones were from not detected to 4 041. 431 ng/g. This method has good sensitivity, precision, recovery, and can be used to simultaneously determine the phytohormones.

The investigation on the growth of Pseudomonas sp. and the dynamics of its fatty acids under various culture conditions indicated that the optimum temperature for its growth was 30 degrees C, and the best carbon source was starch. 13 kinds of fatty acids were detected, among which, c16:1(n-7), c15:0, c16:0, c17:0, c18:1(n-6), c18:1 (n-9), 9, 10-cp-c17:0 and iso9, 10-cp-c17:0 were the major ones. When cultured at 30 degrees C, the relative content of unsaturated fatty acids decreased significantly. Carbon source in the media was the crucial factor affecting the contents of odd- and cyclopropane fatty acids. Cluster analysis revealed that temperature had a more obvious effect than carbon source.

Among the marine bacteria isolated from cytotoxic sponge Hymeniacidon perleve, one strain NJ6-3-1 classified as Pseudomonas sp. showed both cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Fatty acid analysis indicated that the bacterial strain consists mainly of C16:1, C16:0, C18:1, C18:0, C15:0, C14:0. One unusual 9,10-cyclopropane-C17:0 fatty acid, and C26:0 also constitute as major component as well as the existence of squalene, the precursor of triterpenoids. The major metabolites in the culture broth were identified as alkaloids, including diketopiperazines and indole compounds, namely 3,6-diisopropylpiperazin-2,5-dione, 3-benzyl-3-isopropylpiperazin-2,5-dione, 3,6-bis-(2-methylpropyl)-piperazin-2,5-dione, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, indole-3-caroxylic acid methyl ester, indole-3-ethanol, and quinazoline-2,4-dione.