Comparative studies on the lipid profiles of female and male gonads of abalone (Haliotis discus hannai)

Lipid profiles of the lipids from female gonads (LFG) and male gonads (LMG) of abalones (Haliotis discus hannai) were evaluated based on the analysis of phospholipid (PL) molecular species, PL class composition, fatty acid (FA) composition, and lipid class composition. These results suggested that lipids from abalone gonads were abundant in omega-3 polyunsaturated FA (n − 3 PUFA, 14.42%–18.27% of total FAs) and PLs including phosphatidylcholine (PC, 21.26–47.85 mg g⁻¹) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE, 9.29–24.10 mg g⁻¹). Furthermore, more than 60 molecular species of PC and PE were determined. Particularly, the molecular species containing n − 3 PUFA including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) constituted majority of PC and PE in LFG and LMG. By contrast, LFG contained more PC and PE species containing EPA. Considering the lipid profiles, abalone gonads are a potential source of PL-form n − 3 PUFA.     

Lipid Composition and Utilization in Early Stage Leptocephalus Larvae of Bonefish (Albula vulpes)

In order to encourage the survival of both captive and wild populations of bonefish (Albula vulpes), a deeper understanding of the species' early developmental characteristics is necessary. During ontogenesis, bonefish utilize lipids as a source of energy before the start of exogenous feeding. The goal of this study is to gain insight into the energetic needs of bonefish leptocephalus larvae in the post-hatch larval stage. Broodstock were collected in the wild and hormone induced. Spawning yielded eggs that were fertilized and were then incubated until hatching. Larval development was monitored throughout the duration of the trial until all larvae perished. Samples of larval tissue were taken to the lab for lipid analysis and composition was compared at different developmental stages. Larval lipid composition was significantly different across sample groups showing a change in lipid content related to development. After hatching, larvae gradually depleted wax esters-sterol ester (WE-SE) reserves over a period of 4 days, while simultaneously increasing hydrocarbon (HC). The role of WE-SE is seemingly tied to both buoyancy and energy reserves due to its high abundance immediately post-hatch and selective catabolism. As larvae weaned off of the nutrition provided by the yolk, exogenous feeding began to diversify lipid composition and overall lipid reserves were depleted. Future directions included the development of optimal larval feeds based on this analysis in order to gain more insight into the nutritional needs and requirements during the critical leptocephalus stages.     

Fatty Acid,Lipid Class,and Phospholipid Molecular Species Composition of the Soft Coral Xenia sp. (Nha Trang Bay,the South China Sea,Vietnam)

The soft corals of the genus Xenia are common for Indo‐Pacific reef ecosystems. Lipid class, fatty acid (FA), phospho‐ and phosphonolipid molecular species compositions were identified for the first time in the soft coral Xenia sp. from Vietnam. Total lipids consisted predominantly of waxes, monoalkyl diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols, sterols, and polar lipids (21.4, 7.7, 14.2, 10.5, and 36.7 %, respectively). Sesquiterpene alcohol, valerenenol, was found. Acids 16:0, 18:3n‐6, 20:4n‐6, and 20:5n‐3 dominated in total FA. The markers of zooxanthellae (18:4n‐3 and 18:5n‐3) and octocorals (24:5n‐6 and 24:6n‐3) were detected. Acids 18:5n‐3, 20:4n‐6, 22:4n‐6, and 24:5n‐6 concentrated in FA of polar lipids, whereas 14:0, 16:0, 16:1n‐7, 18:2n‐6, and 18:3n‐6 were the major FA of neutral lipids. ChoGpl, EtnGpl, SerGpl, CAEP, PtdIns, and lyso ChoGpl constituted 39.5, 20.8, 20.5, 9.7, 4.3, and 5.3 %, respectively, of the sum of phospho‐ and phosphonolipids. Thirty‐two molecular species of phospholipids and ceramide aminoethylphosphonate (CAEP) were determined by high resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Lyso 18:0e PakCho (4.1 %), 18:0e/20:4 PakCho (20.5 %), 18:1e/20:4 PlsEtn (18.0 %), 18:0e/24:5 PakSer (14.0 %), and 16:0 CAEP (9.6 %) were the major molecular species. EtnGpl and PtdIns mainly consisted of alkenyl acyl and diacyl forms, respectively. Alkyl acyl forms predominated in ChoGpl and SerGpl. Acid 24:5n‐6 was a principal FA in SerGpl, whereas 20:4n‐6 was more abundant in ChoGpl and EtnGpl. PtdIns contained various C_20–24 PUFA. In the context of chemotaxonomy of corals, Xenia sp. has the lipid composition typical for soft corals and the FA profile similar to that of alcyonarians with the high level of 18:3n‐6.     

Lipid Dynamics in Diisobutylene-Maleic Acid (DIBMA) Lipid Particles in Presence of Sensory Rhodopsin II

Amphiphilic diisobutylene/maleic acid (DIBMA) copolymers extract lipid-encased membrane proteins from lipid bilayers in a detergent-free manner, yielding nanosized, discoidal DIBMA lipid particles (DIBMALPs). Depending on the DIBMA/lipid ratio, the size of DIBMALPs can be broadly varied which makes them suitable for the incorporation of proteins of different sizes. Here, we examine the influence of the DIBMALP sizes and the presence of protein on the dynamics of encased lipids. As shown by a set of biophysical methods, the stability of DIBMALPs remains unaffected at different DIBMA/lipid ratios. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations confirm the formation of viable DIBMALPs with an overall size of up to 35 nm. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of nitroxides located at the 5th, 12th or 16th carbon atom positions in phosphatidylcholine-based spin labels reveals that the dynamics of enclosed lipids are not altered by the DIBMALP size. The presence of the membrane protein sensory rhodopsin II from Natronomonas pharaonis (NpSRII) results in a slight increase in the lipid dynamics compared to empty DIBMALPs. The light-induced photocycle shows full functionality of DIBMALPs-embedded NpSRII and a significant effect of the protein-to-lipid ratio during preparation on the NpSRII dynamics. This study indicates a possible expansion of the applicability of the DIBMALP technology on studies of membrane protein–protein interaction and oligomerization in a constraining environment.     

Lipid Profiles in By‐Products and Muscles of Three Shrimp Species (Penaeus monodon,Penaeus vannamei,and Penaeus chinensis)

To better understand the health benefits of lipids in shrimp and evaluate their potential value, a comprehensive analysis of lipid profiles in by‐products (head and body carapace) and muscles of shrimps Penaeus monodon, Penaeus vannamei, and Penaeus chinensis is performed. Results show that freeze‐dried muscles of these shrimps contain 3.83%, 4.39%, and 2.93% of lipids, respectively, while the corresponding by‐products contain 4.69%, 5.89%, and 5.39% of lipids, respectively. The total lipids comprise glycerophospholipid (PL, 54.86–77.29%), cholesterol (12.67–18.79%), triacylglycerol (1.28–7.02%), diacylglycerol (0.27–1.58%), monoacylglycerol (0.32–3.04%), and free fatty acid (FFA, 2.84–20.58%). Further, PL contains cholineglycerophospholipid (PLCho, 49.75–66.99 mol%), ethanolamineglycerophospholipid (PLEtn, 14.02–28.16 mol%), serineglycerophospholipid (PLSer, 4.85–12.66 mol%), inositolglycerophospholipid (PLIns, 4.36–15.63 mol%), and cholinelysoglycerophospholipid (LPLCho, 2.07–6.35 mol%). Lipids are abundant in polyunsaturated FA (36.55–42.72% of total FA), among which eicosapentaenoic acid (6.38–11.59% of total FA), and docosahexaenoic acid (7.63–12.08% of total FA) are dominant. About 200 species of PL belonging to PLCho, PLEtn, PLIns, LPLCho, lysoglycerophosphoethanolamine (LPLEtn), and lysoglycerophosphoserine (LPLSer) are characterized. Moreover, the by‐products contain higher amounts of astaxanthin than the muscles. Considering high level of PUFA enriched PL, shrimp by‐products can serve as a source for nutritional lipids. Practical Applications: This study presented a comprehensive analysis of the lipid profiles in by‐products (head and body carapace) and muscles of shrimps Penaeus monodon, Penaeus vannamei, and Penaeus chinensis. The results obtained justified the use of by‐products in shrimp processing, indicating that by‐products can be used for commercial exploitation and production of value‐added products due to PUFA‐enriched PL, especially EPA and DHA.     

A Case Study of the Morphological and Molecular Variation within a Ciliate Genus: Taxonomic Descriptions of Three Dysteria Species (Ciliophora,Cyrtophoria), with the Establishment of a New Species

Three Dysteria species, D. crassipes Claparède & Lachmann, 1859; D. brasiliensis Faria et al., 1922; and D. paracrassipes n. sp., were collected from subtropical coastal waters of the East China Sea, near Ningbo, China. The three species were studied based on their living morphology, infraciliature, and molecular data. The new species D. paracrassipes n. sp. is very similar to D. crassipes in most morphological features except the preoral kinety, which is double-rowed in the new species (vs. single-rowed in D. crassipes). The difference in the small ribosomal subunit sequences (SSU rDNA) between these two species is 56 bases, supporting the establishment of the new species. The Ningbo population of D. crassipes is highly similar in morphology to other known populations. Nevertheless, the SSU rDNA sequences of these populations are very different, indicating high genetic diversity and potentially cryptic species. Dysteria brasiliensis is cosmopolitan with many described populations worldwide and four deposited SSU rDNA sequences. The present work supplies morphological and molecular information from five subtropical populations of D. brasiliensis that bear identical molecular sequences but show significant morphological differences. The findings of this study provide an opportunity to improve understanding of the morphological and genetic diversity of ciliates.     

Population Genetics of the Endemic Hawaiian Species Chrysodracon hawaiiensis and Chrysodracon auwahiensis (Asparagaceae): Insights from RAPD and ISSR Variation

The genus Chrysodracon has six endemic species in the Hawaii Islands. Chrysodracon hawaiiensis is endemic to Hawaii Island and was described as a distinct species in 1980. It was listed as an endangered species on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List in 1997. This woody plant species was, at one time, common in exposed dry forests, but it became very rare due to grazing pressure and human development. The tree species Chrysodracon auwahiensis (C. auwahiensis), endemic to Maui and Molokai, still has large adult populations in dry lands of the islands, but unfortunately no regeneration from seed has been reported in those areas for many years. The two endemic species were examined using the molecular technique of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) to determine the genetic structure of the populations and the amount of variation. Both species possess similar genetic structure. Larger and smaller populations of both species contain similar levels of genetic diversity as determined by the number of polymorphic loci, estimated heterozygosity, and Shannon’s index of genetic diversity. Although population diversity of Chrysodracon hawaiiensis (C. hawaiiensis) is thought to have remained near pre-disturbance levels, population size continues to decline as recruitment is either absent or does not keep pace with senescence of mature plants. Conservation recommendations for both species are suggested.     

Seasonal Variation in Concentrations of Fiber, Crude Protein, and Phenolic Compounds in Leaves of Red Alder (Alnus Rubra): Nutritional Implications for Cervids

We sought to determine whether changes in chemical composition could be a factor in increased utilization of red alder (Alnus rubra) by the two cervids, the Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti), during the fall in parts of the Douglas fir region of the Pacific Northwest. We found that concentrations and astringency of phenolic compounds decreased from spring through fall, while crude protein content remained high. We conclude that red alder leaves provide a significant source of digestible protein for cervids during fall, when availability of nutrients in most forage species is generally declining.     

Lipid Classes,Fatty Acid Distributions and Triacylglycerol Molecular Species of Broad Beans (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis>)

Seed oils from four legume cultivars of Vicia faba, grown in Japan, were extracted and classified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) into eight fractions. The major lipid components were triacylglycerols (TAG: 48.8–50.1%) and phospholipids (PL: 47.5–50.5%), while hydrocarbons (HC), steryl esters (SE), free fatty acids (FFA), diacylglycerols (1,3- and 1,2-DAG) and monoacylglycerols (MAG) were present in minor proportions (1.8–2.4%). All lipid samples had high amounts of total unsaturated FA, representing 79.7–82.8% and 77.6–79.7% for TAG and PL, respectively. Molecular species and FA distributions of TAG, isolated from the total lipids in the broad beans, were analyzed by a combination of argentation-TLC and GC. Fourteen different molecular species were detected. With a few exceptions, the main TAG components were S₂D (6.1–8.9%), SD₂ (7.8–10.5%), SMT (6.3–8.5%), M₂D (4.5–6.2%), MD₂ (18.9–21.8%), D₃ (21.0–23.9%) and MDT (8.1–10.2%) (where S, M, D, and T denote a saturated fatty acid, a monoene, a diene, and a triene, respectively). These results suggest that the lipid classes, FA distributions and TAG molecular species of broad beans are not dependent on the cultivation areas during the growing season.     

Profiles of Lipid Components,Fatty Acid Compositions and Triacylglycerol Molecular Species of Adzuki Beans (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna angularis</Emphasis>)

Fatty acid (FA) compositions and molecular species of triacylglycerols (TAG) isolated from total lipids extracted from adzuki beans (Vigna angularis) were determined with a combination of AgNO₃-TLC and GC, and were compared in relation to the content of endogenous antioxidants analyzed by HPLC. δ-Tocopherol was present in the highest concentration (53.7–89.3 mg/kg), and γ-tocopherol in small amounts (11.2–14.8 mg/kg). The main lipid components were phospholipids (72.2–73.4%) and TAG (20.6–21.9%), whilst other components were also present in minor proportions (0.1–3.4%). Eighteen different TAG molecular species were identified and quantified by successive applications of AgNO₃-TLC and GC. The main components were SMD (4.6–5.0%), S₂T (13.4–16.4%), SD₂ (11.8–14.3%), SMT (7.3–8.3%), SDT (9.9–10.6%), D₃ (6.9–7.9%), MT₂ (5.2–6.3%), D₂T (7.0–11.2%), DT₂ (7.4–7.6%) and T₃ (6.2–7.2%) (where S, M, D, and T denote a saturated FA, a monoene, a diene, and a triene, respectively). No marked difference (P > 0.05) in the molecular species composition could be observed among the five cultivars. The results could be useful to both consumers and producers for manufacturing traditional adzuki confectionaries in Japan and elsewhere.     

Comparative Phloem Chemistry of Manchurian (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fraxinus mandshurica</Emphasis>) and Two North American Ash Species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fraxinus americana and Fraxinus pennsylvanica</Emphasis>)

Recent studies have investigated interspecific variation in resistance of ash (Fraxinus spp.) to the exotic wood-boring beetle, emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis). Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) is an Asian species that has coevolved with EAB. It experiences little EAB-induced mortality compared to North American ashes. Host phloem chemistry, both constitutive and induced, might partly explain this interspecific variation in resistance. We analyzed the constitutive phloem chemistry of three ash species: Manchurian ash and North American white (Fraxinus americana) and green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) ash. Analysis of the crude phloem extracts revealed the presence of an array of phenolic compounds including hydroxycoumarins, a monolignol, lignans, phenylethanoids, and secoiridoids. Both qualitative and quantitative differences were observed among the three ash species. Hydroxycoumarins and the phenylethanoids, calceloariosides A and B, were present only in the phloem of Manchurian ash and might represent a mechanism of resistance against EAB.