Effect of chitosan on tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) accumulation, hydrolase activity, and morphological abnormalities of the viral particles in leaves of N. tabacum L. cv. Samsun

The effect of chitosan on the development of infection caused by Tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) in leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun has been studied. It was shown that the infectivity and viral coat protein content in leaves inoculated with a mixture of TMV(2 μg/mL) and chitosan(1 mg/mL) were lower in the early period of infection(3 days after inoculation), by 63% and 66% respectively, than in leaves inoculated with TMV only. Treatment of leaves with chitosan 24 h before inoculation with TMV also caused the antiviral effects, but these were less apparent than when the virus and polysaccharide were applied simultaneously. The inhibitory effects of the agent decreased as the infection progressed. Inoculation of leaves with TMV together with chitosan considerably enhanced the activity of hydrolases(proteases, RNases) in the leaves, in comparison with leaves inoculated with TMV alone. Electron microscope assays of phosphotungstic acid(PTA)-stained suspensions from infected tobacco leaves showed that, in addition to the normal TMV particles(18 nm in diameter, 300 nm long), these suspensions contained abnormal(swollen, "thin" and "short") virions. The highest number of abnormal virions was found in suspensions from leaves inoculated with a mixture of TMV and chitosan. Immuno-electron microscopy showed that "thin" virus particles, in contrast to the particles of normal diameter, lost the ability to bind to specific antiserum. It seems that the chitosan-induced activation of hydrolases stimulates the intracellular degradation of TMV particles and hence hydrolase activation may be considered to be one of the polysaccharide-mediated cellular defense mechanisms that limit virus accumulation in cells.

Protective effects of polar lipids and redox-active compounds from marine organisms at modeling of hyperlipidemia and diabetes

Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus are leading causes of mortality in modern society. The search for a novel effective remedy represents an important task for modern medicine. A total mixture of phospho- and glycolipids from sea macrophytes Sargassum pallidum, Ulva fenestrata, Zostera marina was separated and the fatty acid composition was determined. The biological activity of the mixtures of polar lipids and natural redox-active compounds (echinochrome A from the flat sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis and a polyphenolic complex from the sea grass Zostera marina) was studied under conditions of impairments of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Doses and compositions of mixtures of pola lipids and redox-active compounds possessing high corrective activity were optimized in mice with the experimental model of hyperlipidemia and diabetes. Based on these results possible mechanisms of the effects of polar lipids containing various polyunsaturated fatty acids and the investigated redox-active compounds (echinochrome A, rosmarinic acid, luteolin and its sulphate conjugates) have been proposed. The developed compositions may be used for creation of new biologically active additives and remedies.

Seasonal Composition of Lipids, Fatty Acids Pigments in the Brown Alga Sargassum pallidum: The Potential for Health

The present study describes the content of total lipids (TL), the main components of polar and neutral lipids (NL) and photosynthetic pigments (PSP) in edible seaweed Sargassum pallidum (Ochrophyta) from the Sea of Japan, Russia, in different months of the year, taking into account life cycle. Special attention was paid to the fatty acids (FAs) of total lipids as well as the accumulation of important polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in glyceroglycolipids (GL) and reserve lipids in the seasonal cycles of growth. The content of TL strongly varied in the course of a year. The major lipid components were GL (20.3% - 36.4%) and NL (19.8% - 30.6%), while phospholipids (PL) were present in negligible amounts (3.2% - 6.9%). Significant seasonal variations were observed in content all classes of lipids. The PUFAs prevailed in total lipids and the content of n-6 PUFAs was higher than n-3 PUFAs on all stages of life with the exception of vegetation period. Monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglecerols (DGDG) were rich in PUFAs and n-3 PUFAs were dominated among them independently of stages of growth. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were dominated in sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols (SQDG). Triacylglycerols (TAG) and diacylglycerols (DAG) contained many PUFAs, especially n-6 PUFAs. Significant concentration 20:3 n-6 was in the triacylglycerols. The concentration of chlorophylls and carotenoids was increased with the growth and maturation of S. pallidum and reached maximum in period of highest day length and water temperature. The content of pigments decreased with the onset of short days and decreasing water temperatures. Nutritional value and benefit for health of human this alga were evaluated. The n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio, nutritional quality index (atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, and ratio between hypocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids) were low, suggesting a high nutritional value of S. pallidum throughout the year.

Application of Glyceroglycolipids, Photosynthetic Pigments and Extracts of Brown Algae for Suppression ROS

Lipid-rich extracts were obtained from brown algae Saccharina cichorioides, Costaria costata, Chorda filum, Eularia fistulosa, Dictyopteris divaricata, Dictyosiphon chordaria, Silvetia babingtonii, and Fucus evanescens that were collected in Peter the Great Gulf of the Sea of Japan. The ability of algalextracts and glyceroglycolipids (GLs) monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDG), digalactosyldiacylglycerols (DGDG), and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols (SQDG) and carotenoid fucoxanthin to suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, studied. The results showed that algae extracts could suppress ROS. However, extracts of D. divaricata, D. chordaria, C. filum, S. babingtonii, and F. evanescens had a higher degree of suppression of ROS. Extracts of S. cichorioides and D. divaricata showed the dependence of their activity from the month of collecting these algae. The GLs and fucoxanthin were isolated from extracts of using column chromatography with silica gel and their ROS-inhibitory activity was investigated too. The fatty acids (FAs) composition of lipids was determined byGC and GC/MS. It has been found that MGDG and DGDG stronger than SGDG inhibited the ROS and the degree of their activity depended on the species of algae, the month of collection, the amount of PUFA, the ratio of n - 3 and n - 6 PUFA in GLs. Fucoxanthin has shown a high degree of suppression of ROS. This preliminary study has shown the prospect of a deeper study of the suppression of ROS with the help of lipids from algae the Sea of Japan.

The Distribution and Substrate Specificity of Extracellular Nuclease Activity in Marine Fungi

The distribution and specificity of extracellular nucleases produced by marine fungi belonging to eleven genera, namely: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Chaetomium, Fusarium, Gliomastix, Humicola, Penicillium, Scopulariopsis, Wardomyces, Periconia, have implied its important function in the organic phosphorus and nitrogen circle in the Ocean. The fungal nucleases of 64 isolates tested were more or less specific for single-stranded DNA with a high preferential specificity towards poly-U substrate with forming of 5’-phosphate mononucleotides. A couple of the nucleases were capable of RNA digesting. The highest level of extracellular nucleolytic ability was observed in Penicillium spp. isolates. The tight correlation found between extracellular nuclease activity and the rate of thymidine uptake by actively growing and sporulating marine fungus Penicillium melinii suggests that this nuclease is required for fulfilling the nucleotide pool of precursors of DNA biosynthesis during transformation of hyphae into the aerial mycelium and conidia in stressful environmental conditions.

Decumbenones A–C from marine fungus <i>Aspergillus sulphureus</i>as stimulators of the initial stages of development of agricultural plants

The effect of decumbenones A (1), B (2) and C (3) from the marine-derived strain of the fungus Aspergillus sulphureus on the growth of seedling roots of buckwheat, wheat, barley and corn at the concentration range 10﹣5 - 10﹣18 M was studied. It was shown that decumbenone B had a stimulatory effect on the growth of seedling roots of buckwheat, decumbenone A—on the growth of seedling roots of spring soft wheat, decumbenone C—on the growth of seedling roots of spring barley, decumbenone A, B and C —on the growth of seedling roots of corn. The stimulatory effect for some substances was shown at ultra-low concentrations 10﹣12 - 10﹣18 M. It is possible to recommend decumbenones A, B and C for studying in field conditions as growth factors of buckwheat, wheat, barley and corn.

3种海绵中的甘露聚糖专一性凝集素

在3种海绵(Myxillaincrustans,Coelosphaerasp.,Biemnavariantia)中发现了与甘露聚糖结合的专一性凝集素,甘露聚糖的甘露糖残基是通过α(1→2)和α(1→6)相互联接的。对3种海绵凝集素的血凝抑制测试的结果表明,对于海绵Myxillaincrustans凝集素而言,猪腺体糖蛋白、脱酸猪腺体糖蛋白、胎球蛋白和脱酸胎球蛋白都是比较好的抑制剂;对于海绵Coelosphaerasp.凝集素而言,仅猪腺体糖蛋白是有效的抑制剂;而对海绵Biemnavariantia凝集素来说,猪腺体糖蛋白和脱酸猪腺体糖蛋白是有效的抑制剂。这3种凝集素对自然的和用胰蛋白酶消化后的人体红细胞(B型)都有很好的凝集作用,它们的血凝活性不依赖钙离子的存在。

Chlorsiliconorganic Compound Formed during Lipid Separation from Japan Marine Ascidia

The crystal substance has been isolated from?chloroform-ethanol extract of sea organism?Halocynthia?aurantium. A set of spectrometry methods was used to describe a structure of this compound. It was appeared that element analysis showed ≈60% chlorine, less silicon, carbon and hydrogen. Another spectroscopy method (UV, IR, NMR) did not give an additional information. The data obtained suggests us that we have the matter with unusual compound. X-ray-phase analysis was used also. On the basis of an element analysis and X-ray diffraction parameters the formula of compound С2H2Si4Cl12?has been offered.