High levels of docosahexaenoic acid are present in eight New World silversides (Pisces: Atherinopsidae)

ABSTRACT Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the most critical and least available omega-3 fatty acid in the Western human diet. Currently, the source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) is mainly dependent on wild fisheries, making this resource unsustainable in the foreseeable future. In recent years, a high rate of biosynthesis and accumulation of DHA has been discovered in a freshwater species (Chirostoma estor) belonging to the Atherinopsidae family. Interest in evaluating fatty acid composition in other members of the family has emerged, so this study compiles original data of flesh composition of eight atherinopsid species from freshwater and brackish environments, either wild or cultured. High levels of DHA (16 to 31%) were found in all analyzed members of the family, except in C. grandocule, independently of their habitat or origin. The analyzed species of the Jordani group (C. estor, C. promelas and C. humboldtianum) showed high DHA and low EPA levels (<0.5%) as previously reported for cultured C. estor. The low trophic niche of these atherinopsids and their fatty acid accumulation capabilities are factors that make these species noteworthy candidates for sustainable aquaculture.

Experimental evidence of masculinization by continuous illumination in a temperature sex determination teleost (Atherinopsidae) model: is oxidative stress involved?

The present study evaluates the influence of continuous light on phenotypic sex ratios in Chirostoma estor, a temperature sex determination animal model. Relative gene expression levels of 5 day old larvae were performed on two early gonad differentiation genes (sox9 and foxl2), two stress axis activation genes (gcr1 and crf) and four reactive oxygen species (ROS) antagonist effector genes (sod2, ucp2, gsr and cat). Two light treatments were applied from fertilization; control (12L:12D) simulated natural photoperiod and a continuous illumination photoperiod. By the end of the trial (12 weeks after hatching), differentiated and normal gonads were clearly identifiable in both treatments by histological observations. Regarding sex ratio, 73% of phenotypic males were found in continuous illumination compared with 40% in controls. Consistently, the sox9 gene (involved in early testis differentiation) showed an over expression in 64% of the individual larvae analysed compared with foxl2 (ovarian differentiation) suggesting a masculinization tendency in continuous illumination. On the other hand, only 36% of individuals showed the same tendency in the control treatment consistent with phenotypic sex ratios found under normal culture conditions. Relative gene expression results did not show significant difference in sod2, ucp2 and gcr1 levels, but cat, gsr and crf showed significantly higher expression levels in the continuous illumination treatment suggesting that both, the stress axis and ROS response mechanisms were activated at this time. This study suggests, a link between continuous light, oxidative stress and environmental sex determination in vertebrates. However, further research is necessary to describe this possible upstream mechanism that may drive some aspects of sexual plasticity in vertebrates.

A complete chitinolytic system in the atherinopsid pike silverside Chirostoma estor: gene expression and activities

The expression and digestive activity of pike silverside Chirostoma estor endogenous chitinases were analysed in samples from four life stages: whole eggs; larvae; juvenile intestine and hepatopancreas and adult intestine and hepatopancreas. A chitinase cDNA was cloned and partially sequenced (GenBank accession number: FJ785521). It was highly homologous to non-acidic chitinase sequences from other fish species, suggesting that it is a chitotriosidase. Quantitative PCR showed that this chitinase was expressed throughout the life span of C. estor, with maximum expression in the hepatopancreas of juveniles. Chitotriosidase and chitobiosidase activities were found at all life stages, along with a very high level of N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAGase). The chitotriosidase activity could be encoded by the cloned complementary (c)DNA, although additional chitinase genes may be present. The chitotriosidase activity appeared to be transcriptionally regulated only at the juvenile stage. The expression and activity of chitinases tended to increase from the early to juvenile stages, suggesting that these variables are stimulated by chitin-rich live food. Nevertheless, the feeding of juvenile and adult fish with both live food and a balanced commercial diet seemed to provoke significant reductions in pancreatic NAGase secretion and/or synthesis in the gut. Moreover, all chitinase activities were lower in adults, probably reflecting a higher intake and use of the balanced diet. The observation of chitotriosidase and chitobiosidase activities together with a very high NAGase activity suggest the presence of a complete and compensatory chitinolytic chitinase system that enables this stomachless short-gut fish species to use chitin as an energy substrate. These novel findings suggest that dietary inclusions of chitin-rich ingredients or by-products might reduce the farming costs of C. estor without impairing performance.

[Respiratory oxidases: the enzymes which use most of the oxygen which living things breathe]

The respiratory oxidases are the last enzymes of the aerobic respiratory chain. They catalize the reduction of molecular oxygen to water, with generation of an electrochemical gradient useful for the energy demanding cellular processes. Most of the oxidases belong to the heme-copper superfamily. They possess a heme-copper center, constituted of a high spin heme and a CuB center, where the reduction of oxygen takes place and probably where the link to proton pumping is located. The superfamily is divided in two classes: the quinol- and the cytochrome c-oxidases. The latter are divided in the aa3 and the cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidases. The main difference between quinol- and the aa3-type cytochrome c-oxidases is the CuA center, which is absent in the quinol oxidases. The cbb3-type cytochrome oxidases have the binuclear center, but lack the CuA center. They also does not have the classical subunits II and III. These differences seem not to affect the oxygen reduction or the proton pumping. Probably the oxidases have evolved from some denitrification enzymes and prior the photosynthetic process. Also is possible that the cbb3-type cytochrome oxidases or others very similar have been the first oxidases to appear.

[P53 protein and human papillomavirus oncogenes in carcinogenesis of the uterine cervix]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA sequences are found in the majority (90%) of cervical tumors, and in cell lines derived from them. The products of the viral E6 and E7 oncogenes inactivate those from the p53 and Rb tumor suppressor genes. The p53 protein controls the entrance to the cell cycle. When DNA damage occurs, p53 levels are increased, resulting in cell arrest. This allows cells to repair the damage before replication occurs. Cells without p53 (either mutated or absent) will replicate their unrepaired DNA, increasing their genomic instability. In cells from cervical cancer the E6 protein will induce degradation of p53, so continuous expression of viral oncogenes will lead to genomic instability, that in turn will increase the risk of acquiring new mutations that probably contribute to cancer development.