Complete mitochondrial genome of the bamboo snout beetle, Cyrotrachelus buqueti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The bamboo snout beetle Cyrotrachelus buqueti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a destructive forest pest and distributed widely in Southeast Asia. The 15,035 bp complete mitochondrial genome of the species consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 21 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and a control region (GenBank accession no. MG674390). The trnl gene was not found in the C. buqueti mitogenome. The gene order and the orientation of C. buqueti were similar to those found in other Coleoptera species. The nucleotide composition was significantly biased (A, G, C, and T was 38.18%, 10.10%, 16.16%, and 35.56%, respectively) with A + T contents of 73.74%. ATG, ATA, ATT, AAT, and TTG were initiation codons and TAA, TAG, and T were termination codons. All the 21 tRNAs displayed a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnS1 which lacked the dihydrouridine arm. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using 13 PCGs with 14 other beetles showed that C. buqueti is closely related to Eucryptorhynchus brandti, which agree with the traditional classification.

[HPLC analysis of microcystin-RR, YR and LR from Dianshan Lake].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the solid-phase extraction method of isolation, purification and determination of intracellular microcystin-RR, -YR and -LR (MC-RR,-YR,-LR), algal samples were collected from Dianshan Lake, which is a major water source of Shanghai. METHODS: During extraction, Algal samples were treated with different solvent (5% acetic acid and 75% methanol), at different temperature (room temperature and 56 degrees C), centrifuge at 10000 x g, 30 min and 3500 rpm/min, 10 min, eluted with 80% methanol with or without trifluoroacetate acid(TFA). Further, gradient elution were employed to separate microcystins in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the mobile phase consisted of aqueous acetonitrile and 0.05% TFA. RESULTS: When dried algae cells were extracted by 5% acetic acid, 56 degrees C water bath combined with centrifuge at 3500 rpm/min was an effective and simple method for the extraction of microcystin-RR, elutant contains TFA can markedly increase the yield of microcystins extraction; the concentration of microcystin-RR in nature algal samples was higher than MC-LR and MC-YR. CONCLUSION: The extraction efficacy of MC-YR and -LR is higher in 75% methanol aqueous and eluted with 80% methanol containing 0.05% TFA, while the extraction efficacy of MC-RR is higher in 5% acetic acid.

[Estrogenic and androgenic effects of low dose raw water organics].

OBJECTIVE: To study the estrogenic and (anti)androgenic effects caused by low-dose raw water organic compounds. METHODS: The organic compounds from raw water was concentrated with solid-phase extraction. Rodent 3-day Uterotrophic Assay and Hershberger assay, the assays recommended in EPA Tier 1 Screening Program for EDCs, were employed to investigate estrogenic and (anti) androgenic effects of these chemical mixture exposure. Doses equivalent to human daily intake were administered to laboratory animals. RESULTS: Low-dose effects of water organic compounds,which refer to levels of human daily water intake, did not show a statistical difference of weights of mouse uterus and rat sexual accessory glands(SAG) from the negative control in Uterotrophic Assay and Hershberger Assay, except the height of uterus epithelial in 4.0 L / 60 kg was significant difference with negative control. CONCLUSION: Based upon the water sample tested, it did not suggest that the low-dose raw water organic compounds exposure equivalent to people daily drinking water intake cause rodents (anti)androgenic in vivo effects, but it demonstrated a suspected estrogenic effect.