The study of benthic community structure and protein expression pattern of four benthic species in effluent areas of sewage treatment plants in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Dwi Candra Pratiwi Advisor: Dr. Li-Lian Liu Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. Abstract In order to gain better understanding on the impacts of sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent on marine environment, the present study was undertaken to investigate the structure of benthic community and protein expression patterns of 4 benthic species in STP effluent areas in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Six sites were selected, 3 near Jhong Jhou STP, 2 near NSYSU STP and one reference site. Samples were collected in December 2009 (winter) and July 2010 (summer) by bottom trawling. In winter, temperature was 26.8oC; salinity and pH were 32. 2‰ and 8.1. In summer, environmental data were 33.7oC, 31.5‰ and 8.0, respectively. In all, 5 phyla, 31 families and 48 different species were captured in two seasons. Proteomic approach by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE) was conducted on 3 fishes, Leiognathus splendens, Apogon fasciatus, Engyprosopon multisquama, and one crab Portunus hastatoides. Environment characteristics and structure of benthic community had no significant difference among the 6 sampling sites. Protein expression patterns based on the four examined species also indicated no significant difference among sites. The complexity of pollutants in Kaohsiung Harbor is probably the main reason affecting all sampling sites. In other words, contaminated area in Kaohsiung Harbor may cover a wide range, at least III over the present sampling distance, i.e. 8km which causes no difference in community structure and protein expression pattern among control, Jhong Jhou STP and NSYSU STP sites. Key words: 1D SDS-PAGE, Leiognathus splendens, Apogon fasciatus, Engyprosopon multisquama, Portunus hastatoides

<p>Obesity is a globally increasing disease particularly in developing countries and among children. It is mainly caused by intake of diets high in fat and the lack of physical activity. Obesity is a risk factor for diseases such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and certain cancers. Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are above normal but have not&nbsp / reached those of diabetes. It is difficult to diagnose, as there are no signs or symptoms. Some type II diabetes patients bear no symptoms at all and the disease is discovered late. Proteomics is a field that can provide opportunities for early diagnosis of diseases through biomarker discovery. The early diagnosis of diabetes can assist in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Therefore there is a need for the early diagnosis of diabetes. Twenty Wistar rats were used. The rats were initially fed a CHOW diet, which is the standard balanced diet for rats, for 4 weeks. The rats were then divided into 2 groups of 10 where 1 group was fed CHOW and another was fed a high fat (HF) diet in order to induce obesity. The two groups were fed their respective diets for 18 weeks. Rats were weighed. Rats were placed in metabolic chambers and 24 hour urine samples were collected. Ketone levels were measured by Ketostix. Urine proteins were precipitated by acetone, quantified and separated on both the 1D SDS-PAGE and the 2D SDS-PAGE. Protein expression changes between CHOW and HF fed rats were determined and identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Protein spots intensities increased and decreased between the CHOW and HF fed rats. Transducin (beta)-like 3 was identified as the only differentially expressed protein, which might serve as a potential biomarker for prediabetes.</p>

<p>Obesity is a globally increasing disease particularly in developing countries and among children. It is mainly caused by intake of diets high in fat and the lack of physical activity. Obesity is a risk factor for diseases such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and certain cancers. Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are above normal but have not&nbsp / reached those of diabetes. It is difficult to diagnose, as there are no signs or symptoms. Some type II diabetes patients bear no symptoms at all and the disease is discovered late. Proteomics is a field that can provide opportunities for early diagnosis of diseases through biomarker discovery. The early diagnosis of diabetes can assist in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Therefore there is a need for the early diagnosis of diabetes. Twenty Wistar rats were used. The rats were initially fed a CHOW diet, which is the standard balanced diet for rats, for 4 weeks. The rats were then divided into 2 groups of 10 where 1 group was fed CHOW and another was fed a high fat (HF) diet in order to induce obesity. The two groups were fed their respective diets for 18 weeks. Rats were weighed. Rats were placed in metabolic chambers and 24 hour urine samples were collected. Ketone levels were measured by Ketostix. Urine proteins were precipitated by acetone, quantified and separated on both the 1D SDS-PAGE and the 2D SDS-PAGE. Protein expression changes between CHOW and HF fed rats were determined and identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Protein spots intensities increased and decreased between the CHOW and HF fed rats. Transducin (beta)-like 3 was identified as the only differentially expressed protein, which might serve as a potential biomarker for prediabetes.</p>

In this study, a halophilic archaea Halobacterium salinarium TG13 which is isolated from Tuz Lake in Central Anatolia was characterized biochemically and genetically. Halobacterium salinarium DSM3754 and Halobacterium salinarium S9 strains were used as a reference strain through the experiments. In biochemical characterization / total protein profiles of strains was compared by using 1D SDS PAGE. Total protein profile of the isolated strain has shown differences. The SDS-PAGE profile of the purified purple membrane showed only single band by coomassie staining. Molecular weight and pI values of the protein isolated from Halobacterium salinarium TG13 and Halobacterium salinarium S9 were estimated by 2D SDS-PAGE as 22 kD and 5.4, respectively. Photoactivity of purple membrane of the strains was investigated. pH change of the purple membranes were observed upon illumination. This protein might be corresponded to bacteriorhodopsin. In genetical characterization / polymorphism of genomic DNA of strains was scanned with RAPD-PCR. Plasmid DNA profiles of strains was determined to make use of RFLP technique. RAPD-PCR and RFLP analyses have shown that Halobacterium salinarium TG13 is different strain from reference Halobacterium salinarium strains (H.s. S9 and H.s. DSM3754).