The most abundant organic compound produced by plants is cellulose, however it has long been accepted that animals do not secrete the hydrolytic enzymes required for its degradation, but rely instead on cellulases produced by symbiotic microbes. The recent discovery of an endogenous cDNA transcript encoding a putative GHF9 endoglucanase in the parastacid crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (Byrne et al., 1999) suggests that similar cellulase genes may have been inherited by a range of crustacean taxa. In this study, the evolutionary history of the C. quadricarinatus endoglucanase gene and the presence of additional GHF9 genes in other decapod species were investigated. The activity of endoglucanase and endoxylanase enzymes within several cultured decapod species were also compared. The evolutionary history of the C. quadricarinatus endoglucanase gene was assessed by comparing intron/exon structure with that of other invertebrate and plant GHF9 genes. The coding region of the gene was found to be interrupted by eleven introns ranging in size from 102-902 bp, the position of which was largely conserved in both termite and abalone GHF9 genes. These structural similarities suggest GHF9 genes in crustaceans and other invertebrate taxa share a common ancestry. In addition, two introns were observed to share similar positions in plant GHF9 genes, which indicates this enzyme class may have been present in ancient eukaryote organisms. The presence of GHF9 genes in C. quadricarinatus and various other decapod species was then explored via degenerate primer PCR. Two distinct GHF9 gene fragments were determined for C. quadricarinatus and several other Cherax and Euastacus parastacid freshwater crayfish species, and a single GHF9 gene fragment was also determined for the palaemonid freshwater prawn Macrobrachium lar. Phylogenetic analyses of these fragments confirmed the presence of two endoglucanase genes within the Parastacidae, termed EG-1 and EG-2. The duplication event that produced these two genes appears to have occurred prior to the evolution of freshwater crayfish. In addition, EG-2 genes appear to have duplicated more recently within the Cherax lineage. The presence of multiple GHF9 endoglucanase enzymes within the digestive tract of some decapod species may enable more efficient processing of cellulose substrates present in dietary plant material. Endoglucanase and endoxylanase enzyme activities were compared in several parastacid crayfish and penaeid prawn species using dye-linked substrates. Endoglucanase activity levels were higher in crayfish compared with prawn species, which corresponds with the known dietary preferences of these taxa. Endoglucanase temperature and pH profiles were found to be very similar for all species examined, with optimum activity occurring at 60°C and pH 5.0. These results suggest endoglucanase activity in penaeid prawns may also be derived from endogenous sources. Additional in vitro studies further demonstrated crayfish and prawn species liberate comparable amounts of glucose from carboxymethyl-cellulose, which indicates both taxa may utilise cellulose substrates as a source of energy. Endoxylanase temperature and pH profiles were also similar for all crayfish species examined, with optimal activity occurring at 50°C and pH 5.0. These results suggest xylanase activity in crayfish may originate from endogenous enzymes, although it is unclear whether this activity is derived from GHF9 enzymes or a different xylanase enzyme class. In contrast, no endoxylanase activity was detected in the three prawn species examined. Together, these findings suggest a wide range of decapod crustacean species may possess endogenous GHF9 endoglucanase genes and enzymes. Endoglucanases may be secreted by various decapod species in order to digest soluble or amorphous cellulose substrates present in consumed plant material. Further biochemical studies may confirm the presence and functional attributes of additional endoglucanase genes and enzymes in decapods, which may ultimately assist in the design of optimal plant based crustacean aquaculture feeds.

Submitted by Deyse Queiroz (deysequeirozz@hotmail.com) on 2018-06-14T14:16:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JOAQUIM PEREIRA RODRIGUES - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEA 2003..pdf: 14449699 bytes, checksum: 7cf16212a6472107d11953d967cd33fa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-14T14:16:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOAQUIM PEREIRA RODRIGUES - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEA 2003..pdf: 14449699 bytes, checksum: 7cf16212a6472107d11953d967cd33fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-07 / As espécies de Eucalyptus e Pinus brasileiros apresentam um alto nível de resistência aos incêndios florestais, sendo consideradas, por alguns, como plantas pirófitas ativas. E, por isto se pergunta: O comportamento das sementes dessas espécies evoluíram exclusivamente em relação às perturbações produzidas pelo fogo ou, pelo contrário, outras causas influenciaram nesse processo e ainda se essas espécies desenvolveram respostas adaptativas similares? Para responder estas perguntas, sementes de cinco espécies de Eucalyptus e três de Pinus foram submetidas a diferentes intensidades térmicas e tempo de exposição, para simular resposta aos diferentes regimes de fogo, avaliando os efeitos provocados pelas elevadas temperaturas a que foram submetidas às sementes, assim como o efeito das cinzas, tido como elemento mais notável do micro-ambiente em que há de se desenvolver posteriormente os propágulos. O material vegetal empregado foi produzido e adquirido pelo IPEF (Instituto de Pesquisas e Estudos Florestais) em Piracicaba, SP. Para avaliar a resposta das sementes ao efeito das temperaturas, fez-se uso do delineamento estatístico inteiramente casualisado com arranjo fatorial. Na ausência de tratamentos térmicos, as sementes de Eucalyptus e Pinus registraram altas taxas de germinação e forte redução já a partir de temperaturas igual ou superiores a 70 °C sugerindo que realmente não são plantas pirófitas ativas. Os valores da germinação obtidos com os tratamentos de temperatura igual a 50 °C diferiram estatisticamente da testemunha. No entanto, a redução da germinação, em termo médios, foi de 5% (87 para 92% da testemunha), sendo muito similares para todas as espécies de Eucalyptus e Pinus estudadas. Quando os valores da temperatura são iguais ou superiores a 110 °C se observa uma importante redução da germinação das sementes em todos os tratamentos. A avaliação simultânea do calor e das cinzas mostrou a existência de interação entre ambos os fatores, com inibição total da germinação em alguns tratamentos. / The Brazilians species of Eucalyptus and Pinus present a high resistance levei to the forest fires, being considered, for some, as plants active pyrofits. And, for this reason it wonders: Did the behavior of the seeds of those species develop exclusively in relationship the disturbances produced by the fire or for the thwart, do other causes influence in that process and if, those species developed answers similar adapted? To answer these questions, seeds of five species of Eucalyptuses and three of Pinus were submitted at different thermal intensities and time of exhibition, for similar answer to the different fire regimes, evaluating the effects provoked by high temperatures were submitted the one , as well as the effect of the ashes, had as the element more notable of the environment in that must grow the plants later. The material employed vegetable was produced and acquired by 1PEF (Researches and Forest Studies Institute) in Piracicaba; SP. To evaluate the answer of the seeds to the effect of the temperatures, it was made use of the statistical lineation entirely casualty with factorial arrangement. In the absence of thermal treatments, the of Eucalyptus and Pinus seeds already registered discharges germination rates and strong reduction starting from temperatures equal or superior to 70 °C suggesting that are not really plants active pyrofits. The values of the germination obtained with the temperature treatments same to 50 °C they differed statisticiality of control, however the reduction of the germination, in médium terms, was of 5% (87 for 92% of control), being very similar for ali the species of Eucalyptus and Pinus seeds studied. When the values of the temperature are same or superior to 110 °C an important reduction of the germination of the seeds of ali the treatments it is observed. The simultaneous evaluation of the heat and of the ashes, it showed the interaction existence between both the factors, with total inhibition of the germination in some treatments.

No description available.

Il s’agit de s’interroger à partir de notre pratique plastique qui s’intègre dans l’Art Végétal, sur le statut, la fonction et le processus créateur du proto-matériau végétal dans les œuvres contemporaines. Ce travail analyse la capacité du déchet, d’une épluchure de fruit ou de légume à convoquer certains savoir-faire, procédés techniques s’intégrant dans un proto-langage artistique. Ce principe créateur végétal interroge de manière paradoxale la notion de conservation créatrice à partir de matériaux ordinaires et éphémères. Ces dispositifs de préservation de fragments végétaux créent un espace olfactif, tactile et visuel qui rend hommage à la nature précaire. La mobilité d’un espace utopique spatio-temporel se fonde sur la fragmentation de téguments qui constituent la base de structures architecturales nourries d’une double pensée : occidentale et extrême orientale. Mes œuvres interrogent l’éthique écologique d’un contexte occidental de surconsommation par la fragilité de fragments de vanité. / It is a question of our plastic practice, which integrates with the plant Art, on the status, function and creative process of the proto-material in contemporary works. This work analyses the capacity of waste, a fruit or vegetable peel to summon certain know-how, technical processes integrating into an artistic proto-language.This plant-creative principle paradoxically questions the notion of creative conservation from ordinary and ephemeral materials. These devices for preserving plant fragments create an olfactory, tactile and visual space that pays homage to the precarious nature.The mobility of a spatial-temporal utopian space is based on the fragmentation of integuments which form the basis of architectural structures nourished by a twofold thought: Western and Far Eastern. My works question the ecological ethic of a Western context of overconsumption by the fragility of vanity fragments.