Ewa Czeczuga-Semeniuk

Carotenoids and Carotenoproteins in Asellus aquaticus L. (Crustacea: Isopoda)

Column (CC), thin-layer (TLC), high-performance liquid (HPLC) and ion-exchange chromatography (IEC), were used to investigate corotenoid and carotenoprotein complexes in Asellus aquaticus specimens from the Narew river. The following carotenoids were found: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, diadinoxanthin, mutatoxanthin, crustaxanthin, echinenone, hydroxyechinenone, phoenicoxanthin, canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. Astaxanthin (37.5%), canthaxanthin (21.4%) and phoenicoxanthin (12.3%) were found in the largest amounts. The total carotenoid content was 13.824 microg g(-1) of dry mass. Carotenoprotein complexes containing astaxanthin as the prosthetic group were purified from Asellus aquaticus. The carotenoprotein complexes belonged to the crustacyanins group as alpha- and gamma-crustacyanin. The protein forming the alpha-crustacyanin contained large amounts of such amino-acids as asparic acid, glutamic acid and leucine, whereas the protein of the gamma-crustacyanin contained primarily glutamic acid, glycine and lysine.

Growth of mycotal species on the eggs of Cyprinus carpio in limnologically and trophically different water bodies

The study investigated the growth of hydromycoflora on the eggs of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in five water bodies of different eutrophication levels. Thirty-three (33) species of mycotal organisms, including 28 species belonging to Peronosporomycota, 2 to anamorphic fungi and 1 each to Ascomycota, Blastocladiomycota and Zygomycota were identified on the eggs. The water from River Biala and Pond Fosa, which are more biogenic, had the largest number of mycotal species (20 and 19, respectively) on the eggs of common carp. The smallest number of those species was found on the eggs of common carp in water from Spring Cypisek, Pond Komosa and River Suprasl, which are low in biogenes (12, 11 and 11, respectively). Achlya diffusa, Aphanomyces laevis, Saprolegnia ferax, Saprolegnia parasitica and Pythium ultimum belong to the species that were most frequently found on C. carpio eggs. The following rare mycotal species were also found: Allomyces arbuscula, Aphanomyces frigidophilus, Candida albicans, Fusarium aquaeductum, F. culmorum and Zoopage phanera. Amino acid, carbohydrate and urease tests were used. Of the C. carpio eggs that were investigated, 12.7% were found to be infected with mycotal species. Key words: Cyprinus carpio, common carp, eggs, mycotal species, infections, hydrochemistry.

Straminipiles fungi growing on the alevins of the Nile tilapia in limnologically and trophically different water bodies

The authors investigated the growth of straminipiles fungi on the alevins of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus niloticus L.) in water from eight limnologically and trophically different water bodies. Twentyseven species were recorded. The largest number of species occurred on alevins in water from the Biala River and Fosa Pond (more biogenic), and the fewest in water from Dojlidy Pond and Lake Blizno (poor in biogenesis). The most commonly encountered species on Nile tilapia alevins were Saprolegnia parasitica, Saprolegnia ferax, Achlya polyandra, Achlya oligocantha, Achlya prolifera, Leptomitus lacteus, and Pythium diclinum. Amino acid, carbohydrate, and urease tests were used.

Chromatic adaptation in lichen phyco- and photobionts

The effect of light quality on the photosynthetic pigments as chromatic adaptation in 8 species of lichens were examined. The chlorophylls, carotenoids in 5 species with green algae as phycobionts (Cladonia mitis, Hypogymnia physodes, H. tubulosa var. tubulosa and subtilis, Flavoparmelia caperata, Xanthoria parietina) and the chlorophyll a, carotenoids and phycobiliprotein pigments in 3 species with cyanobacteria as photobionts (Peltigera canina, P. polydactyla, P. rufescens) were determined. The total content of photosynthetic pigments was calculated according to the formule and particular pigments were determined by means CC, TLC, HPLC and IEC chromatography. The total content of the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, carotenoids) in the thalli was highest in red light (genus Peltigera), yellow light (Xanthoria parietina), green light (Cladonia mitis) and at blue light (Flavoparmelia caperata and both species of Hypogymnia). The biggest content of the biliprotein pigments at red and blue lights was observed. The concentration of C-phycocyanin increased at red light, whereas C-phycoerythrin at green light.In Trebouxia phycobiont of Hypogymnia and Nostoc photobiont of Peltigera species the presence of the phytochromes was observed.

Chapter 22:Distribution and Concentrations of Vitamin A and their Metabolites in Human Tissue

Carotenoids are the most widespread natural pigments. They influence the tint of different parts of the organisms – ranging from slightly yellow to bright red. They accompany plant chlorophylls, contribute to the coloration of flower petals, fruit, and some roots (e.g. carrot). They are present in a...