Biochemical studies on of ecological function of meiobenthos

为了确定日本西南群岛红树林河口的纤维素酶降解过程，对冲绳主岛(格萨什河和万科河)、石垣岛(名古拉湾和宫原河)和伊里奥莫特岛(乌拉内河、马雷河、平奈河、什拉河和迈拉河)共9个地点的沉积物纤维素酶活性进行了测定。酶谱分析被用来记录所有沉积物样品和小型底栖动物的纤维素酶活性。在小型底栖动物中发现了一条27 kDa的纤维素酶活性条带，这几个动物类群包括伽马线虫、斑节鱼类、介形类、寡毛类、线虫和多毛类。然而，除冲绳主岛外，广泛分布于这些地区的大型底栖动物沼泽海螺Terebralia palustris在29、31、49和56 kDa处表达纤维素酶活性。有趣的是，沼泽毛虫的沉积物和粪便中都记录到了31 kDa的纤维素酶活性水平。这项研究的结果表明，各种底栖动物对日本西南部岛屿河口红树林沉积物中的纤维素降解有贡献。

To determine the process of cellulose degradation in mangrove estuaries of the South-Western Islands, Japan, the cellulase activity of sediments was examined at a total of 9 sites on Okinawa Main Island (the River Gesashi and Manko), Ishigaki Island (Nagura Gulf and River Miyara), and Iriomote Island (rivers Urauchi, Mare, Hinai, Shira and Maira). Zymographic analysis was used to record cellulase activity in all sediment samples and in the meiobenthos. A 27-kDa cellulase activity band was expressed by several animal groups examined in the meiobenthos, including Gammaridea, Turbellaria, Ostracoda, Oligochaeta, Nematoda, and Polychaeta. However, the mangrove whelk, Terebralia palustris, which is a widely distributed member of the macrobenthos in these areas except Okinawa Main Island, expressed cellulase activities at 29, 31, 49, and 56 kDa. Interestingly, 31-kDa cellulase activity levels were recorded both in sediments and in the feces of T. palustris. The results of this study indicate that various benthic animals contribute to cellulose degradation in mangrove sediments of estuaries in the Southwestern Japanese Islands.