Differences of two polychaete species reflected in enzyme activities
Ito, K.; Nozaki, M.; Ohta, T.; Miura, C.; Tozawa, Y.; Miura, T. (2011). Differences of two polychaete species reflected in enzyme activities. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 158(5): 1211-1221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-011-1641-7
In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793, meer
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Ito, K.
- Nozaki, M.
- Ohta, T.
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- Miura, C.
- Tozawa, Y.
- Miura, T.
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| Abstract |
Polychaetes constitute most of the benthic macroinvertebrates in estuarine and coastal environments. We investigated the utilization of organic matter in two polychaete species, Capitella sp. I and Perinereis nuntia brevicirris, living in different coastal habitats. The protease activity of Capitella sp. I (89.7 µg mg-1) was about 10 times that of P. nuntia brevicirris (8.0 µg mg-1). High cellulase (endo-ß-1,4-glucanase) activity was detected in P. nuntia brevicirris (3.2 µg mg-1), whereas scarcely any was detected in Capitella sp. I. We isolated cDNA clones of protease mRNA from Capitella sp. I and of cellulase mRNA from P. nuntia brevicirris. The high protease activity of Capitella sp. I enabled it to survive in the sediment under a fish farm, where it degrades organic matter. In contrast, the high cellulase activity of the estuary-dwelling P. nuntia brevicirris allowed it to degrade organic matter originating from terrestrial areas. |
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