rnadna ratio and other nucleic acid derived indices in marine ecologyrnadna比率和其他核酸派生指数在海洋生态.pdfVIP

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2008, 9, 1453-1471; DOI: 10.3390/ijms9081453 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Molecular Sciences ISSN 1422-0067 /ijms Review RNA:DNA Ratio and Other Nucleic Acid Derived Indices in Marine Ecology Maria Alexandra Chícharo * and Luis Chícharo Centre of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve. Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. E-Mail: lchichar@ualg.pt (L. C.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: mchichar@ualg.pt (M. C.) Received: 2 April 2008; in revised form: 6 August 2008 / Accepted: 7 August 2008 / Published: 20 August 2008 Abstract: Some of most used indicators in marine ecology are nucleic acid-derived indices. They can be divided by target levels in three groups: 1) at the organism level as ecophysiologic indicators, indicators such as RNA:DNA ratios, DNA:dry weight and RNA:protein, 2) at the population level, indicators such as growth rate, starvation incidence or fisheries impact indicators, and 3) at the community level, indicators such as trophic interactions, exergy indices and prey identification. The nucleic acids derived indices, especially RNA:DNA ratio, have been applied with success as indicators of nutritional condition, well been and growth in marine organisms. They are also useful as indicators of natural or anthropogenic impacts in marine po