Information Transfer across Fish Shoals under Predator Threat

The hypothesis that shoaling fish can obtain information about a predator's approach from changes in the behaviour of other shoal members was tested in an experiment in which receiver minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) behind a one-way-mirror could observe the reaction of transmitter minnows threatened by the stalk of a pike (Esox lucius) model. Although the receiver minnows were out of visual contact with the pike model they decreased their foraging behaviour and started hiding when the pike model came towards the feeding patch of the transmitter fish. The presence of skittering behaviour and inspection behaviour in the transmitter but not in the receiver fish suggests that individual confirmation of the predator does play a role in determining the nature of the anti-predator response. Nevertheless there is clear evidence that receiver fish modify their own behaviour on the basis of information obtained from individuals which have seen a predator.     

Practical Approaches to Low Density Lipoprotein Oxidation: Whys, Wherefores and Pitfalls

The purpose of this review is to bring together the different approaches for studying the oxidation of low density lipoproteins and try to identify some critical factors which will permit greater comparability between laboratories. These issues are discussed both in terms of the variety of exogenous mediators of oxidation applied (transition metal ions, haem proteins, azo initiators, peroxynitrite, cells etc.) and their raisons d'etre, as well as the methodologies (formation of conjugated dienes, hydroperoxides, decomposition products of lipid peroxidation, altered surface charge, macrophage uptake) applicable to the different stages of the oxidation and the factors underlying their accurate execution and interpretation.     

Compartmentation and flux characteristics of nitrate in spruce

The radiotracer¹³N was used to undertake compartmental analyses for NO ₃ ^– in intact non-mycorrhizal roots ofPicea glauca (Moench) Voss. seedlings. Three compartments were defined, with half-lives of exchange of 2.5 s, 20 s, and 7 min. These were identified as representing surface adsorption, apparent free space, and cytoplasm, respectively. Influx, efflux, and net flux as well as cytoplasmic and apparent-free-space nitrate concentrations were estimated for three different concentration regimes of external nitrate. After exposure to external NO ₃ ^– for 3 d, influx was calculated to be 0.09 mol·g^–1·h^–1 (at 10 M [NO ₃ ^– ]_o), 0.5mol·g^–1·h^–1 (at 100 M [NO _inf3 ^sup– ]_o), and 1.2 mol · g^–1· h^–1 (at 1.5 mM [NO ₃ ^– ]_o). Efflux increased with increasing [NO ₃ ^– ]_o, constituting 4% of influx at 10 M, 6% at 100 M, and 21% at 1.5 mM. Cytoplasmic [NO ₃ ^– ] was estimated to be 0.3 mM at 10 uM [NO ₃ ^– ]_o, 2mM at 100 M [NO ₃ ^– ]_o, and 4mM at 1.5 mM [NO ₃ ^– ]_o, while free-space [NO ₃ ^– ] was 16 M, 173 M, and 2.2 mM, respectively. A series of experiments was carried out to confirm the identity of the compartments resolved by efflux analysis. Pretreatment at high temperature or application of 2-chloro-ethanol, sodium dodecyl sulphate or hydrogen peroxide made it possible to distinguish the metabolic (cytoplasmic) phase from the remaining two (physical) phases. Likewise, varying [Pi] of the medium altered efflux and thereby [NO ₃ ^– ]_cyt, but did not affect [NO ₃ ^– ]_{free space}.Abbreviations and Symbols [NO ₃ ^– ]_cyt cytoplasmic NO ₃ ^– concentration - [NO ₃ ^– ]_{free space} apparent-free-space NO ₃ ^– concentration - [NO ₃ ^– ]_o concentration of NO ₃ ^– in the external solution - NO ₃ ^– flux - _co efflux from the cytoplasm - _oc influx to the cytoplasm - _net net flux - _xylem flux to the xylem - _red/vac combined flux to reduction and the vacuole The research was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada, grant to Dr. A.D.M. Glass and by a University of British Columbia Graduate Fellowship to Herbert J. Kronzucker. Our thanks go to Dr. M. Adam and Mr. P. Culbert at the particle accelerator facility TRIUMF on the University of British Columbia Campus for providing¹³NO ₃ ^– , Drs. R.D. Guy and S. Silim for providing plant material, and Dr. M.Y. Wang, Mr. J. Mehroke and Mr. P. Poon for assistance in experiments and for helpful discussions.     

15β-hydroxysteroids (Part IV). Steroids of the human perinatal period: The synthesis of 3α,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one and its A/B-ring configurational isomers

In recent years several 15β-hydroxysteroids have emerged pathognomonic of adrenal disorders in human neonates of which 3α,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (2) was the first to be identified in the urine of newborn infants affected with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In this investigation we report the synthesis of the three remaining 3ξ,5ξ-isomers, namely 3α,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3), 3β,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (7) and 3β,15β,17α-trihydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (8) for their definitive identification in pathological conditions in human neonates. 3β,15β-Diacetoxy-17α-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (11), a product of chemical synthesis was converted to the isomeric 3 and 7, while conversion of 15β,17α-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dione (4), a product of microbiological transformation, resulted in the preparation of 8. In brief, selective acetate hydrolysis of 11 gave 15β-acetoxy-3β,17α-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (12) which on catalytic hydrogenation gave 15β-acetoxy-3β,17α-dihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (13) a common intermediate for the synthesis of the 3β(and α),5α-isomers. Hydrolysis of the 15β-acetate gave 7, whereas oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate gave 15β-acetoxy-17α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-3,20-dione (14) which on reduction with -Selectride and hydrolysis of the 15β-acetate gave 3. Finally, hydrogenation of 4 gave 15β,17α-dihydroxy-5β-pregnan-3,20-dione (10) which on reduction with -Selectride gave 8.     

Lipid structure and Ca2+-ATPase function

Effects of lipid structure on the function of the Ca²⁺-ATPase of skeletal muscle of sarcoplasmic reticulum are reviewed. Binding of phospholipids to the ATPase shows little specificity. Phosphatidylcholines with short (C14) or long (C24) fatty acyl chains have marked effects on the activity of the ATPase, including a change in the stoichiometry of Ca binding. Low ATPase activity in gel phase lipid follows from low rate of phosphorylation. Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate increases ATPase activity by increasing the rate of dephosphorylation of the phosphorylated ATPase. Stimulation is not seen with other anionic phospholipids; phosphatidic acid decreases ATPase activity in a Mg²⁺-dependent manner.Abbreviations di(C141)PC dimyristoleoylphosphatidycholine - di(C160)PC dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine - di(C181)PC dioleoylphosphatidylcholine - di(Br₂C180)PC dibromostearoylphosphatidylcholine - di(C241)PC dinervonylphosphatidylcholine - di(C181)PA dioleoylphosphatidic acid - di(C181)PE dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine - Ptdlns phosphatidylinositol - PtdIns-4P phos-phatidylinositol 4-phosphate     

Structure-function relationships of the alternative oxidase of plant mitochondria: A model of the active site

A major characteristic of plant mitochondria is the presence of a cyanide-insensitive alternative oxidase which catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to water. Current information on the properties of the oxidase is reviewed. Conserved amino acid motifs have been identified which suggest the presence of a hydroxo-bridged di-iron center in the active site of the alternative oxidase. On the basis of sequence comparison with other di-iron center proteins, a structural model for the active site of the alternative oxidase has been developed that has strong similarity to that of methane monoxygenase. Evidence is presented to suggest that the alternative oxidase of plant mitochondria is the newest member of the class II group of di-iron center proteins.     

Are polyphosphates or phosphate esters prebiotic reagents?

It is widely held that there was a phosphate compound in prebiotic chemistry that played the role of adenosine triphosphate and that the first living organisms had ribose-phosphate in the backbone of their genetic material. However, there are no known efficient prebiotic synthesis of high-energy phosphates or phosphate esters. We review the occurrence of phosphates in Nature, the efficiency of the volcanic synthesis of P₄O₁₀, the efficiency of polyphosphate synthesis by heating phosphate minerals under geological conditions, and the use of high-energy organic compounds such as cyanamide or hydrogen cyanide. These are shown to be inefficient processes especially when the hydrolysis of the polyphosphates is taken into account. For example, if a whole atmosphere of methane or carbon monoxide were converted to cyanide which somehow synthesized polyphosphates quantitatively, the polyphosphate concentration in the ocean would still have been insignificant. We also attempted to find more efficient high-energy polymerizing agents by spark discharge syntheses, but without success. There may still be undiscovered robust prebiotic syntheses of polyphosphates, or mechanisms for concentrating them, but we conclude that phosphate esters may not have been constituents of the first genetic material. Phosphoanhydrides are also unlikely as prebiotic energy sources. Correspondence to: S.L. Miller