Sex,androgens, and whole‐organism performance in an Australian lizard

Understanding underlying physiological differences between the sexes in circulating androgens and how hormonal variation affects morphology–performance relationships may help clarify the evolution of sexual dimorphism in diverse taxa. Using a widely distributed Australian lizard (Eulamprus quoyii) with weak sexual dimorphism and no dichromatism, we tested whether circulating androgens differed between the sexes and whether they covaried with morphological and performance traits (bite force, sprint speed, endurance). Males had larger head dimensions, stronger bite force, faster sprint speed, and longer endurance compared to females. We found that the sexes did not differ in androgen concentrations and that androgens were weakly associated with both morphological and performance traits. Interestingly, high circulating androgens showed a nonlinear relationship with bite force in males and not females, with this relationship possibly being related to alternative male reproductive tactics. Our results suggest that androgens are not strongly correlated with most performance and morphological traits, although they may play an important organizational role during the development of morphological traits, which could explain the differences in morphology and thus performance between the sexes. Differences in performance between the sexes suggest differential selection on these functional traits between males and females. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 111, 834–849.     

Effects of Isolation on Stress Responses to Novel Stimuli in Subadult Chickens (Gallus gallus)

Extensive research has examined the effects of social isolation in neonatal and adult animal populations, but few studies have examined the effect of social isolation in early adulthood. Animals reaching reproductive age often experience extensive social changes as they leave their natal site, and a social stressor like isolation may uniquely affect this age group. Furthermore, adolescence is a time when sex differences in behavior become more pronounced. As such, the effects of social stressors are likely to vary by sex. In this study, we used noninvasive methods to evaluate stress responses to social change in male and female subadult chickens (Gallus gallus). Half of the birds experienced regular sessions of social isolation over the course of 2 wk, while the other half were never isolated. Subsequently, all of the animals were exposed to a suite of three novel probes, including an open‐field test. We monitored the birds’ behavioral (head movements) and physiological (fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, FGM) response to the tests. Our results indicate that, for subadult chickens, the effect of social isolation is sex dependent: Male FGM and behavioral responses did not change with subsequent experiences, in contrast to females. Females also exhibited more social reinstatement behavior compared to males. Our results are consistent with the expectations of differences between the sexes based on changes in the social environment due to sex‐biased dispersal patterns. For both sexes, the FGM and behavioral responses varied independently, which highlights the necessity for multiple measures of stress in animal populations.     

Cost of reproduction in the Queensland fruit fly: Y-model versus lethal protein hypothesis

The trade-off between lifespan and reproduction is commonly explained by differential allocation of limited resources. Recent research has shown that the ratio of protein to carbohydrate (P : C) of a fly''s diet mediates the lifespan–reproduction trade-off, with higher P : C diets increasing egg production but decreasing lifespan. To test whether this P : C effect is because of changing allocation strategies (Y-model hypothesis) or detrimental effects of protein ingestion on lifespan (lethal protein hypothesis), we measured lifespan and egg production in Queensland fruit flies varying in reproductive status (mated, virgin and sterilized females, virgin males) that were fed one of 18 diets varying in protein and carbohydrate amounts. The Y-model predicts that for sterilized females and for males, which require little protein for reproduction, there will be no effect of P : C ratio on lifespan; the lethal protein hypothesis predicts that the effect of P : C ratio should be similar in all groups. In support of the lethal protein hypothesis, and counter to the Y-model, the P : C ratio of the ingested diets had similar effects for all groups. We conclude that the trade-off between lifespan and reproduction is mediated by the detrimental side-effects of protein ingestion on lifespan.     

Mate choice copying and conspecific cueing in Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica

In four experiments, we examined the effects on the affiliative preferences of 'focal' female Japanese quail given the opportunity to watch a conspecific male interact with a 'model' female. Experiments were conducted in three, 10-min phases: (1) a pretest, during which a 'focal' female chose between two males; (2) an observation phase, when each focal female watched the male she had spent less time near during the pretest (her 'nonpreferred' male) interact with a 'model' quail; and (3) a post-test, during which each focal female again chose between her nonpreferred and preferred males. Focal females increased their preferences for nonpreferred males after seeing them together with a model female (but not a model male), even if the nonpreferred male and model female were separated by an opaque barrier that prevented them from interacting. A focal female's preference for the end of the enclosure containing her nonpreferred male was not increased when she either watched him court a concealed model female or watched a model female that was being courted by him. Taken together, the present results suggest that a simple tendency for females to approach areas where they have previously seen a male and female quail, in preference to locations where they have seen only a male quail, can explain some of the effect of watching a nonpreferred male mate on a female's tendency to affiliate with him. However, focal females also showed enhanced preferences for nonpreferred males they had seen mating after we both moved those males and controlled for effects of transposition. Thus, processes akin to both 'mate choice copying' and 'conspecific cueing' remain viable explanations for the increase in a focal female quail's tendency to affiliate with a male she watched mate with another female. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Activation of the bgl operon by adaptive mutation

In growing Escherichia coli K12 cells, the cryptic bgl operon is activated 98% of the time by insertions of IS1 or IS5 into the control region, designated bglR. The activated bgl operon permits utilization of the beta-glucoside sugar arbutin as a sole carbon and energy source. The bgl operon is also activated by late-occurring mutations during prolonged selection on arbutin. The late-occurring mutations that occurred during prolonged carbon starvation in the presence of arbutin were "adaptive mutations" because they were specific to the presence of arbutin, and they did not occur during prolonged starvation in the absence of arbutin. The spectrum of late-arising mutations differed from that of early-arising, growth-dependent mutations in that 20% of the late-arising mutants resulted from mutations at the hns locus. This provides the first direct evidence for adaptive mutagenesis mediated by the insertion of IS elements. Because no special genetic background is required to select Bgl+ mutants, this affords the opportunity to study IS-element-mediated adaptive mutagenesis in a variety of genetic backgrounds, including the backgrounds of natural isolates of E. coli.      

Inhibition of L- and P-selectin by a rationally synthesized novel core 2-like branched structure containing GalNAc-Lewisx and Neu5Acalpha2- 3Galbeta1-3GalNAc sequences

The selectins interact in important normal and pathological situations with certain sialylated, fucosylated glycoconjugate ligands containing sialyl Lewisx(Neu5Acalpha2-3Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcN Ac). Much effort has gone into the synthesis of sialylated and sulfated Lewisxanalogs as competitive ligands for the selectins. Since the natural selectin ligands GlyCAM-1 and PSGL-1 carry sialyl Lewisxas part of a branched Core 2 O-linked structure, we recently synthesized Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAcbeta1-6(SE-3Galbeta1++ +-3)GalNAc1alphaOMe and found it to be a moderately superior ligand for L and P-selectin (Koenig et al. , Glycobiology 7, 79-93, 1997). Other studies have shown that sulfate esters can replace sialic acid in some selectin ligands (Yeun et al. , Biochemistry, 31, 9126-9131, 1992; Imai et al. , Nature, 361, 555, 1993). Based upon these observations, we hypothesized that Neu5Acalpha2-3Galbeta1-3GalNAc might have the capability of interacting with L- and P-selectin. To examine this hypothesis, we synthesized Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAcbeta1-6(Neu5Acalpha2++ +-3Galbeta1-3)- GalNAc alpha1-OB, which was found to be 2- to 3-fold better than sialyl Lexfor P and L selectin, respectively. We also report the synthesis of an unusual structure GalNAcbeta1-4(Fucalpha1- 3)GlcNAcbeta1-OMe (GalNAc- Lewisx-O-methyl glycoside), which also proved to be a better inhibitor of L- and P-selectin than sialyl Lewisx-OMe. Combining this with our knowledge of Core 2 branched structures, we have synthesized a molecule that is 5- to 6-fold better at inhibiting L- and P-selectin than sialyl Lewisx-OMe, By contrast to unbranched structures, substitution of a sulfate ester group for a sialic acid residue in such a molecule resulted in a considerable loss of inhibition ability. Thus, the combination of a sialic acid residue on the primary (beta1-3) arm, and a modified Lexunit on the branched (beta1-6) arm on an O-linked Core 2 structure generated a monovalent synthetic oliogosaccharide inhibitor superior to SLexfor both L- and P-selectin.      

白色生物技术在可持续大规模化学生产中的应用

目前几乎所有有机化学品和塑料是从原油和天然气中生产的, 而生物技术的应用使得利用可再生资源进行大规模化工生产成为可能。以下主要综述了白色生物技术, 即利用细菌、酵母或酶将可发酵糖转化为特定的化学产品的技术。白色生物技术极大节省了不可再生能源的消耗, 减少了温室气体的排放。在有利条件下, 如果化工生产中相关技术有了发展并且可以成功以木质纤维素为原料, 那么到2050年不可再生能源的消耗将减少将近2/3 (67%)。欧洲（EU-25）地区的分析表明, 白色生物技术相关的用地在未来几年的欧洲不会受到制约, 尤其是有大量闲置资源的东欧。另外, 虽然原则上可以在白色生物技术中使用自然的细菌和酶, 但是很多专家认为, 利用经遗传改造生物体(GMO)可以达到高产量、高浓度、高效率, 这对实现经济活力是必要的。值得注意的是, 目前并不是所有的重组基因和其他物种间的相互作用所带来的后果都可预见, 因此化工生产释放的GMOs的安全失活和处理非常重要, 但是如果采取足够的预防措施, 在白色生物技术中应用GMOs的风险是可以控制的。我们认为, 生物生产过程的技术突破、下游生产过程的控制、化石燃料的高价格、可发酵糖的低价获得是生物质化学产业发展中的关键因素, 这4个因素及其他伴随策略是发展整体白色生物技术的要求。     

The role of a single N-linked glycosylation site for a functional epitope of herpes simplex virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein gC

A monoclonal antibody, B1C1, binding to an epitope of antigenic site II of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein gC-1, is a potent inhibitor of two important biological functions of gC-1: its binding to cell surface heparan sulfate and its binding to the receptor for complement factor C3b. Here, we have analyzed a B1C1-resistant HSV- 1 variant (HSV-12762/B1C1B4.2), obtained after passage of wild type HSV- 1 (HSV-12762) in the presence of high concentrations of B1C1. The transport of newly synthesized mutant gC-1 to the cell surface was comparable to that of wild type glycoprotein, but no binding of surface- associated mutant gC-1 to B1C1 was detected. However, mutant and wild type gC-1 bound equally well to other site II Mabs. Attachment of wild type but not mutant virus was inhibited by B1C1. Sequencing of the mutant gC-1 gene revealed only one nucleotide change, resulting in replacement of Thr150 by an Ile, in turn destroying an N-glycosylation site at Asn148. Loss of one complex type N-linked glycan was confirmed by endoglycosidase digestion and subsequent SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Circular dichroism analysis of purified gC-1 from cells infected with mutant or wild type virus did not reveal any difference in secondary structure between mutant and wild type gC-1. It was not possible to obtain a B1C1-resistant phenotype by nucleotide- directed mutagenesis of gC-1 where Asn148 was changed to a glutamine. These data demonstrated that the threonine of the glycosylation site and not the N-linked glycan in itself was essential for B1C1 binding      

Monitoring the population status of a secretive lizard,the threatened heath skink Liopholis multiscutata,in south-eastern Australia using surrogate metrics: An update

Our recent study compared monitoring data collected using surrogate metrics during 2014–2018 inclusive with baseline data from 2007 to evaluate the trajectory of the population status of the threatened heath skink Liopholis multiscutata in Victoria. The heath skink is a secretive burrowing species that is a habitat specialist and exists in north-western Victoria as a few small and highly disjunct populations on large dunes in semi-arid heathland or mallee. We re-assessed the trajectories of the Victorian populations with additional monitoring data collected in 2021 and found continuing decline across all four Victorian heath skink populations. Urgent management intervention is required to arrest this decline, likely due to predation, reduced availability of habitat and life history and demographic traits that make this species susceptible to decline.     

Directed evolution of cellobiose utilization in Escherichia coli K12

The cellobiose catabolic system of Escherichia coli K12 is being used to study the role of cryptic genes in evolution of new functions. Escherichia coli does not use beta-glucoside sugars; however, mutations in several loci can activate the cryptic bgl operon and permit growth on the beta-glucoside sugars arbutin and salicin. Such Bgl+ mutants do not use cellobiose, which is the most common beta-glucoside in nature. We have isolated a Cel+ (cellobiose-utilizing) mutant from a Bgl+ mutant of E. coli K12. The Cel+ mutant grows well on cellobiose, arbutin, and salicin. Genes for utilization of these beta-glucosides are located at 37.8 min on the E. coli map. The genes of the bgl operon are not involved in cellobiose utilization. Introduction of a deletion covering bgl does not affect the ability to utilize cellobiose, arbutin, or salicin, indicating that the new Cel+ genes provide all three functions. Spontaneous cellobiose negative mutants also become arbutin and salicin negative. Analysis of beta-glucoside positive revertants of these mutants indicates that there are separate loci for utilization of each of the beta-glucoside sugars. The genes are closely linked and may be activated from a single locus. A fourth gene at an unknown location increases the growth rate on cellobiose. The cel genes constitute a second cryptic system for beta-glucoside utilization in E. coli K12.