biparous:A Novel bHLH Gene Expressed in Neuronal and Glial Precursors inDrosophila

Genetic studies have uncovered many genes that are involved in the first steps of neuronal development inDrosophila.Less is known about the intermediate steps during which individual precursor cells follow either the neuronal pathway or the glial pathway. We report the identification of a novel bHLH gene,biparous,expressed in neuronal and glial precursors inDrosophila.Unlike most bHLH genes,biparousexpression continues to the final stages of neurogenesis in the embryo. Expression ofbiparousis not observed in end stage postmitotic neurons and precedes the expression ofrepo,a gene activated in later stages of glial differentiation. The bHLH domain is sufficiently different from previously described bHLH domains to imply a novel function.     

Chromosomal variation in the southern short-tailed shrew (Blarina carolinensis)

Chromosomal polymorphism was assessed in the southern short-tailed shrew (Blarina carolinensis) using standard metaphase chromosome and G-banding techniques. Twenty-one animals (11 males, 10 females) from the Meeman Biological Station in Shelby Co., Tennessee, were examined for diploid number. Results showed diploid numbers of 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 and fundamental numbers of 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. No diploid numbers or fundamental numbers were unique to a specific collecting locality. The first G-banded karyotypes are reported for the species. These results indicate that Robertsonian polymorphisms, inversions, and possibly other events are responsible for chromosomal variation in B. carolinensis.     

Significant extension in northern Australia of the known geographic range of the Shield Shrimp Triops australiensis (Crustacea: Notostraca)

The program BIOCLIM predicts the total geographic distribution of species, based upon the biogeoclimatic characteristics common to the localities at which they are known to occur. Field studies in the Northern Territory have located the Shield Shrimp Triops australiensis at localities substantially north of its known and predicted geographic distribution.     

Nerve Growth Factor-Stimulated Nuclear S6 Kinase in PC12 Cells

Abstract: Previous work has shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulates the phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6 in PC12 cells. In this study, we show that S6 kinase activity is also present in purified PC12 cell nuclei. This activity was increased by treatment of the cells with NGF and, to a lesser extent, by treatment with epidermal growth factor. The NGF-stimulated activity was obtained from nuclear extracts and some of its characteristics described. The increase in activity was prevented by treatment of the cells with rapamycin or with wortmannin, and the overall activity could be precipitated by antibodies directed against the p85^S6K. These data indicate that p85^S6K is the NGF-stimulated S6 kinase in PC12 cell nuclei. The presence of S6 protein in the nucleus of PC12 cells has been confirmed and evidence is presented that suggests that it is identical to a protein called SMP reported some years ago.     

Monoclonal Antibodies Against the Human Metalloprotease EC 3.4.24.15 Label Neurofibrillary Tangles in Alzheimer's Disease Brain

Abstract: Alzheimer's disease is characterized neuropathologically by the presence of neuritic and amyloid plaques, vascular amyloid, and neurofibrillary tangles in specific brain areas. The main constituent of amyloid deposits is amyloid β protein, a 40–42 amino acid proteolytic product of the amyloid β-precursor protein. In our search for proteases that can generate the N-terminus of amyloid β protein (β-secretases), we discovered a thiol-dependent metalloprotease that was identified, by peptide sequencing, as metalloendopeptidase EC 3.4.24.15. In vitro, the metalloprotease cleaves the methionine-aspartic acid bond in a 10 amino acid synthetic peptide, indicating that it could generate the N-terminus of amyloid β protein, and generates amyloidogenic fragments from full-length recombinant amyloid β-precursor protein. Mouse monoclonal antibodies produced against a unique synthetic peptide from the metalloprotease labeled various monkey tissues as detected by western blots and immunohistochemistry. Unexpectedly, two monoclonal antibodies, IVD6 and IIIF3, immunolabeled strongly intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, neurites of senile plaques, and neuropil threads, but not "ghost" tangles or amyloid in sections taken from Alzheimer's disease brain. This finding provides further evidence for the metalloprotease's relevance to Alzheimer's disease pathology, although the connection between tangle staining and the formation of amyloid β protein remains to be elucidated.     

Rapid Stimulation of EAAC1-Mediated Na+-Dependent l-Glutamate Transport Activity in C6 Glioma Cells by Phorbol Ester

Abstract: C6 glioma cells were used as a model system to study the regulation of EAAC1-mediated Na⁺-dependent l -[³H]glutamate transport. Although a 30-min preincubation with forskolin had no effect on transport activity, preincubation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased transport activity two- to threefold. PMA caused a time-dependent and concentration-dependent increase in EAAC1-mediated l -[³H]glutamate transport activity. A 2-min preincubation with PMA was sufficient to cause more than a twofold increase in transport activity and the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide had no effect on the increase. These data suggest that this increase is independent of protein synthesis. The EC₅₀ value of PMA for stimulation of transport activity was 80 nM. Kinetic analyses demonstrated that the increase in transport activity was due to a 2.5-fold increase in V_max with no change in K_m. PMA also increased the transport of the nonmetabolizable analogue, d -[³H]aspartate to the same extent. In parallel assays, PMA did not, however, increase Na⁺-dependent glycine transport activity in C6 glioma. The inactive phorbol ester 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, did not stimulate l -[³H]glutamate transport activity, and the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine blocked the stimulation caused by PMA. Okadaic acid and cyclosporin A, which are phosphatase inhibitors, had no effect on the stimulation of transport activity caused by PMA. The Ca²⁺ ionophore A23187 did not act synergistically to increase PMA stimulation. In previous studies, PMA caused a rapid increase in amiloride-sensitive Na⁺/H⁺ transport activity in C6 glioma. In the present study, pre- and coincubation with amiloride had no effect on the stimulation of transport activity caused by PMA. These studies suggest that activation of protein kinase C causes a rapid increase in EAAC1-mediated transport activity. This rapid increase in Na⁺-dependent l -[³H]-glutamate transport activity may provide a novel mechanism for protection against acute insults to the CNS.     

Litter ant patchiness at the 1-m2 scale: disturbance dynamics in three Neotropical forests

Large-scale (>100 m²/day) raids by tropical army ants have been linked to litter ant patchiness and diversity. In three Neotropical forests, densities of litter ants vary 10–20 fold at the 1-m² scale. A survey of Barro Colorado Island. Panama, revealed that most army ant raids also occur on a 1-m² scale with fronts 1 m wide. To explore the role that such small scale disturbance may play in creating litter ant patchiness, all litter ant nests were removed from 1-m² plots. Control and disturbance plots were resampled 3 months later. In contrast to a previous study of large litter gaps, ant foundresses did not appear to prefer these smaller gaps. Nest densities, species richness, and species composition differed most from controls in a dry hilltop forest in Panama, second most in a wetter ravine forest nearby, and least in a Costa Rican wet forest. Disturbance may not leave a lasting signature in the wetter forests due to higher background levels of disturbance, faster recovery, or both.     

Controlled experiments of habitat fragmentation: a simple computer simulation and a test using small mammals

Habitat fragmentation involves a reduction in the effective area available to a population and the imposition of hard patch edges. Studies seeking to measure effects of habitat fragmentation have compared populations in fragments of different size to estimate and area effect but few have examined the effect of converting open populations to closed ones (an effect of edges). To do so requires a shift in spatial scope-from comparison of individual fragments to that of fragmented versus unfragmented landscapes. Here we note that large-scale, controlled studies of habitat fragmentation have rarely been performed and are needed. In making our case we develop a simple computer simulation model based on how individual animals with home ranges are affected by the imposition of habitat edges, and use it to predict population-level responses to habitat fragmentation. We then compare predictions of the model with results from a field experiment on Peromyscus and Microtus. Our model treats the case where home ranges/territories fall entirely within or partially overlap with that of sample areas in continuous landscapes, but are restricted to areas within habitat fragments in impacted landscapes. Results of the simulations demonstrate that the imposition of hard edges can produce different population abundances for similar-sized areas in continuous and fragmented landscapes. This edge effect is disproportionately greater in small than large fragments and for species with larger than smaller home ranges. These predictions were generally supported by our field experiment. We argue that large-scale studies of habitat fragmentation are sorely needed, and that control-experiment contrasts of fragmented and unfragmented microlandscapes provide a logical starting point.     

Fetal cells in maternal blood: recovery by charge flow separation

Fetal blood cells can be recovered from the maternal circulation by charge flow separation (CFS), a method that obviates the risks associated with amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. By CFS, we processed blood samples from 13 women carrying male fetuses, 2 carrying fetuses with trisomy 21, and 1 who had delivered a stillborn infant with trisomy 18. On average more than 2000 fetal nucleated red blood cells were recovered per 20-ml sample of maternal blood. Recovery of fetal cells was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes for chromosomes Y, 18 and 21. After culturing of CFS-processed cells, amplification by the polymerase chain reaction revealed Y-chromosomal DNA in clones from four of six women bearing male fetuses, but not in clones from three women bearing female fetuses. Received: 8 January 1996 / Revised: 22 March 1996