Interaction interface in the C-terminal parts of centriole proteins Sas6 and Ana2

The centriole is a ninefold symmetrical structure found at the core of centrosomes and, as a basal body, at the base of cilia, whose conserved duplication is regulated by Plk4 kinase. Plk4 phosphorylates a single serine residue at the N-terminus of Ana2 to promote Ana2''s loading to the site of procentriole formation. Four conserved serines in Ana2''s STAN motif are then phosphorylated by Plk4, enabling Sas6 recruitment. Crystallographic data indicate that the coiled–coil domain of Ana2 forms a tetramer but the structure of full-length Ana2 has not been solved. Here, we have employed hydrogen–deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to uncover the conformational dynamics of Ana2, revealing the high flexibility of this protein with one rigid region. To determine the elusive nature of the interaction surfaces between Ana2 and Sas6, we have confirmed complex formation between the phosphomimetic form of Ana2 (Ana2-4D) and Sas6 in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of this complex by HDX-MS identifies short critical regions required for this interaction, which lie in the C-terminal parts of both proteins. Mutational studies confirmed the relevance of these regions for the Ana2–Sas6 interaction. The Sas6 site required for Ana2 binding is distinct from the site required for Sas6 to bind Gorab and Sas6 is able to bind both these protein partners simultaneously.     

The genus Omphreus in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro,with two new subspecies of O. morio (Coleoptera,Carabidae, Omphreini)

Two new ground beetle subspecies, Omphreus (Omphreus) morio sandeli ssp. n. (from Mts. Zelengora and Maglić, eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Omphreus (Omphreus) morio durmitorensis ssp. n. (from Mt. Durmitor, northwestern Montenegro) are here described and diagnosed. The male and female genitalia and other taxonomically important characters are illustrated. The new taxa are distinctly different from the nearest relatives and represent both endemics and relicts inhabiting limited high-altitude Dinaric areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. A key to Omphreus taxa from Montenegro and a key to subspecies of Omphreus (Omphreus) morio Dejean, 1828 are presented.     

Seed bank has the potential for re-colonising urban stormwater ponds after reconstruction

Hydrobiologia - Urban stormwater ponds are important for flood protection and provide habitat for plants and animals in heavily sealed cities. Little is known about the diversity of plants in urban...     

A study of the distribution of phylogenetically conserved blocks within clusters of mammalian homeobox genes

Genome sequencing efforts of the last decade have produced a large amount of data, which has enabled whole-genome comparative analyses in order to locate potentially functional elements and study the overall patterns of phylogenetic conservation. In this paper we present a statistically based method for the characterization of these patterns in mammalian DNA sequences. We have applied this approach to the study of exceptionally well conserved homeobox gene clusters (Hox), based on an alignment of six species, and we have constructed a map of Hox cataloguing the conserved fragments, along with their locations in relation to the genes and other landmarks, sometimes showing unexpected layouts.     

Sexual Activity and Reproductive Isolation Between Age‐specific Selected Populations of Seed Beetle

We evaluated the degree of reproductive isolation between laboratory populations of the seed beetle (Acanthoscelides obtectus) selected to reproduce early (E) or late (L) in life, where different levels of sexual activity and sexual discrimination have been detected. We found a significant level of behavioral isolation among populations within the E selection regime in which beetles showed enhanced early‐life fitness traits and low sexual activity. In contrast, substantially higher levels of sexual activity and an indiscriminate mating system inhibited rather than promoted pre‐zygotic isolation between the L populations. Our results indicate that the study of sexual activity levels may be crucial for understanding the first steps in the pre‐zygotic isolation among allopatric populations subjected to uniform selection.     

Protein patterns during final differentiation of some rat organs

Development Genes and Evolution -     

Reduced complexity of activity patterns in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a case control study

Objective  

We examined developmental aspects of the emotional awareness of adolescents by evaluating their responses to a self-reported questionnaire based on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20).     

Untersuchung über Pflanzenreste aus den Ausgrabungen bei Sadowetz in Bulgarien

Ohne ZusammenfassungEine ausführliche Arbeit ist in bulgarischer Sprache im Jahrbuch der Universität Sofia, Bd. XXXIV, 1937/1938, S. 33–51, erschienen.