Patterns of energy metabolism and growth kinetics of Kluyveromyces marxianus in whey chemostat culture

The influence of physiological parameters such as carbon substrate flux and O₂ uptake rates on energy metabolism are reported with reference to biomass productivity in whey chemostat culture. The combined results show that oxidoreductive energy metabolism may be attained independently of the yeast reaching its maximum respiratory capacity. A novel metabolic interpretation is presented proposing that a relative imbalance between glycolysis and subsequent oxidative steps alone is sufficient to account for the observed results. By means of a mathematical model the results could be reproduced under all experimental conditions. The new interpretation provides an insight into the manner in which energy mettbolism is regulated and influences growth-related process Kluyveromyces marxianus, as well as other yeasts with similar physiological characteristics. Correspondence to: J. I. Castrillo     

退化高寒草甸关键生态属性对多途径恢复措施的响应特征

高寒草甸是青藏高原的主体植被类型，但退化态势较为严峻，严重威胁青藏高原生态屏障的战略地位。退化高寒草甸的复健是世界性难题，治理效果也因退化状态、恢复措施及气候环境而异。以春季休牧、秋季休牧、畜群结构优化、减畜轮牧、围栏封育及翻耕改建等典型多途径恢复措施下的退化高寒草甸为对象，系统探讨主要生态要素和生态功能的响应特征及潜在过程。结果表明，典型恢复措施下退化高寒草甸的植被生产力、土壤有机碳密度及土壤饱和持水量等生态要素都得到一定程度的提升，而恢复效果与实施年限及恢复措施密切相关。围栏封育和翻耕改建下土壤有机碳密度及饱和持水量随恢复年限均表现为对数饱和型的响应特征，退化高寒草甸固碳持水功能的基本恢复年限约为6—10年。春季休牧、秋季休牧、畜群结构优化、减畜轮牧、围栏封育等放牧管理恢复措施应适用于轻度退化至重度退化的高寒草甸，而翻耕改建则是极度退化高寒草甸的适宜治理措施。由于多途径恢复措施的关注目标不同，今后研究应集中在恢复措施的组合优化和综合评价等方面。     

TBCD Links Centriologenesis,Spindle Microtubule Dynamics,and Midbody Abscission in Human Cells

Microtubule-organizing centers recruit α- and β-tubulin polypeptides for microtubule nucleation. Tubulin synthesis is complex, requiring five specific cofactors, designated tubulin cofactors (TBCs) A–E, which contribute to various aspects of microtubule dynamics in vivo. Here, we show that tubulin cofactor D (TBCD) is concentrated at the centrosome and midbody, where it participates in centriologenesis, spindle organization, and cell abscission. TBCD exhibits a cell-cycle-specific pattern, localizing on the daughter centriole at G1 and on procentrioles by S, and disappearing from older centrioles at telophase as the protein is recruited to the midbody. Our data show that TBCD overexpression results in microtubule release from the centrosome and G1 arrest, whereas its depletion produces mitotic aberrations and incomplete microtubule retraction at the midbody during cytokinesis. TBCD is recruited to the centriole replication site at the onset of the centrosome duplication cycle. A role in centriologenesis is further supported in differentiating ciliated cells, where TBCD is organized into “centriolar rosettes”. These data suggest that TBCD participates in both canonical and de novo centriolar assembly pathways.     

Relative Dominance Affects Use of Scent-Marked Areas in Male Snow Voles Chionomys nivalis

We conducted a laboratory experiment to examine whether dominance status affects the use of locations occupied (i.e. scent-marked) by same-sex conspecifics among wild-caught snow vole males ( Chionomys nivalis ). Given that the costs of invading scent-marked areas should partially depend on the intruder's competitive ability, we hypothesised that, once a dominance relationship has been established with the owner of marks, the use of these areas by males would vary differently between dominant and subordinate individuals. Before any previous experience with the owner, scented substrates and nests were highly attractive to all males, indicating a general preference for recently occupied areas. However, after relative social status was established through direct interaction the subsequent response of males was altered differently, subordinate individuals reducing the use of marked areas to a much greater extent than dominants. Competitive relationships between male C. nivalis were found to be influenced by differences in body weight, larger males tending to display a more dominant pattern of behaviour. Our results reveal that male C. nivalis may require some direct experience with potential opponents to modulate their response towards occupied locations. Additionally, we suggest that the ability of males to conditionally respond to social signals from particular competing conspecifics might be used to lower the costs of prospective agonistic interactions.     

Ecology and biogeography of plant communities associated with the post Plio-Pleistocene relict Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum in southern Spain

Aims Rhododendron ponticum L. is reputed to be a post Plio‐Pleistocene relict plant species with a disjunct distribution that comprises the Iberian Peninsula to the west and the Euxinian region plus some restricted Mediterranean areas to the east. We analysed the ecological range (of subsp. baeticum) in the western area (Aljibe Mountains, north of the Strait of Gibraltar) to understand the factors determining the present area limitation. Location Sierra del Aljibe, north of the Strait of Gibraltar (Iberian Peninsula). Methods We selected 20 riparian sites where R. ponticum is common, and compiled data on the ecological diversity of associated woody species and ferns. We established a 500‐m main transect in each site, along the stream or river course, in which we placed five 20‐m‐long plots at regular intervals. We recorded physiographic habitat features, woody plants and fern abundance, and the number of R. ponticum individuals. Results Rhododendron ponticum in southern Spain is restricted to riparian forests in acidic soils (pH 4.0–6.4), and is mainly found on the banks of inclined and enclosed streams. In our inventory we recorded 59 woody taxa and 12 ferns, with R. ponticum being the dominant species of the understorey (mean abundance 78.6%). The communities are characterized by a high incidence of the humid warm temperate element, both in number of species (18.8 ± 3.7 per site) and abundance; meanwhile, the presence of the modern Mediterranean element (mean number of species 3.4 ± 3.8 per site) appears to be favoured by disturbance. These ecological–historical groups of taxa also show distinct patterns of typological habit, frequency of endemism, infrageneric diversity and geographical range. Populations of R. ponticum are characterized by a very variable density of seedlings in many sites, and the virtual lack of juveniles. Main conclusions Riparian forests of the Aljibe Mountains constitute a refuge for R. ponticum where the species persists, but populations appear to be in decline. The narrow ecological range of R. ponticum in the area strongly contrasts with its wide amplitude in the eastern natural area, mainly the Euxinian region, where R. ponticum probably finds better conditions due to the environmental heterogeneity of the region, and the lack of a hot dry season.     

Kinetics of pyrophosphate induced iron release from diferric ovotransferrin

The kinetics of pyrophosphate-induced iron release from diferric ovotransferrin were studied spectrophotometrically at 37 degrees C in 0.1 M HEPES, pH 7.0. At high pyrophosphate concentrations, the kinetics are biphasic, indicating that the rates of iron release from the two, presumably noninteracting iron-binding sites of ovotransferrin are different. The pseudo-first-order rate constants for iron release from both the fast and slow sites exhibit a hyperbolic dependence on pyrophosphate concentrations. The data suggest that pyrophosphate forms complexes with the two iron-binding sites of ovotransferrin prior to iron removal. The stability constants of the complex formed with the fast site (Keqf) and slow site (Keqs) are 8.3 M-1 and 40.4 M-1, respectively. The first-order rate constants for the dissociation of ferric-pyrophosphate from the fast site (k2f) and the slow site (k2s) are 0.062 and 0.0044 min-1, respectively. Results from urea gel electrophoresis studies suggest that iron is released at a much faster rate from the N-terminal binding site of ovotransferrin. At high pyrophosphate concentration, only C-monoferric-ovotransferrin is detected during the course of iron release. At low pyrophosphate concentration, however, a detectable amount of N-monoferric-ovotransferrin is accumulated. This result is consistent with the kinetic finding that the site with a higher k2 (0.062 min-1) has a lower affinity toward pyrophosphate (Keq = 8.3 M-1) whereas the site with a lower k2 (0.0044 min-1) has a higher affinity for pyrophosphate (Keq = 40.4 M-1).     

Immediate induction of a 45 K secreted glycoprotein by serum and growth factors in quiescent mouse 3T3 cells : Two-dimensional gel analysis

Stimulation of quiescent 3T3 cells by serum dramatically induces the synthesis of a group of secreted polypeptides with a molecular weight (MW) of 45 K (p45 A, B, C, D). The synthesis of these polypeptides increases 10-fold during the first 2 h. Cycloheximide superinduces the 45 K polypeptides and actinomycin D (actD) blocks completely their induction by serum. Peptide mapping analysis and pulse-chase experiments revealed that p45 A is a precursor of polypeptides p45 B, C, D. Tunicamycin treatment inhibits the synthesis of all four polypeptides but a new related protein appears, p-p45, the unglycosylated precursor. In the presence of tunicamycin, p-p45 is also found in the medium, demonstrating that glycosylation is not essential for the secretion. In vitro translation experiments show that the levels of p45 mRNA present in stimulated cells are severalfold higher than that of non-stimulated cells. Purified growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) induce the synthesis of p45 in quiescent cells.