Dynamics of marine sessile organisms with space-limited growth and recruitment: application to corals

We study a model for the community dynamics of marine sessile organisms with space limitation both in recruitment and in growth. We consider an open population in which recruits are supplied from a pelagic pool of larvae produced by adults in distant habitats. Assumptions are: the larval settlement rate is proportional to the amount of free space and to the abundance of larvae in the water column. The growth rate of settled individuals increases with the fraction of free space within the local habitat. We study the competition between two morphotypes with different rates of recruitment, growth, and mortality. When adult mortality is low, following a major disturbance that creates bare patch, the space is quickly filled by larval recruitment and adult growth. Then the morphotype composition changes slowly and converges to the equilibrium that is strongly affected by mortality. We also examine several other limiting cases in which one of the three demographic processes occurs either very slowly or very quickly. Based on the model behavior, we discuss the possible factors responsible for the spatial variation in the morphotype composition observed in coral communities. The dominance of branching corals in protected sites can be explained by their faster growth than tabular corals. The dominance of tabular corals in exposed sites can be explained either by lower mortality or by faster recruitment than branching corals.     

Antifouling activity of simple synthetic isocyanides against larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite

Twelve simple linear isocyanides were synthesized and examined for antifouling activity and toxicity against cyprid larvae of the barnacle, Balanus amphitrite. Larval settlement was inhibited, with EC50 values of 0.046-1.90 microg ml(-1), and they were much less toxic (LD50 values ranging over 21.28 microg ml(-1)) than CuSO4 (EC50 0.30 microg ml(-1) and LD50 2.95 microg ml(-1)). The data indicate that simple linear isocyanides are promising non-toxic antifouling agents.     

Apoplastic extracts from a transgenic wheat line exhibiting lesion-mimic phenotype have multiple pathogenesis-related proteins that are antifungal

A transgenic wheat line constitutively expressing genes encoding a class IV acidic chitinase and an acidic beta-1,3-glucanase, showed significant delay in spread of Fusarium head blight (scab) disease under greenhouse conditions. In an earlier work, we observed a lesion-mimic phenotype in this transgenic line when homozygous for transgene loci. Apoplastic fluid (AF) extracted from the lesion-mimic plants had pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins belonging to families of beta-1,3-glucanases, chitinases, and thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs). AF had growth inhibitory activity against certain fungal pathogens, including Fusarium graminearum and Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. Through a two-step ion-exchange chromatography protocol, we recovered many PR proteins and a few uncharacterized proteins. Three individual protein bands corresponding to a TLP (molecular mass, 16 kDa) and two beta-1,3-glucanases (molecular mass, 32 kDa each) were purified and identified by tandem mass spectrometry. We measured the in vitro antifungal activity of the three purified enzymes and a barley class II chitinase (purified earlier in our laboratory) in microtiter plate assays with macroconidia or conidiophores of F. graminearum and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. Mixtures of proteins revealed synergistic or additive inhibitory activity against F. graminearum and P. tritici-repentis hyphae. The concentrations of PR proteins at which these effects were observed are likely to be those reached in AF of cells exhibiting a hypersensitive response. Our results suggest that apoplastic PR proteins are antifungal and their antimicrobial potency is dependent on concentrations and combinations that are effectively reached in plants following microbial attack.     

Introduction of DPR, an enterostatin fragment peptide, into soybean beta-conglycinin alpha' subunit by site-directed mutagenesis

DPR, a fragment peptide of enterostatin (VPDPR) having hypocholesterolemic activity, was introduced into the three homologous sites, EPR, DYR, and DPI, in the soybean beta-conglycinin alpha' subunit by site-directed mutagenesis. The modified beta-conglycinin was expressed in Escherichia coli and recovered in the soluble fraction. After purification on ion-exchange HPLC, the modified beta-conglycinin was digested by trypsin to release integrated DPR. The yield of DPR from 1 mole of the modified beta-conglycinin was 1.2 mole.     

Voltage-gated inward currents of morphologically identified cells of the frog taste disc

We used the patch clamp technique to record from taste cells in vertical slices of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) taste disc. Cell types were identified by staining with Lucifer yellow in a pipette after recording their electrophysiological properties. Cells could be divided into the following three groups: type Ib (wing) cells with sheet-like apical processes, type II (rod) cells with single thick rod-like apical processes and type III (rod) cells with thin rod-like apical processes. No dye-coupling was seen either between cells of the same type or between cells of different types. We focused on the voltage-gated inward currents of the three types of cells. Type Ib and type II cells exhibited tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive voltage-gated Na+ currents. Surprisingly, type III cells showed TTX-resistant voltage-gated Na+ currents and exhibited a lack of TTX-sensitive Na+ currents. TTX-resistant voltage-gated Na+ currents in taste cells are reported for the first time here. The time constant for the inactivating portion of the voltage-gated inward Na+ currents of type III cells was much larger than that of type Ib and type II cells. Therefore, slow inactivation of inward Na+ currents characterizes type III cells. Amplitudes of the maximum peak inward currents of type III cells were smaller than those of type Ib and type II cells. However, the density (pA/pF) of the maximum peak inward currents of type III cells was much higher than that of type Ib cells and close to that of type II cells. No evidence of the presence of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in frog taste cells has been presented up to now. In this study, voltage-gated Ba2+ currents were observed in type III cells but not in type Ib and type II cells when the bath solution was a standard Ba2+ solution containing 25 mM Ba2+. Voltage-gated Ba2+ currents were blocked by addition of 2 mM CoCl2 to the standard Ba2+ solution, suggesting that type III cells possess the voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and they do classical (calcium-influx) synaptic transmission. It appears that type III cells are taste receptor cells.     

Overexpression of the barley aquaporin HvPIP2;1 increases internal CO(2) conductance and CO(2) assimilation in the leaves of transgenic rice plants

The internal conductance for CO(2) diffusion (g(i)) and CO(2) assimilation rate were measured and the related anatomical characteristics were investigated in transgenic rice leaves that overexpressed barley aquaporin HvPIP2;1. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that aquaporin facilitates CO(2) diffusion within leaves. The g(i) value was estimated for intact leaves by concurrent measurements of gas exchange and carbon isotope ratio. The leaves of the transgenic rice plants that expressed the highest levels of Aq-anti-HvPIP2;1 showed a 40% increase in g(i) as compared to g(i) in the leaves of wild-type rice plants. The increase in g(i) was accompanied by a 14% increase in CO(2) assimilation rate and a 27% increase in stomatal conductance (g(s)). The transgenic plants that had low levels of Aq-anti-HvPIP2;1 showed decreases in g(i) and CO(2) assimilation rate. In the plants with high levels of Aq-anti-HvPIP2;1, mesophyll cell size decreased and the cell walls of the epidermis and mesophyll cells thickened, indicating that the leaves had become xeromorphic. Although such anatomical changes could partially offset the increase in g(i) by the aquaporin, the increase in aquaporin content overcame such adverse effects.     

Requirement of a relatively high threshold level of Mg(2+) for cell growth of a rhizoplane bacterium, Sphingomonas yanoikuyae EC-S001

Mg(2+) is one of the essential elements for bacterial cell growth. The presence of the magnesium cation (Mg(2+)) in various concentrations often affects cell growth restoration in plant-associating bacteria. This study attempted to determine whether Mg(2+) levels in Sphingomonas yanoikuyae EC-S001 affected cell growth restoration in the host plant and what the threshold level is. S. yanoikuyae EC-S001, isolated from the rhizoplane of spinach seedlings grown from surface-sterilized seeds under aseptic conditions, displayed uniform dispersion and attachment throughout the rhizoplane and phylloplane of the host seedlings. S. yanoikuyae EC-S001 did not grow in potato-dextrose broth medium but grew well in an aqueous extract of spinach leaves. Chemical investigation of the growth factor in the spinach leaf extract led to identification of the active principle as the magnesium cation. A concentration of ca. 0.10 mM Mg(2+) or more allowed S. yanoikuyae EC-S001 to grow in potato-dextrose broth medium. Some saprophytic and/or diazotrophic bacteria used in our experiment were found to have diverse threshold levels for their Mg(2+) requirements. For example, Burkholderia cepacia EC-K014, originally isolated from the rhizoplane of a Melastoma sp., could grow even in Mg(2+)-free Hoagland's no. 2 medium with saccharose and glutamine (HSG medium) and requires a trace level of Mg(2+) for its growth. In contrast, S. yanoikuyae EC-S001, together with Bacillus subtilis IFO12113, showed the most drastic restoring responses to subsequent addition of 0.98 mM Mg(2+) to Mg(2+)-free HSG medium. Our studies concluded that Mg(2+) is more than just the essential trace element needed for cell growth restoration in S. yanoikuyae EC-S001 and that certain nonculturable bacteria may require a higher concentration of Mg(2+) or another specific essential element for their growth.     

Pressure activates rat pancreatic stellate cells

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a central role in development of pancreatic fibrosis. In chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic tissue pressure is higher than that of the normal pancreas. We here evaluate the effects of pressure on the activation of rat PSCs. PSCs were isolated from the pancreas of Wistar rat using collagenase digestion and centrifugation with Nycodenz gradient. Pressure was applied to cultured rat PSCs by adding compressed helium gas into the pressure-loading apparatus to raise the internal pressure. Cell proliferation rate was assessed by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. MAPK protein levels and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Concentration of activated transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) secreted from PSCs into culture medium was determined by ELISA. Collagen type I mRNA expression and collagen secretion were assessed by quantitative PCR and Sirius red dye binding assay, respectively. Application of pressure significantly increased BrdU incorporation and alpha-SMA expression. In addition, pressure rapidly increased the phosphorylation of p44/42 and p38 MAPK. Treatment of PSCs with an MEK inhibitor and p38 MAPK inhibitor suppressed pressure-induced cell proliferation and alpha-SMA expression, respectively. Moreover, pressure significantly promoted activated TGF-beta1 secretion, collagen type I mRNA expression, and collagen secretion. Our results demonstrate that pressure itself activates rat PSCs and suggest that increased pancreatic tissue pressure may accelerate the development of pancreatic fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis.