The genetic structure of a primate species: Rhesus macaques and other Cercopithecine monkeys

Among rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)and other cercopithecine monkeys, social groups occupying adjacent home ranges (i.e., members of the same local population) exchange individuals and genes and thus exhibit marked genetic similarities. To assess the degree to which this pattern extends beyond the local population, the genetic structure of M. mulattaand six other primate species was determined using Nei’s (1973) gene-diversity analysis. The genetic similarities seen among social groups in the Dunga Gali population of M. mulatta (Melnick et al.,1984a) can be seen over the entire species range. Comparison of these results with the structures of other similarly organized primate species indicates that (1) the average social group contains most of its local population’s genetic diversity, (2) the average local population contains the majority of the genetic diversity found in the region to which it belongs, and (3) the proportion of species gene diversity found in the average regional population varies substantially between species. Genetic homogeneity within local and regional populations is probably the product of gene flow. The application of a number of analytical models of selection and gene flow strongly suggests that gene flow, genetic drift, and zoogeography offer a more parsimonious and plausible explanation for interspecific variation in regional differentiation than does stabilizing selection.     

Structural and functional domains of cellobiohydrolase I from trichoderma reesei

Limited proteolysis (papain) of the cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I, 65 kDa) from Trichoderma reesei led to the seperation of two functional domains: a core protein (55 kDa) containing the active site, and a C-terminal glycopeptide (10 kDa) implicated in binding to the insoluble matrix (cellulose). The quaternary structures of the intact CBH I and its core in solution are now compared by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. The molecular parameters derived for the core (Rg=2.09 nm, D_max=6.5 nm) and for the intact enzyme (Rg=4.27 nm, D_max=18 nm) indicate very different shapes. The resulting models show a tadpole-like structure for the intact enzyme where the isotropic part coincides with the core protein and the flexible tail part should be identified with the C-terminal glycopeptide. Thus in this enzyme, functional differentiation is reflected in structural peculiarities.Abbreviations SAXS small angle X-ray scattering - SDS-PAGE SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - IEF-PAG polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing; cellobiohydrolase (CBH, 1,4--glucan cellobio hydrolase (E.C.3.2.1.91)) - D_max maximum diameter - Rg radius of gyration     

Age Structure and Community Diversity of Nematodes Associated with Maize in Iowa Sandy Soils

Age structure of nematode populations around maize growing in sandy soils in Iowa was studied at soil depths of 0-15and 15-30 cm for 2 years. Numbers of Longidorus breviannulatus were generally greater at 0-15 cm than at 15-30 cm deep until mid to late season. The decline in numbers of females as the season progressed indicates that fecundity slowed and is evidence of only one generation per year. Peak populations of Pratylenchus scribneri and Xiphinema americanum occurred in late August or early September. Adults of Hoplolaimus galeatus were few in the roots but common in the soil, indicating that fertilization occurred mostly in the soil. Numbers of P. scribneri were generally greater at the lower depth, especially late in the season. Community diversity (H'') was less when nematode biomass was used instead of numbers. Numbers of H. galeatus did not decline over the winter. Numbers of L. breviannulatus, P. scribneri, and X. americanum declined significantly over the winter, but not between spring cultivation and planting.     

Predator driven changes in community structure

Summary The zooplankton community of a small pond changed markedly with temporal variation in predation pressure. Long term changes in zooplankton community structure occurred following the replacement of planktivorous fish by phantom midge (Chaoborus americanus) larvae as the predominant predator of zooplankton. The interannual changes following the establishment of Chaoborus included the apparent or near extinction, of species ill adapted to the new predation pressure and the successful colonization of well adapted species. Seasonal changes in the species composition and size distribution of the zooplankton community correlate with temporal variation in predation intensity associated with temperature-activity patterns of the predator or changes in the stage structure of the predator population.     

The vectoring of cactophilic yeasts by Drosophila

Summary At two locations in the Sonoran Desert, yeasts were sampled from species of Drosophila, the flies' cactus hosts, and other neighboring sources of cactophilic yeasts to determine the relation between the yeasts vectored by the fly and the yeasts found in their breeding sites. D. mojavensis, D. nigrospiracula, and D. mettleri vectored yeast assemblages significantly more similar to the yeast species found on the rot from which the flies were collected than to the yeasts found on other rots from the flies host cactus or other rotting cactus at the same site. Rots with Drosophila had fewer yeast species than those without flies, suggesting that flies were associated with younger rots. Rots with flies and the Drosophila also had more yeast species with the capability to produce ethyl acetate than rots without flies. The results support the contention that cactophilic Drosophila feed on a subset of the yeasts available in an area, and may act to maintain differences among the yeast communities found on different species of cactus.     

Establishment of Plantago lanceolata L. and Plantago major L. among grass

Summary Establishment of Plantago lanceolata and P. major ssp major among grass was studied in a field experiment in which survival and selection on date of seedling emergence and plant size was investigated in relation to the vegetation structure. P. major — in contrast to P. lanceolata — was not able to establish itself in grass because of its lower competitive ability caused by later germination, smaller seedling size, and shorter leaves. In both species there was selection for early germination. For P. lanceolata a significant correlation was found between the strength of selection and the light climate, determined by the structure of the grass sward. Plants that germinated early were at an advantage because they were larger, especially the leaves, when compared with plants that germinated late. It seems likely that selection was mainly by competition for light. Contrary to expectation P. major-seedlings had a higher shade tolerance than those of P. lanceolata. The performance of both species is discussed in relation to their different life strategies.Grassland species research group publication no 142     

以点杂交方法对人β型血珠蛋白基因的染色质结构与功能进行的研究

我采用点杂交的方法,对人β型血珠蛋白基因簇的染色质结构与基因转录活性之间的关系进行了研究。以对DNase Ⅰ消化的敏感性作为染色质的结构参数,我将β型血珠蛋白基因簇中11个区域之间以及其与不表达基因区(乳糖白蛋白和免疫球蛋白不变区λ轻链基因)的染色结构进行比较。实验的细胞系统为K 562红白血病细胞与人胚皮肤细胞株(HES)。所获得的结果提示,在细胞核内,表达基因的染色质结构疏松,对DNase Ⅰ消化的敏感性远较不表达基因区的为高。此外,本文还对有关点杂交的方法学问题进行了较为详尽的讨论。     

小地老虎变态期脂肪体变化及保幼激素类似物的影响

本文对小地老虎Agrotis ypsilon(Rottemberg)从四龄幼虫开始经预蛹和蛹的变态期及羽化为成虫后的脂肪体出现的超微结构变化,蛋白质含量的变动,以及蛋白质颗粒的形成和消失过程,进行了系统观察和组织化学分析。结果表明:(1)在幼虫期的后期,脂肪体扩大成宽带状,细胞体积增大的同时出现双核和多核。进入预蛹期,细胞内开始出现嗜碱性“蛋白质颗粒”,血细胞吞噬部分脂肪体细胞。蛹龄一天时,脂肪体转变成块状,细胞内充满大型蛋白质颗粒。在蛹龄5—10天内,“幼虫脂肪体”逐步崩解,围膜及细胞膜消失。至蛹龄12天时转变为预成虫,脂肪体细胞重新出现,并以气管分支为中心聚合成花朵状圆球体,再组成串状“成虫脂肪体”,仍充满蛋白质颗粒。幼虫期发达的粗面内质网和线粒体,至预蛹期则衰变成几种类型的蛋白质颗粒。(2)六龄幼虫在1—5日龄期间,每克脂肪体的蛋白质含量稳定在7.1—8.4毫克之间,随后逐步升高,至预蛹期达16.3毫克的峰值。蛹初期,雄蛹和雌蛹的含量分别增高到预蛹期的1.63和2.4倍。但在蛹龄2—8天内迅速下降到六龄幼虫期的水平。至蛹龄9—13天时间(包括预成虫),含量又突然猛增,雌蛹尤为显著。蛹期脂肪体细胞充满着的几种蛋白质颗粒,在羽化为成虫后的24小时内全部消失。在六龄幼虫期用保幼激素类似物ZR-515(20微克)作体壁处理,可使幼虫期延长4天,并使九日龄幼虫的脂肪体仍保持幼虫型状态。     

Refined structure of human carbonic anhydrase II at 2.0 Å resolution

The structure of human erythrocytic carbonic anhydrase II has been refined by constrained and restrained structure–factor least-squares refinement at 2.0 Å resolution. The conventional crystallographic R value is 17.3%. Of 167 solvent molecules associated with the protein, four are buried and stabilize secondary structure elements. The zinc ion is ligated to three histidyl residues and one water molecule in a nearly tetrahedral geometry. In addition to the zinc-bound water, seven more water molecules are identified in the active site. Assuming that Glu-106 is deprotonated at pH 8.5, some of the hydrogen bond donor–acceptor relations in the active site can be assigned and are described here in detail. The Oγ1 atom of Thr-199 donates its proton to the Oε1 atom of Glu-106 and can function as a hydrogen bond acceptor only in additional hydrogen bonds.