Detection of the associated state of membrane proteins by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis with non-denaturing detergents Application to band 3 protein from erythrocyte membranes

Polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis was carried out in micellar solutions of various detergents which differ in degree of potency to denature proteins. From the application of this method to band 3 protein from erythrocyte membranes, it was suggested that the procedure was useful in studying the molecular state of membrane proteins.The electrophoretic behaviors of human and bovine band 3 protein did not show any species specificity in either a denature state and a state resembling the native state. As well as in nonionic detergent solutions, the dimeric and tetrameric structures of bovine band 3 protein were preserved in sodium deoxycholate solution, in which protein complexes maintained in nonionic detergent solutions are frequently dissociated. Even in dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide solution, which is a denaturant for water-soluble proteins, part of the band 3 protein was still present as the oligomer. The results suggest that the oligomeric form of band 3 protein is the stable structure and that the dimer and tetramer possibly coexist in membranes.     

The influence of metabolic rate on otolith increment width in Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo salar L.

The influence of metabolic rate on otolith accretion in Atlantic salmon parr was investigated by comparing oxygen consumption rate and increment width in fast and slow growing individuals. Increment width was found to be positively correlated to mean daily oxygen consumption in both fast growing (S1) and slow growing (S2) parr. The results support previous suggestions that a process related to metabolic rate, rather than somatic growth, governs the rate of otolith accretion.     

HGT is widespread in insects and contributes to male courtship in lepidopterans

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温度对米象成虫飞行行为的影响

为探明温度对米象成虫的飞行行为的影响,应用起飞测定装置和昆虫飞行磨对不同温度条件下米象成虫的飞行参数进行了测定。结果显示23℃时,米象即可起飞;23～35℃内,60.0%～73.3%的米象个体具备飞行能力;温度对米象雌成虫的24 h累计飞行距离、24 h累计飞行时间和飞行速度均有显著影响,随温度的升高其飞行能力先增强后减弱,在32℃时上述3个飞行参数均有最大值。米象雄成虫的24 h累计飞行距离、24 h累计飞行时间和飞行速度受温度影响不显著,整体随测定温度的增加呈现先增大后减小的趋势,在29℃时有最大值。米象雌雄成虫的日常日行活动呈现一定的节律性,每日上午和傍晚以后有两个飞行活动高峰。研究结果明确了米象成虫在不同温度条件下的飞行行为特征,可为米象的扩散和害虫感染的预防提供数据支持。     

Comparison of effects of four weaning methods on health and performance of beef calves

Weaning of beef calves is a stressful event that negatively impacts health and performance. A variety of interventions have been proposed to reduce stress and improve gains following weaning. This study used 288 7- to 8-month-old calves from two separate locations, to examine four different weaning strategies, as well as the impact of shipment. Calves were blocked by weight and sex, and then randomly assigned to one of four treatments: abrupt weaning (AW), where calves were separated from the dam on day 0 (D0) and allowed no further contact with the dam; fence line (FL), where calves were weaned on D0 but had fence line contact with dams for 7 days; nose flap (NF), where on day -6 calves received a nose flap that interferes with suckling, then had the flap removed and were weaned from the dam on D0; and intermittent separation (SEP), where calves were removed from dams for 24-h intervals on day -13 and day -6, then weaned on D0, but allowed fence line contact with the dam for 7 days. Each treatment group was further divided into two subgroups, one of which was shipped early (D0 for AW, day 7 for others) or shipped later (day 28). Body weight and sickness were recorded for all groups. Results showed a negative impact on gain for early shipping compared to later shipping, and poorer gain in AW calves than most other treatments. Results of the analyses of morbidity were inconclusive. This study found that delayed shipment following FL weaning improves performance under common management conditions for the US cow–calf industry.     

The pulse of the tree is under genetic control: eucalyptus as a case study

The pulse of the tree (diurnal cycle of stem radius fluctuations) has been widely studied as a way of analyzing tree responses to the environment, including the phenotypic plasticity of tree–water relationships in particular. However, the genetic basis of this daily phenotype and its interplay with the environment remain largely unexplored. We characterized the genetic and environmental determinants of this response, by monitoring daily stem radius fluctuation (dSRF) on 210 trees from a Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis full‐sib family over 2 years. The dSRF signal was broken down into hydraulic capacitance, assessed as the daily amplitude of shrinkage (DA), and net growth, estimated as the change in maximum radius between two consecutive days (ΔR). The environmental determinants of these two traits were clearly different: DA was positively correlated with atmospheric variables relating to water demand, while ΔR was associated with soil water content. The heritability for these two traits ranged from low to moderate over time, revealing a time‐dependent or environment‐dependent complex genetic determinism. We identified 686 and 384 daily quantitative trait loci (QTL) representing 32 and 31 QTL regions for DA and ΔR, respectively. The identification of gene networks underlying the 27 major genomics regions for both traits generated additional hypotheses concerning the biological mechanisms involved in response to water demand and supply. This study highlights that environmentally induced changes in daily stem radius fluctuation are genetically controlled in trees and suggests that these daily responses integrated over time shape the genetic architecture of mature traits.     

长爪沙鼠的贮食行为与其个性和代谢水平之间的关系

贮食行为是动物应对食物资源的季节性和不可预测性变化的一种适应性生存策略。在群居性贮食动物中,同胎个体常表现出不同的贮食水平,而关于贮食行为与动物的个性和代谢水平之间的关系尚缺乏研究。本文以长爪沙鼠（Meriones unguiculatus）为对象,在筛选出具有高贮食和低贮食行为特征个体的基础上,比较了两组动物的个性特征（勇敢行为和探索能力）、静止代谢率、血清甲状腺激素水平、贮食期间的运动距离和贮食后的平均每日代谢率等。结果发现：高、低贮食长爪沙鼠的数量各占49%（22/45）和47%（21/45）,两组动物之间的个性特征、静止代谢率和血清甲状腺激素均没有显著差异。在贮食期间高贮食个体的运动距离显著高于低贮食个体,且在停止贮食后,高贮食个体的平均每日代谢率显著低于低贮食个体。这些结果表明,在室内条件下,长爪沙鼠的贮食量高低与个性和静止代谢率无关,但高贮食个体会在停止贮食后降低其总能量消耗,以补偿贮食过程中的高能量代价。