Perception of heterochromatic flicker by honeybees: a behavioural study

Freely flying honeybees were trained to discriminate a stimulus consisting of two alternating chromatic lights (heterochromatic flicker) from a steady mixture of the same two lights, using 3 different pairs of lights: blue-UV, UV-green, and green-UV. With each light pair, training to the heterochromatic flicker was conducted at several flicker frequencies, using experimentally naive bees in each training. In subsequent tests, the trained bees were given a choice between the two lights that constituted the flicker, presented steady, as well as between either of them and the steady mixture. We find that bees trained to particular frequencies of heterochromatic flicker prefer one of the component lights over the other as well as over the steady mixture, suggesting that the colour they perceive in the heterochromatic flicker to which they have been trained is shifted in the direction of one of the lights contained in the flicker. The colour shift occurs at flicker frequencies that depend on the pair of lights used. We propose that the shift is generated by an effect similar to the Brücke-Bartley phenomenon known from human vision. This effect is based on the enhancement of the photoreceptors' response upon onset of stimulation, causing an intermittent light to appear brighter than a steady light of identical physical intensity. We propose that the degree of enhancement might differ among the 3 spectral classes of photoreceptor, causing the colour perceived in a heterochromatic flicker to differ from that perceived in a steady mixture of its two light components.     

An automated method for modeling proteins on known templates using distance geometry.

We present an automated method incorporated into a software package, FOLDER, to fold a protein sequence on a given three-dimensional (3D) template. Starting with the sequence alignment of a family of homologous proteins, tertiary structures are modeled using the known 3D structure of one member of the family as a template. Homologous interatomic distances from the template are used as constraints. For nonhomologous regions in the model protein, the lower and the upper bounds for the interatomic distances are imposed by steric constraints and the globular dimensions of the template, respectively. Distance geometry is used to embed an ensemble of structures consistent with these distance bounds. Structures are selected from this ensemble based on minimal distance error criteria, after a penalty function optimization step. These structures are then refined using energy optimization methods. The method is tested by simulating the alpha-chain of horse hemoglobin using the alpha-chain of human hemoglobin as the template and by comparing the generated models with the crystal structure of the alpha-chain of horse hemoglobin. We also test the packing efficiency of this method by reconstructing the atomic positions of the interior side chains beyond C beta atoms of a protein domain from a known 3D structure. In both test cases, models retain the template constraints and any additionally imposed constraints while the packing of the interior residues is optimized with no short contacts or bond deformations. To demonstrate the use of this method in simulating structures of proteins with nonhomologous disulfides, we construct a model of murine interleukin (IL)-4 using the NMR structure of human IL-4 as the template. The resulting geometry of the nonhomologous disulfide in the model structure for murine IL-4 is consistent with standard disulfide geometry.     

Oxide-Based Solid-State Batteries: A Perspective on Composite Cathode Architecture

The garnet-type phase Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) attracts significant attention as an oxide solid electrolyte to enable safe and robust solid-state batteries (SSBs) with potentially high energy density. However, while significant progress has been made in demonstrating compatibility with Li metal, integrating LLZO into composite cathodes remains a challenge. The current perspective focuses on the critical issues that need to be addressed to achieve the ultimate goal of an all-solid-state LLZO-based battery that delivers safety, durability, and pack-level performance characteristics that are unobtainable with state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. This perspective complements existing reviews of solid/solid interfaces with more emphasis on understanding numerous homo- and heteroionic interfaces in a pure oxide-based SSB and the various phenomena that accompany the evolution of the chemical, electrochemical, structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of those interfaces during processing and operation. Finally, the insights gained from a comprehensive literature survey of LLZO–cathode interfaces are used to guide efforts for the development of LLZO-based SSBs.     

Light-dependent and tissue-specific expression of the H-protein of the glycine decarboxylase complex.

Glycine decarboxylase is a mitochondrial enzyme complex, which is the site of photorespiratory CO2 and NH3 release. Although the proteins that constitute the complex are located within the mitochondria, because of their intimate association with photosynthesis their expression is controlled by light. Comparisons of the kinetics of mRNA accumulation between the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and the H-protein of glycine decarboxylase during the greening of etiolated Arabidopsis thaliana suggest that their expression is controlled in parallel. A genomic clone for the H-protein (gdcH) was isolated from Arabidopsis and sequenced. The upstream region from -856 to +62 was fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene, and this construct was transformed into tobacco. This 5' upstream regulatory region appears to control GUS expression in a manner very similar to that of the endogenous H-protein gene. Constructs with deletions in the 5' upstream region were transformed into tobacco. These deletions revealed that light-dependent and tissue-specific expression was largely controlled by a 259-bp region between -376 and -117 bp. This region contains several putative GT boxes with the GGTTAA consensus core sequence. Once these strong light-dependent elements were removed, a second level of control was revealed. In constructs in which the gdcH 5' regulatory region was shortened to -117 bp or less, there was more GUS activity in the roots than in the leaves, and in dark-grown plants than in light-grown plants. This suggests that more proximal control elements may be responsible for the constitutive low levels of gene expression noted in all nonphotosynthetic tissues.     

Nerve Growth Factor as a Mitogen for a Pancreatic Carcinoid Cell Line

Abstract: Carcinoid tumors are a group of neuroendocrine neoplasms distributed widely throughout the body but most commonly occurring in the gut. These tumors retain many characteristics of their neural crest origin, including secretion of neuroactive peptides and responsiveness to neurotrophic substances. Nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophic protein involved in maintenance and differentiation of peripheral sympathetic and sensory neurons, regulates growth of several neural tumor cells by inducing a differentiated phenotype and subsequent inhibition of cell growth rate. We examined the actions of NGF in a functioning human pancreatic carcinoid cell line (termed BON). NGF has no effect on the cytoarchitecture or constitutive secretion of bioamines in this carcinoid cell line. NGF, however, stimulates the in vitro cellular proliferation of BON cells. BON cells possess mRNA for the NGF receptors (p75^LNGFR and p140^trkA) and membrane-associated tyrosine kinase activity is increased in response to NGF. Both the mitogenic activity of NGF, as well as the receptor-linked tyrosine kinase activity, can be abrogated in BON cells by the trkA inhibitor K-252a and specific anti-NGF antibody. Our studies demonstrate that NGF is a mitogen for this carcinoid cell line without effect on cellular phenotype or cytoarchitecture. NGF may play a role in the development and progression of human carcinoid tumors.     

Determinants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 entry in the CDR2 loop of the CD4 glycoprotein.

Various roles for the viral receptor, CD4, have been proposed in facilitating human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry, including virion binding to the target cell and the induction of conformational changes in the viral envelope glycoproteins required for the membrane fusion reaction. Here, we compare the structural requirements in the CDR2-like loop of CD4 domain 1, the major contact site of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein, for gp120 binding and virus entry. For every CD4 mutant examined, the level of cell surface expression and the gp120 binding affinity were sufficient to explain the relative ability to function as a viral receptor. The decrease in relative infectibility associated with decreased gp120 binding affinity was more pronounced at lower cell surface CD4 concentrations. These results imply that both receptor density and affinity determine the efficiency of HIV-1 entry and that specific structures in the CD4 residues examined are probably not required for HIV-1 entry functions other than gp120 binding.     

The fragile X mental retardation syndrome protein interacts with novel homologs FXR1 and FXR2.

Fragile X Mental Retardation Syndrome is the most common form of hereditary mental retardation, and is caused by defects in the FMR1 gene. FMR1 is an RNA-binding protein and the syndrome results from lack of expression of FMR1 or expression of a mutant protein that is impaired in RNA binding. The specific function of FMR1 is not known. As a step towards understanding the function of FMR1 we searched for proteins that interact with it in vivo. We have cloned and sequenced a protein that interacts tightly with FMR1 in vivo and in vitro. This novel protein, FXR2, is very similar to FMR1 (60% identity). FXR2 encodes a 74 kDa protein which, like FMR1, contains two KH domains, has the capacity to bind RNA and is localized to the cytoplasm. The FXR2 gene is located on human chromosome 17 at 17p13.1. In addition, FMR1 and FXR2 interact tightly with the recently described autosomal homolog FXR1. Each of these three proteins is capable of forming heteromers with the others, and each can also form homomers. FXR1 and FXR2 are thus likely to play important roles in the function of FMR1 and in the pathogenesis of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Syndrome.     

Biomass protein formation by filamentous fungi on woody substrates

Summary Growth and biomass protein formation by filamentous fungi grown on pretreated tropical woods of Mesta (Hibiscus cannabinus Linn.) and Subabul [Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Witt] as well as their isolated hemicellulose and cellulose fractions have been studied. Penicillium janthinellum and Penicillium funiculosum produced a biomass having 20 to 30% crude protein when grown on either hemicellulose, while growth on pretreated (autoclaved in 1% NaOH) wood or isolated cellulose fractions was comparatively poor and crude protein content only 5 to 8% in the biomass.NCL Communication no.3550     

Characterization of extracellular substrate specific glucose and xylose isomerases of Chainia

Summary Specific glucose and xylose isomerases have been identified in cell-free culture filtrates of a Chainia species. Treatment with DEAE-cellulose selectively adsorbed xylose isomerase activity while only the glucose isomerase was adsorbed on CM-cellulose. Glucose isomerase was completely inhibited by xylose at 1.3 × 10^-4 M concentration. The differential identity of the extracellular glucose and xylose isomerases, unique to Chainia, is discussed.(NCL Communication 3562)