Wiring diagrams of MAPK regulation by MEKK1, 2, and 3.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are activated by a plethora of stimuli. The literature is filled with papers describing the activation of different MAPKs by almost any stimulus or insult imaginable to cells. In this review, we use signal transduction wiring diagrams to illustrate putative upstream regulators for the MAPK kinase kinases, MEKK1, 2, and 3. Targeted gene disruption of MEKK1, 2, or 3 defined phenotypes for each MEKK associated with loss of specific MAPK regulation. Genetic analysis of MEKK function clearly defines specific components of the wiring diagram that require MEKK1, 2, or 3 for physiological responses. We propose that signal transduction network wiring diagrams are valuable tools for hypothesis building and filtering physiologically relevant phenotypic responses from less connected protein relations in the regulation of MAPK pathways.     

VARIATION IN THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE BIFLAGELLATE MOTILE CELLS OF SIX UNICELLULAR GENERA OF THE CHLAMYDOMONADALES AND CHLOROCOCCALES (CHLOROPHYCEAE), WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FLAGELLAR APPARATUS

The ultrastructural features of the biflagellate motile cells of six different species of the Chlorophyceae, namely Dunaliella lateralis (Polyblepharidaceae, Chlamydomonadales), Chlorococcum hypnosporum, Spongiochloris spongiosa, Protosiphon botryoides (Chlorococcaceae, Chlorococcales), Tetracystis aeria and Pseudotetracystis terrestris (Tetracystidaceae, Chlorococcales), were examined with an emphasis on the flagellar apparatus (FA). They have different vegetative characteristics, such as, being motile or nonmotile, variations in chloroplast morphology, possession of one or more nuclei, and reproductive features such as formation of tetrahedral tetrads, and naked or walled zoospores. Ultrastructural differences amongst reproductive cells of the six species include variations in cell surface structure, basal body to basal body angle, beamlike extensions of the distal fiber, extensive connections of the proximal sheath between basal bodies, two-membered rootlets, striated microtubule-associated components, two-membered rootlet-nucleus and/or mitochondria connections, X-membered rootlets, connections of rootlets and basal bodies, rhizoplasts and accessory basal bodies. All six species possess pyrenoids penetrated by thylakoid membranes, and the FA typical of the Chlorophyceae (sensu Mattox and Stewart, 1984). These six species should be divided into two groups. The first includes D. lateralis, C. hypnosporum, and T. aeria, in which accessory basal bodies are present, the basal body to basal body angle is relatively fixed, and a cell wall or surface coat is present. The second group includes Ps. terrestris, S. spongiosa, and Pr. botryoides, in which accessory basal bodies are absent, the basal body to basal body angle is variable and the zoospores are naked.     

POPULATION STRUCTURE IN ZAMIA DEBILIS (ZAMIACEAE) I. SIZE CLASSES,LEAF PHENOLOGY,AND LEAF TURNOVER

Population structure, leaf phenology and leaf turnover were followed over a 29-month period in Zamia debilis L.f. ex Aiton (Zamiaceae), an understory species in the Cambalache Forest in northern Puerto Rico. It was not possible to determine plant age or to measure the subterranean stems; size classes based on leaf number and leaf × leaflet number indices were used to determine population structure. Despite seasonal and year to year fluctuations in leaf number at the individual and population level, population profiles remained relatively constant. At any one time, over 50% of the population was composed of unbranched individuals with one or two leaves. Only 7% of the plants were branched. Plants with seven or more leaves comprised at a maximum 8% of the population, but accounted for 28% of the total foliage. Size classes based on leaf number and on a leaf × leaflet index gave approximately reverse J-shaped curves typical of trees with shade tolerant seedlings and saplings. New leaves emerged throughout the year, with a peak at the beginning of the rainy season in May or June and lowest production during the dry months of February through April. Average leaf life expectancy was approximately 2.3 years. Leaf death occurred over an extended period of time by the loss of individual leaflets. Patterns in leaf production and loss differed between few- and many-leaved plants. On the average, as the number of mature leaves on a plant increased, time between emergence of new leaves decreased. In many-leaved plants more than one event of new leaf emergence per year was common. Individuals with one to three mature leaves and individuals with four or more mature leaves differed in their response to water stress: few-leaved plants generally reduced the rate of new leaf production and retained old leaves longer. Plants with more than three leaves continued to produce new leaves, but the rate of leaf mortality increased so that most had a net leaf loss. There was no evidence that leaf emergence or retention were affected by cone production or seed maturation.     

Stressful life events, social support networks, and the physical and mental health of urban black adults

The direct and the buffering effects of social support networks have been documented, but few studies have examined their health outcomes for blacks and, specifically, the differences in physical and mental health. This study uses six measures of social support to examine the relationships of social support to health outcomes for black males and females. The data are from a community sample of 451 urban black adults. Results show significant differences by sex according to source of social support and particular health outcomes. Number of nearby relatives and perceived social support have direct and buffering effects, respectively, on mental health for black females, but no significant influences emerge for black males. On the other hand, the number of confidants for black males and the degree of religiosity among black females were inversely related to physical health, suggesting differences in conceptual models of social support for mental and physical health.     

DNase I hypersensitivity and expression of the Shrunken-1 gene of maize

The local chromatin structure of the Shrunken-1 (Sh) gene of maize was probed by analyzing DNase I hypersensitivity. Sh encodes the gene for sucrose synthetase, a major starch biosynthetic enzyme, which is maximally expressed in the endosperm during seed maturation. In addition to general DNase I sensitivity, specific DNase I hypersensitive sites were identified in endosperm chromatin that mapped near the 5 end of the Sh gene. The pattern of hypersensitive sites and their relative sensitivity were altered in other non-dormant tissues that produce little or no enzyme. However, some changes in chromatin structure appear to be independent of Sh gene expression and may reflect general alterations associated with plant development. The chromatin structure of several sh mutations, induced by Ds controlling element insertions, was also analyzed. Although the insertions perturbed expression of the gene, there were no notable effects on local chromatin structure.     

Phenotypic variation in susceptibility of honey bees,Apis mellifera,to infestation by tracheal mites,Acarapis woodi

A laboratory bioassay was used to study phenotypic differences in susceptibility of honey bees,Apis mellifera L., to tracheal mites,Acarapis woodi Rennie. Significantly different infestation frequencies were found in bees from 23 colonies containing queens that were instrumentally inseminated with single drones. Queens and drones originated from a closed population composed of commercial stock from various areas of the United States.Mites were randomly distributed with respect to right and left prothoracic tracheae. Tracheae containing mites were no more or less attractive to migrating mites than non-infested tracheae. The same quantity of progeny per female was produced in tracheae containing 1–3 mites. Female mites apparently do not migrate a second time after egg laying begins.The degree of phenotypic variation suggests that selection of honey bees for tracheal mite resistance is feasible.     

Effects of membrane physical parameters on hematoporphyrin-derivative binding to liposomes: A spectroscopic study

Summary Physical parameters of membrane bilayers were studied for their effect on the binding of hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd), which is used as a sensitizer in photodynamic therapy of cancerous tissues. The purpose of this study was to clarify which parameters were relevant, under physiological conditions, to the selectivity of Hpd binding to cancer cells. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to measure the relative partitioning of the dye between the lipid and aqueous media. Increasing the microviscosity of the liposomes' membranes by various bilayer additives results in a strong reduction of Hpd binding, to an extent independent of the specific additive. The effect of temperature near the physiological value as well as the effect of cross membrane potential are small. Surface potential does not affect the binding constant, indicating that the binding species does not carry a net electric charge.     

l-Phenylalanyl-l-Glutamate-Stimulated, Chloride-Dependent Glutamate Binding Represents Glutamate Sequestration Mediated by an Exchange System

Stimulation of glutamate binding by the dipeptide L-phenylalanyl-L-glutamate (Phe-Glu) was inhibited by the peptidase inhibitor bestatin, suggesting that the stimulation was caused by glutamate liberated from the dipeptide and not by the dipeptide itself. It further suggests that this form of glutamate binding should be reinterpreted as glutamate sequestration and that stimulation of binding both by dipeptides and after preincubation with high concentrations of glutamate is likely to be due to counterflow accumulation. Several other criteria indicate that most of glutamate binding stimulated by chloride represents glutamate sequestration: Binding is reduced when the osmolarity of the incubation medium is increased, when membranes incubated with [3H]glutamate are lysed before filtration, and when membranes are made permeable by transient exposure to saponin. Moreover, dissociation of bound glutamate after a 100-fold dilution of the incubation medium is accelerated about 50 times by the addition of glutamate to the dilution medium. This result would be anomalous if glutamate were bound to a receptor site; it suggests instead that glutamate is transported in and out of membrane vesicles by a transport system that preferentially mediates exchange between internal and external glutamate. Glutamate binding contains a component of glutamate sequestration even when measured in the absence of chloride. Sequestration is adequately abolished only after treating membranes with detergents; even extensive lysis, sonication, and freezing/thawing may be insufficient.