A reevaluation of the amino acid sequence of human follitropin beta-subunit

A collaborative study from two laboratories has been undertaken to re-evaluate the human follitropin -subunit sequence (hFSH), since areas of uncertainty remain in the wake of two earlier reports. The first report was by Shome and Parlow (1974). The second, by Saxena and Rathnam (1976), proposed revisions for sequence not definitively placed in the first study, as well as some differences in other placements. We have re-examined the sequence of the hFSH with more recent methodology. This has led to revision of certain areas of the sequence and resolution of differences between the two earlier proposals. Specifically, an-Ile-Ser- is established at 21–22, Asp at 41, Arg at 44, Lys at 46, and Glu at 111. These were areas of disagreement in the earlier proposals. A definitive placement of the residues around tryptophan-27 has now been obtained by three laboratories. C-terminal heterogeneity was observed with subunits ending at residue 107, 109, or 111. N-terminal heterogeneity has been observed in all preparations examined to date. A significant population of molecules with a proteolytic nick between residues 38–39 is noted. This is very likely an artifact of the collection and processing. The preparations examined in the present studies showed no evidence of residues 112–118 proposed by Saxena and Rathnam.     

Taxonomic distribution,structure/function relationship and metabolic context of the two families of sulfide dehydrogenases: SQR and FCSD

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a versatile molecule with different functions in living organisms: it can work as a metabolite of sulfur and energetic metabolism or as a signaling molecule in higher Eukaryotes. H₂S is also highly toxic since it is able to inhibit heme cooper oxygen reductases, preventing oxidative phosphorylation. Due to the fact that it can both inhibit and feed the respiratory chain, the immediate role of H₂S on energy metabolism crucially relies on its bioavailability, meaning that studying the central players involved in the H₂S homeostasis is key for understanding sulfide metabolism.Two different enzymes with sulfide oxidation activity (sulfide dehydrogenases) are known: flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase (FCSD), a sulfide:cytochrome c oxidoreductase; and sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR).In this work we performed a thorough bioinformatic study of SQRs and FCSDs and integrated all published data. We systematized several properties of these proteins: (i) nature of flavin binding, (ii) capping loops and (iii) presence of key amino acid residues. We also propose an update to the SQR classification system and discuss the role of these proteins in sulfur metabolism.     

合欢吉丁Agrilus subrobustus Saunders的学名厘定及危害特性

【目的】本文对危害合欢Albizia julibrissin Durazz的钻蛀性害虫合欢吉丁Agrilus subrobustus Saunders各虫态形态特征及危害特性进行了研究与描述,深入探索其虫道三维结构,以期为合欢吉丁的发生监测及防治提供依据。【方法】查阅相关文献,记述整理了合欢吉丁学名的变化过程,详细地观察并描述了剖腹卵、幼虫、蛹、成虫的形态特征;首次研究总结其坑道系统的各指标特点:虫口密度、坑道长宽、侵入孔特征、蛹室特征、羽化孔特征等,明确了完整虫道的发生发展规律;基于坑道拍照、各向量指标测量,对坑道进行科学手绘,使用Autodesk Maya软件完成合欢吉丁完整虫道的三维重建。【结果】合欢吉丁幼虫细长、乳白色,蛹为裸蛹。成虫铜绿色具金属光泽,观察对比其前胸背板长宽比、盘区和肩前隆脊形态,前胸腹板突形状,鞘翅柔毛分布位置,阳茎形态等特征,结合文献,明确其学名为Agrilus subrobustus Saunders。合欢吉丁主要危害树干韧皮部及木质部,具向阳性;在树皮下钻蛀坑道,侵入孔圆形,不超过1 mm;蛹室米粒状,多位于木质部,少数位于韧皮部;羽化孔"D"型;坑道形状具有规律性,可分为3种:"Z"字型及其变型,密集上下迂回型,椭圆或近半圆型坑道。【结论】基于形态特征的详细描述、学名厘定,有利于合欢吉丁的鉴定及学名的正确使用;完整虫道的复原便于在非成虫期结合寄主种类鉴定害虫种类、评估虫口密度和危害程度,为合欢吉丁的监测提供了具体的判别方法,为化学防治、生物防治等提供参考与技术支持。     

Taxonomic assessment of opal phytoliths from grasses of deltaic West Bengal,India

In the present study, taxonomic potential of opal phytoliths was examined in grasses from lower Gangetic delta, West Bengal, India. The study revealed that finer classification of phytoliths can increase the efficacy of opal silica as taxonomic proxy by minimizing the influences of multiplicity and redundancy. We isolated 187 phytolith sub‐morphotypes, categorized under 10 major groups, from 110 grass species belonging to 45 genera, 21 sub‐tribes, 13 tribes and 7 subfamilies. Cluster and correspondence analyses showed that all the significantly represented subfamilies can be clearly distinguished on the basis of either principal morphotypes or sub‐morphotypes. However, genus/species level discrimination may only be possible by deploying phytolith based identification key developed by utilizing detailed grass phytolith micro‐morphometry and frequency attributes. We conclude that grass phytolith characteristics provide useful and significant information for distinguishing grass taxa of deltaic West Bengal.     

A test of traditional diversity measures and taxonomic distinctness indices on benthic diatoms of soda pans in the Carpathian basin

Saline lakes are threatened all over the world and their conservation has been a key issue. Various diversity indices are available for ecological status assessments, however, with poorly explored relevance and applicability in saline, alkaline pans. Therefore, traditional diversity measures (species richness and Shannon diversity) and taxonomic distinctness indices (Average [AvTD] and Variance of Taxonomic Distinctness [VarTD]) were tested in more than 100 sampling sites of 39 soda pans in Central-Europe to find sufficient indicators of the ecological condition and simultaneously to facilitate their preservation according to the modern conservation practices. Results of the analyses showed that healthy soda pan ecosystems with high level of natural stress and reduced habitat heterogeneity are characterized by low diversity diatom assemblages. In soda pans where the stress can be extremely high from natural reasons, oligopoly of closely related species can develop: the average taxonomic distinctness appeared between genus and family level. The non-DNA-sequence based phylogenetic diversity measures (AvTD and VarTD), were generally sensitive to the trophic state of the lakes, in contrast to traditional diversity metrics, which were unequivocally indicative for the special physical and chemical parameters (e.g. conductivity, pH) of the soda pans. In some cases, when the response of the diversity measures for a given environmental variable (pH, temperature) overlapped, the AvTD was found to be a more precise indicator of the environmental changes (pH) than traditional ones. The decreasing tendency of the AvTD along the intensified natural impact may be explained by the long available time for the species to adapt to these special environments.     

Long-term monitoring data meet freshwater species distribution models: Lessons from an LTER-site

Long-term monitoring datasets provide a solid framework for ecological research. Such a dataset from the German long-term ecological research (LTER) site Rhine-Main-Observatory was used to set up a species distribution model (SDM) for the Kinzig catchment. The extensive knowledge on the monitoring data provided by the LTER-site framework allowed to calibrate a robust model for 175 taxa of stream macroinvertebrates and to project their distributions on the Kinzig River stream network using bioclimatic, topographical, hydrological, land use and geological predictors. On average, model performance was good, with a TSS of 0.83 (±0.09 SD) and a ROC of 0.95 (±0.03 SD). The model delivered valuable insights on three sources of bias that plague SDMs in general: (a) level of taxonomic identification of the modeled organisms, (b) the spatial arrangement of sampling sites, and (c) the sampling intensity at each sampling site. Taxonomic resolution did not affect SDM performance. The distribution of high predicted probabilities of occurrence in the stream network coincided with those segments in the stream network most densely and frequently sampled, indicating both a spatial and temporal sampling bias. Species richness curves confirmed the temporal sampling bias. Next to spatial bias, sampling frequency also plays an important role in data collection, affecting further analysis and modeling procedures. Results indicate an underrepresentation of low order streams, an important aspect that should be addressed by both monitoring schemes and modeling approaches.     

基于居群观测的木鱼坪淫羊藿复合种形态比较和分类学启示

基于"居群"概念,对木鱼坪淫羊藿复合种(Epimedium franchetii species complex)进行了系统的标本查阅,并于花期对该复合种9个居群的野外形态进行了观测和比较研究。结果显示,竹山淫羊藿(E.zhushanense K.F.Wu et S.X.Qian)花瓣为紫红色,易于与其它物种区分;时珍淫羊藿(E.lishihchenii Stearn)在模式产地(江西庐山)的JXLS居群中有1/5的个体根茎为结节状(并非像模式种一样根茎细长),其叶背被毛细长的性状较稳定,且与木鱼坪淫羊藿(E.franchetii Stearn)叶背被粗短伏毛的性状区别明显;JXJA居群(江西靖安)地理分布靠近江西庐山,叶背被毛也与时珍淫羊藿类似,但其典型的粗壮根茎则与木鱼坪淫羊藿一致,因此将其处理为木鱼坪淫羊藿-时珍淫羊藿过渡类型;保靖淫羊藿(E.baojingense Q.L.Chen et B.M.Yang)与木鱼坪淫羊藿主要区别在于前者小叶柄、叶柄、茎和节部密被柔毛,尤以节部明显,叶背被细长毛,而木鱼坪淫羊藿小叶柄、叶柄、茎和节部均光滑,叶背被粗短伏毛;HBFX居群(湖北房县)和HBMP居群(湖北神农架)小叶柄、叶柄、茎、节部和叶背均疏被毛,被毛特征介于木鱼坪淫羊藿和保靖淫羊藿之间,因此将HBFX和HBMP居群处理为木鱼坪淫羊藿-保靖淫羊藿过渡类型。聚类分析结果表明,9个居群可划分为3类,竹山淫羊藿与其它类群种间界限明显,建议将其从木鱼坪淫羊藿复合种中分离出来;木鱼坪淫羊藿与时珍淫羊藿和保靖淫羊藿的关系复杂;保靖淫羊藿与木鱼坪淫羊藿主要是被毛上的差异,地理上存在同域分布,推测其为微生境导致的生态宗,将其处理为木鱼坪淫羊藿的变种;时珍淫羊藿与木鱼坪淫羊藿地理分布相对隔离,是由地理隔离引起的地理宗,将其处理为木鱼坪淫羊藿亚种。     

Development of a 16S rRNA gene-based prototype microarray for the detection of selected actinomycetes genera

Actinomycetes are known for their secondary metabolites, which have been successfully used as drugs in human and veterinary medicines. However, information on the distribution of this group of Gram-positive bacteria in diverse ecosystems and a comprehension of their activities in ecosystem processes are still scarce. We have developed a 16S rRNA-based taxonomic microarray that targets key actinomycetes at the genus level. In total, 113 actinomycete 16S rRNA probes, corresponding to 55 of the 202 described genera, were designed. The microarray accuracy was evaluated by comparing signal intensities with probe/target-weighted mismatch values and the Gibbs energy of the probe/target duplex formation by hybridizing 17 non-actinomycete and 29 actinomycete strains/clones with the probe set. The validation proved that the probe set was specific, with only 1.3% of false results. The incomplete coverage of actinomycetes by a genus-specific probe was caused by the limited number of 16S rRNA gene sequences in databases or insufficient 16S rRNA gene polymorphism. The microarray enabled discrimination between actinomycete communities from three forest soil samples collected at one site. Cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from one of the soil samples confirmed the microarray results. We propose that this newly constructed microarray will be a valuable tool for genus-level comparisons of actinomycete communities in various ecological conditions.     

Basal euteleostean relationships: a mitogenomic perspective on the phylogenetic reality of the "Protacanthopterygii"

Higher-level relationships of the basal Euteleostei (=Protacanthopterygii) are so complex and controversial that at least nine different morphology-based phylogenetic hypotheses have been proposed during the last 30 years. Relationships of the Protacanthopterygii were investigated using mitochondrial genomic (mitogenomic) data from 34 purposefully chosen species (data for 12 species being newly determined during the study) that fully represented major basal euteleostean lineages and some basal teleosts plus neoteleosts as outgroups. Unweighted and weighted maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses were conducted with the data set that comprised concatenated nucleotide sequences from 12 protein-coding genes (excluding the ND6 gene and 3rd codon positions) and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes (stem regions only) from the 34 species. The resultant trees were well resolved and largely congruent, with most internal branches being supported by high statistical values. Monophyly of the protacanthopterygians was confidently rejected by the mitogenomic data. Of the five major monophyletic groups that received high statistical support within the protacanthopterygians, a clade comprising members of the alepocephaloids was unexpectedly nested within the Otocephala, sister-group of the euteleosts. The remaining four major monophyletic groups, on the other hand, occupied phylogenetic positions intermediate between the otocephalans and neoteleosts, with a clade comprising esociforms + salmoniforms being more basal to the argentinoids and osmeroids. Although interrelationships of the latter two clades (argentinoids and osmeroids) with the neoteleosts remained ambiguous, the present results indicated explicitly that the protacanthopterygians as currently defined merely represent a collective, polyphyletic group of the basal euteleosts, located between the basal teleosts (elopomorphs and below) and neoteleosts (stomiiforms and above).     

辽宁省爬行动物名录及地理区划更新

基于此前辽宁省爬行动物调查资料和分类学研究,结合近年来野外调查进展,对辽宁省爬行动物名录和区系进行修订,并报道辽宁省蛇类新记录二种——乌梢蛇（Ptyasdhumnades）和黑头剑蛇（Sibynophischinensis）。根据从辽宁省凌源市野外获得的影像资料进一步确认黑眉锦蛇（Elaphe taeniura）在辽宁省的分布。另依据采集自葫芦岛市的1号王锦蛇（E. carinata）标本对该种在辽宁省的分布予以补充描述。截至2023年5月,辽宁省记录爬行动物2目11科21属37种,其中,龟鳖目3科4属5种,有鳞目蜥蜴亚目3科5属10种,蛇亚目5科12属22种。爬行动物中,国家一级重点保护野生动物3种,国家二级重点保护野生动物6种。此外,有15个物种被《中国生物多样性红色名录脊椎动物第三卷爬行动物》评估为受威胁物种。根据辽宁省爬行动物最新分布信息,将辽宁省划分为6个动物地理省,分别为辽东山地丘陵省、辽东半岛山地丘陵省、辽河平原省、努鲁儿虎山北麓丘陵台地及西辽河沙地省、辽西山地丘陵省和冀辽山地省,其中,冀辽山地省为本研究中新增动物地理省。扩大原辽东半岛丘陵省涵盖范围,并将其名称修订为“辽...