Disulfide bridges in tomato pectinesterase: variations from pectinesterases of other species; conservation of possible active site segments.

Analysis of tomato pectinesterase by carboxymethylation, with and without reduction, shows that the enzyme has two intrachain disulfide bridges. Analysis of fragments obtained from the native enzyme after digestion with pepsin identified bridges connecting Cys-98 with Cys-125, and Cys-166 with Cys-200. The locations of disulfide bridges in tomato pectinesterase are not identical to those in three distantly related pectinesterases (18-33% residue identities) from microorganisms. However, one half-Cys (i.e., Cys-166) position is conserved in all four enzymes. Sequence comparisons of the overall structures suggest a special importance for three short segments of the entire protein. One segment is at the N-terminal part of the tomato pectinesterase, another in the C-terminal portion near the distal end of the second disulfide loop, and the third segment is located in the central part between the two disulfide bridges. The latter segment, encompassing only 40 residues of the entire protein, appears to high-light a functional site in a midchain segment.     

渤海南部半滑舌鳎的食性及摄食的季节性变化

本文研究了渤海南部半滑鳎的食性及其摄食的季节性变化,胃食物分析结果表明,半滑舌鳎为底栖生物食性鱼类,以虾类,蟹类,双壳类及部分中下层小型鱼类为主要食物,兼食一些多毛类,头足类,腹足类,棘皮动物及海葵,半滑舌鳎终年摄食,其摄食强度的周年变化不大,半滑舌鳎常年捕食鲜明鼓虾,日本鼓虾,口虾蛄,隆线强蟹及泥古隆背蟹等。夏季加强捕食小刀蛏,凸壳肌蛤等双壳类,降春季外还捕食一些以虾虎鱼为主的中下层小型鱼类。     

Genetic variation in relation to demography of peripheral pool frog populations (Rana lessonae)

Summary Genetic variation in an isolated northern metapopulation of the pool frog (Rana lessonae) in Sweden was compared to that of Central European populations using enzyme electrophoresis and literature data. Of the 31 loci scored, two (EST-2 andIDH-2) were polymorphic while no variation occurred in seven of the eight loci which are polymorphic in Central European populations.The heterozygosity level of the Swedish pool frogs is very low compared to that of other anuran populations, but their mean proportion of fertilized eggs within egg masses (97.5%) was not lower than in more heterozygous species, and their body size-specific fecundity did not differ from that of Polish conspecifics. The low genetic variability of the Swedish pool frogs is discussed in relation to features of the local populations such as size (N), calculated effective size (N _e ) reproductive success and probable history. It is concluded that long-term strong fluctuations in population size caused by reporductive failure in cold years have contributed more to the low genetic variability than could a single founder event due to a recent introduction by man.     

Alkaloidal variation in the genus Pearsonia

Several quinolizidine alkaloids, including various angelate esters, are known from the genus Pearsonia. In a detailed variation study which included 98 samples from nine of the 11 species, large qualitative and quantitative differences were recorded. The observed variation is ascribed to the following: 1, species (the alkaloids of some species and subspecies are diagnostically different); 2, provenance (various populations of the same species may have unique combinations of alkaloids); 3, developmental stage (in P. cajanifolia there is a marked decreased in esterification towards the end of the growing season); 4, plant parts extracted (seeds, for example, have high concentrations of hydroxylated lupanine-type alkaloids and only small amounts of esters). These results highlight some of the problems associated with the use of alkaloids as taxonomic characters.     

大鼠离体乳头肌收缩末期张力—长度关系的曲线性

大鼠离体左室乳头肌固定于最适初长位,逐步递减“后荷”获得一系列等张收缩的张力、长度缩短程度和速度。结果发现:(1)收缩末期张力-长度关系(ESTLR)为指数曲线,回归方程 T=ar~(-bL)-K 拟合的优度明显高于线性方程拟合的优度(P<0.001),其中 a,k 分别代表总张力和静息张力,b 为曲线的弯曲度;(2)在高钙(4mmol/L)或去甲肾上腺素(NE10~(-6)mol/L)作用下,ESTLR 右上移位,a,b 和无张力缩短速度 L_O 均增大(P均<0.01),尤以高钙时的变化更明显,(3)NE 使张力-速度曲线的右上移位比高钙显著。这提示大鼠离体心肌的 ESTLR 呈非线性特征,参数 a,b 及长度轴截距 L_O 对收缩强度的变化敏感,但对收缩速度改变的敏感性可能比经典的力学指标低。     

Gene lineage analysis in populations ofHelianthus niveus andH. petiolaris (Asteraceae)

Helianthus petiolaris andH. niveus are polytypic species which are morphologically distinct at the periphery of their ranges but intergrade in areas of sympatry.Helianthus niveus includes both annual and perennial members, whereasH. petiolaris is strictly annual. Chloroplast DNA and nuclear ribosomal DNA restriction site data were used to reconstruct the evolutionary history of populations of the two species. Cladistic analyses reveal the following: (1) neither species is monophyletic; (2) the annual habit is derived once in this complex; and (3) the region of morphological intergradation appears to be primary in origin. The significance of interbreeding versus common descent in defining species concepts is discussed in relation to the above cladistic analyses.     

Dietary variations of predaceous caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae,Polycentropodidae and Arctopsychidae) from British Columbian streams

The diets of larval Rhyacophilidae (Rhyacophila inculta), Polycentropodidae (Polycentropus variegatus) and Arctopsychidae (Parapsyche almota and P. elsis) from five streams in the University of British Columbia Research Forest, British Columbia (Canada), are recorded and related to feeding mode/constructional activities and prey representation in the habitat. Particular attention was paid to the extent of dietary overlap and the degree of intraspecific dietary variations between streams. An overall similarity of the diets of the study species was notable and all commonly consumed chironomid (Diptera) larvae, Simulium (Diptera) and Zapada (Plecoptera), although there was interspecific variation in the relative importance of these items. Polycentropus variegatus and Parapsyche spp. ate Baetis and Paraleptophlebia, the latter predators also consuming Hydrachnellae (Acarina). Other prey were generally of minor importance and consequently interspecific dietary overlaps were high. Differences in the range of prey consumed by predaceous Trichoptera were apparent. Free-foraging R. inculta which selectively consumed sedentary simuliid larvae had the narrowest niche breadth. Parapsyche spp. and Polycentropus variegatus foreguts generally contained an over-representation of chironomid larvae compared to their proportionate occurrence in the benthos, and these caddisflies exhibited high niche overlap. The relative importance of chironomids as food for Parapsyche spp. and Polycentropus variegatus is attributed to prey behaviour, i.e. drift, and poorly developed escape responses when they are caught on the predator's net.     

Seasonal variations in the responses of glycolytic intermediates of human erythrocytes to acute cold exposure

Seven male students were studied to observe the effects of acute cold exposure (at 10°C for 60 min) on erythrocyte concentrations of glycolytic intermediates in summer and in winter. The subjects shivered slightly but frankly in both experiments. Significant decreases were observed in the concentrations of pyruvate and lactate during body cooling in summer, but not in winter. The lactate concentration remained significantly reduced 15 min after cold exposure. After 60 min of cold exposure in summer, a negative crossover point appeared to exist between phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate and erythrocyte pyruvate kinase activity showed a significant decrease. No seasonal difference was observed in the initial control values of the intermediates measured. From these results and the fact that glucose, pyruvate and lactate are evenly distributed between erythrocytes and plasma, it is likely that erythrocytes and skeletal muscles need less fuel substrate, glucose during cold exposure in winter than in summer, suggesting that an increased economy of energy for homeostasis is achieved.     

Morphological variation of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces from hydatid cysts of human and various domestic animals in Jordan

, and 1988. Morphological variation of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces from hydatid cysts of human and various domestic animals in Jordan. International Journal for Parasitology 18: 1111–1114. Rostellar hook morphology of protoscoleces was employed to study the possible existence of Echinococcus granulosus strains in humans and various domestic animals in Jordan. A distinct form in the donkey was evident as the protoscoleces from this host did not share any characteristics with those from the other hosts examined. Sheep, goats and cattle appeared to be affected by another form since the protoscoleces from their hydatid cysts shared six out of nine characteristics studied. Protoscoleces of camel and human cysts shared seven out of nine characteristics studied and they were different in six characteristics from protoscoleces from other hosts. Differences observed among the three forms may reflect strain variation of E. granulosus in this country.