Hormonal Modulation of the Oscillatory System Involved in Polar Transport of Auxin

The amount of natural auxin collected in agar as a result of basipetal efflux from the cambial region of successive short sections of pine stem varies so that a wave-like pattern is formed. The wave-length is several times longer than the cell length in the cambial region, suggesting the existence of a supracellular oscillatory system, which forms a morphogenic field in the stem tissues, The amplitude of the auxin wave is amplified by apical application of IAA to the longer stem sections, particularly at she time of spring initiation of cambial activity. The wave of auxin disappears after simultaneous apical application of IAA and ABA. The modulatory effects of IAA and ABA are translocated along the investigated stem sections faster than known transport velocities of IAA molecules. This fact is considered as evidence of apical control of the morphogenic field by way of influence upon a supracellular system of conjugated oscillators in the tissue.     

THE ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPE DETECTS ATP-SENSITIVE PROTEIN CLUSTERS IN THE PLASMA MEMBRANE OF TRANSFORMED MDCK CELLS

Plasma membrane proteins are supposed to form clusters that allow ‘functional cross-talk’ between individual molecules within nanometre distance. However, such hypothetical protein clusters have not yet been shown directly in native plasma membranes. Therefore, we developed a technique to get access to the inner face of the plasma membrane of cultured transformed kidney (MDCK) cells. The authors applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize clusters of native proteins protruding from the cytoplasmic membrane surface. We used the K⁺channel blocker iberiotoxin (IBTX), a positively charged toxin molecule, that binds with high affinity to plasma membrane potassium channels and to atomically flat mica. Thus, apical plasma membranes could be ‘glued’ with IBTX to the mica surface with the cytosolic side of the membrane accessible to the scanning AFM tip. The topography of these native inside-out membrane patches was imaged with AFM in electrolyte solution mimicking the cytosol. The plasma membrane could be clearly identified as a lipid bilayer with the characteristic height of 4.9±0.02nm. Multiple proteins protruded from the lipid bilayer into the cytosolic space with molecule heights between 1 and 20nm. Large protrusions were most likely protein clusters. Addition of the proteolytic enzyme pronase to the bath solution led to the disappearance of the proteins within minutes. The metabolic substrate ATP induced a shape-change of the protein clusters and smaller subunits became visible. ADP or the non-hydrolysable ATP analogue, ATP-γ-S, could not exert similar effects. It is concluded that plasma membrane proteins (and/or membrane associated proteins) form ‘functional clusters’ in their native environment. The ‘physiological’ arrangement of the protein molecules within a cluster requires ATP.     

Static and dynamic bending has minor effects on xylem hydraulics of conifer branches (Picea abies,Pinus sylvestris)

The xylem hydraulic efficiency and safety is usually measured on mechanically unstressed samples, although trees may be exposed to combined hydraulic and mechanical stress in the field. We analysed changes in hydraulic conductivity and vulnerability to drought‐induced embolism during static bending of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris branches as well as the effect of dynamic bending on the vulnerability. We hypothesized this mechanical stress to substantially impair xylem hydraulics. Intense static bending caused an only small decrease in hydraulic conductance (?19.5 ± 2.4% in P. abies) but no shift in vulnerability thresholds. Dynamic bending caused a 0.4 and 0.8 MPa decrease of the water potential at 50 and 88% loss of conductivity in P. sylvestris, but did not affect vulnerability thresholds in P. abies. With respect to applied extreme bending radii, effects on plant hydraulics were surprisingly small and are thus probably of minor eco‐physiological importance. More importantly, results indicate that available xylem hydraulic analyses (of conifers) sufficiently reflect plant hydraulics under field conditions.     

ten-a overexpression causes abnormal pattern in the Drosophila compound eye

Ten-a is one of the two Drosophila proteins that belong to the Ten M protein family. This protein is a type Ⅱ transmembrane protein and is expressed mainly in the embryonic CNS, in the larval eye imaginal disc and in the compound eye of the pupa. Here, we investigate the role of ten-α during development of the compound eye by using the Gal4/ UAS system to induce ten-α overexpression in the developing eye. We found that overexpression of ten-α can perturb eye development during all stages examined. In an early stage, overexpression of ten-α in eye primordial cells caused small and rough eyes and interfered with photoreceptor cell recruitment, resulting in some ommatidia having fewer or extra photoreceptor cells. Conversely, ten-α overexpression daring ommatidial formation caused severe eye defects due to absence of many cellular components. Interestingly, overexpression of ten-α in the late stage developing ommatidial cluster affected the number of pigment cells, caused cone cells proliferation in many ommatidia, and caused some photoreceptor cell defects. These results suggest that ten-α may be a novel gene required for normal eye morphogenesis.     

Sixteen years of winter stress: an assessment of cold hardiness,growth performance and survival of hybrid poplar clones at a boreal planting site

In recent years, thousands of hectares of hybrid poplar plantations have been established in Canada for the purpose of carbon sequestration and wood production. However, boreal planting environments pose special challenges that may compromise the long‐term survival and productivity of such plantations. In this study, we evaluated the effect of winter stress, that is, frequent freeze‐thaw and extreme cold events, on growth and survival of 47 hybrid poplar clones in a long‐term field experiment. We further assessed physiological and structural traits that are potentially important for cold tolerance for a selected set of seven clones. We found that trees with narrow xylem vessels showed reduced freezing‐induced embolism and showed superior productivity after 16 growing seasons. With respect to cold hardiness of living tissues, we only observed small differences among clones in early autumn, which were nonetheless significantly correlated to growth. Maximum winter cold hardiness and the timing of leaf senescence and budbreak were not related to growth or survival. In conclusion, our data suggest that reduction of freezing‐induced embolism due to small vessel diameters is an essential adaptive trait to ensure long‐term productivity of hybrid poplar plantations in boreal planting environments.     

Climate niche shift in invasive species: the case of the brown anole

Anolis sagrei, a Cuba and Bahama native lizard, is a successful invader in Florida and adjacent areas. Herein, we focus on conservatism in its climate niche axes and possible congruencies with its natural history properties. The not mutually exclusive hypotheses of the present study explaining its northern range limit are: (1) climatic conditions within species' native and invasive ranges are identical; (2) the species is pre‐adapted to novel conditions as a result of historical climate variations; and (3) only some niche axes limit the species' invasive distribution and the observed pattern is explained by an interplay between the potential niche within its native range and life‐history. Species distribution models for native and invasive distributions were built on ten bioclimatic variables. Using Schoener's niche overlap index, the degree of niche conservatism among variables was identified. Significances of hypothesis (1) were tested using null‐model approaches. Possible climatic pre‐adaptations were evaluated by comparing its actual tolerance within its invasive range with that of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) within its native range (hypothesis 2). Results of (1) and (2) are discussed in relation to natural history, approaching hypothesis 3. We detect varying overlaps in niche axes, indicating that natural history properties are associated with conservative niche axes. Climatic comparisons with LGM of native and current conditions of invasive range suggest that pre‐adaptations are unlikely. Possible shifts in the fundamental niche of the species may have been facilitated by enhanced genetic diversity in northern invasive populations. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104 , 943–954.     

Few parasites,and no evidence for Wolbachia infections,in a freshwater ostracod inhabiting temporary ponds

Biological systems with asexual reproduction have often attracted research on parasites and host immune defence, because parasites are expected to be better able to exploit genetically less diverse populations. In addition, maternally inherited parasitic microorganisms such as Wolbachia can directly alter the reproductive systems of their hosts and induce parthenogenesis. In the freshwater ostracod Eucypris virens, both sexual and asexual reproduction is known, and we speculated that parasite pressures might help to explain their co‐existence. This species complex inhabits shallow, often eutrophic temporary water bodies, conditions that should provide ample opportunities for parasite infections. We surveyed natural populations of E. virens throughout its Europe‐wide range for natural parasites, and particularly tested for the presence of intracellular Wolbachia bacteria. Surprisingly, the results indicate that very few E. virens populations support parasite infections. We also found no evidence for the presence of Wolbachia in the populations screened. The results therefore show that parasitic infections do not play a role in the maintenance of sex in this system. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102 , 207–216.