Sensory Neuron-Derived Eph Regulates Glomerular Arbors and Modulatory Function of a Central Serotonergic Neuron

Olfactory sensory neurons connect to the antennal lobe of the fly to create the primary units for processing odor cues, the glomeruli. Unique amongst antennal-lobe neurons is an identified wide-field serotonergic neuron, the contralaterally-projecting, serotonin-immunoreactive deutocerebral neuron (CSDn). The CSDn spreads its termini all over the contralateral antennal lobe, suggesting a diffuse neuromodulatory role. A closer examination, however, reveals a restricted pattern of the CSDn arborization in some glomeruli. We show that sensory neuron-derived Eph interacts with Ephrin in the CSDn, to regulate these arborizations. Behavioural analysis of animals with altered Eph-ephrin signaling and with consequent arborization defects suggests that neuromodulation requires local glomerular-specific patterning of the CSDn termini. Our results show the importance of developmental regulation of terminal arborization of even the diffuse modulatory neurons to allow them to route sensory-inputs according to the behavioural contexts.     

Inhibition of Tyrosine Aminotransferase by β-N-Oxalyl-l-α,β-Diaminopropionic Acid, the Lathyrus sativus Neurotoxin

Abstract: Species differences in susceptibility are a unique feature associated with the neurotoxicity of β-N-oxalyl-l -α,β-diaminopropionic acid (l -ODAP), the Lathyrus sativus neurotoxin, and the excitotoxic mechanism proposed for its mechanism of toxicity does not account for this feature. The present study examines whether neurotoxicity of l -ODAP is the result of an interference in the metabolism of any amino acid and if it could form the basis to explain the species differences in susceptibility. Thus, Wistar rats and BALB/c (white) mice, which are normally resistant to l -ODAP, became susceptible to it following pretreatment with tyrosine (or phenylalanine), exhibiting typical neurotoxic symptoms. C57BL/6J (black) mice were, however, normally susceptible to l -ODAP without any pretreatment with tyrosine. Among the various enzymes associated with tyrosine metabolism examined, the activity of only tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) was inhibited specifically by l -ODAP. The inhibition was noncompetitive with respect to tyrosine (K_i = 2.0 ± 0.1 mM) and uncompetitive with respect to α-ketoglutarate (K_i = 8.4 ± 1.5 mM). The inhibition of TAT was also reflected in a marked decrease in the rate of oxidation of tyrosine by liver slices, an increase in tyrosine levels of liver, and also a twofold increase in the dopa and dopamine contents of brain in l -ODAP-injected black mice. The dopa and dopamine contents in the brain of only l -ODAP-injected white mice did not show any change, whereas levels of these compounds were much higher in tyrosine-pretreated animals. Also, the radioactivity associated with tyrosine, dopa, and dopamine arising from [¹⁴C]tyrosine was twofold higher in both liver and brain of l -ODAP-treated black mice. Thus, a transient increase in tyrosine levels following the inhibition of hepatic TAT by l -ODAP and its increased availability for the enhanced synthesis of dopa and dopamine and other likely metabolites (toxic?) resulting therefrom could be the mechanism of neurotoxicity and may even underlie the species differences in susceptibility to this neurotoxin.     

An Apparatus for Automatic Recording of Losses of Water from Potted Plants, Soil, and Water Pans

An apparatus for automatic recording of losses of water frompotted plants, soil, &c., has been described. It is simple,and sufficiently robust for use in the open. Results on thedaily march of transpiration of wheat in the northern plainsof India have been given to demonstrate the working of the apparatus.     

The Accumulation and Transport of Calcium in Barley Roots

The accumulation and transport of Ca by various zones of 6-day old barley roots (Hordeum vulgare L.) were examined with special reference to their relationship to the salt status of the root. The initial salt content had a profound effect on Ca transport and a lesser effect on Ca accumulation. High-salt roots transported Ca in much larger amounts than did low salt roots. In low salt roots the apical zone was more active in transporting Ca to the conducting tissue than were the mid or basal zones However, in high salt roots all zones were about equally active in transporting Ca. The metabolic inhibitor, DNP, had little effect on accumulation but inhibited transport very effectively. The effect of DNP was more pronounced on transport from the apical zone than from the other root zones. Calcium applied anywhere along the root length moved only basally and its polarized longitudinal movement was maintained irrespective of the salt status of the root. The movement of Ca was characterized by a rapid release of preabsorbed Ca and a ready exchange of apoplastic Ca. The hypothesis is presented that cellular Ca is in a relatively mobile state. Its entry into the symplasm is the rate limiting step in longitudinal transport and its overall movement is metabolically controlled.     

Changes in Membrane Fluidity and Protein Composition during Release of Cucumber Seeds from Dormancy by a Higher Temperature Shift

Dormancy of seeds of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) was inducedby imbibing in -1.8 MPa polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) solutionand pulsing with far red light for 15 min prior to washing anddrying. When re-imbibed with water at 20 °C, dormancy wasbroken by raising the temperature to 30 °C for 6 h. Thistreatment was also effective when -0.9 MPa PEG was present duringre-imbibition and high temperature. Seeds with broken dormancywere found to germinate in water over a smaller temperaturerange than seeds in which dormancy had not been induced. Whenthe duration of the temperature shift to 30 °C was varied,germination percentage increased from 7 to 60% after 6 h, butlonger exposures up to 12 h had no further promoting effect.The time course of germination after transfer to water following6 h at 30 °C in PEG showed piercing of the perisperm-endospermenvelope after 9–12 h and radicle protusion after 12–15h. If PEG was retained after high temperature treatment no visiblegermination was observed. Thus, to study membrane fluidity andthe protein content associated with germination, seeds weresampled 9 h after high temperature treatment. To study the germinablebut not germinating state, seed held in PEG for 9 h rather thanin water was used. Dormant seed was sampled before the hightemperature treatment. Membrane fluidity was assessed usingfluorescence polarization of membrane fractions treated withDPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) or its derivatives. Membraneproteins were compared using one-dimensional SDS-PAGE electrophoresis.Intracellular membrane fluidity was not increased in the transitionfrom the dormant to germinable state, but did increase in thetransition to germination. There were no detected changes inintracellular membrane proteins during either transition. Inplasma membrane fractions, fluidity increased during both transitions,while a marked increase in 21, 18 and 17 kD proteins was observedin the transition from germinable to germinating state. Thusmodification of plasma membrane fluidity rather than changesin protein profile is associated with the high temperature releaseof cucumber seeds from dormancy. Copyright 2000 Annals of BotanyCompany     

Transpirational Cooling as a Screening Technique for Drought Tolerance in Oil Seed Brassicas

Twenty-two genotypes of five Brassica species (oilseed rapeand mustard), consisting of two different maturity groups anddiffering in plant morphology, were grown on sandy soil withoutpost-sowing irrigation during 1982–83 winter season. Canopytemperature (T_c minus air temperature (T_a, stomatal conductance($) and osmotic adjustment were studied on two different deardays corresponding to the siliqua formation stage in early duration(137–150 d) and late maturing genotypes (151–165d) of oilseed Brassicas. The absolute mid-day values of transpirationalcooling (T_c–T_a) were relatively higher in B.juncea andB. carinata than in B. tomifortii, B. napus and B. campestris.Tc-Tm showed a genetic variability ranging from 0-5 to 4 Cfor early maturing genotypes, and from 0–5 to 5 C forlate maturing genotypes. Mid-day T_c–T_a showed significantpositive correlation with Kh osmotic adjustment and seed yieldin Brassica cultivars. Early genotypes out-yielded the latematuring ones, despite the lower values of AT, and T_c–T_aat siliqua formation in the former rather than later group ofcultivars. It is suggested that average mid-day T_c–T_aas observed with an infrared thermometer, could effectivelybe used as a technique to screen Brassica genotypes for droughttolerance under receding soil moisture conditions.