Evolution of the ATP-binding-cassette transmembrane transporters of vertebrates

The ATP-binding-cassette transmembrane transporters (ABC transporters) known from vertebrates belong to four major subfamilies: (1) the P- glycoproteins (Pgp); (2) the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulators (CFTR); (3) the Tap proteins encoded with the major histocompatibility complex of mammals; and (4) the peroxisomal membrane proteins. Both Pgp and CFTR have a structure suggesting a past internal gene duplication; a phylogenetic analysis indicated that these duplications occurred independently, while an independent tandem gene duplication occurred in the case of the Tap family. Both the Pgp and Tap proteins show evidence of relationship to bacterial ABC transporters lacking internal duplication, and both are significantly more closely related to the HlyB and MsbA families of transporters from purple bacteria than they are to ABC transporters from nonpurple bacteria. The simplest hypothesis to explain this observation is that eukaryotic Pgp and Tap genes are descended from a mitochondrial gene or genes that were subsequently translocated to the nuclear genome. The Pgp genes of eukaryotes are characterized by a remarkable degree of convergent evolution between the ATP-binding cassettes of their N- terminal and C-terminal halves, whereas no such convergence is seen between the two halves of CFTR genes or between the duplicated Tap genes. Exon 13 of the CFTR gene, which encodes a putative regulatory domain not found in other ABC transporters apart from CFTR, showed high levels of both synonymous and nonsynonymous difference in comparisons among different mammalian species, suggesting that this region is a mutational hot spot.      

Evidence for the presence of β-lactamase inStreptomyces glaucescens and its inhibition by sodium clavulanate

Streptomyces glaucescens is shown to possess -lactamase activity which is inhibitable by clavulanate. This is important in regard to its use as a cloning host for enzymes of \-lactam biosynthesis.     

An expert system model for mapping tropical wetlands and peatlands reveals South America as the largest contributor

Wetlands are important providers of ecosystem services and key regulators of climate change. They positively contribute to global warming through their greenhouse gas emissions, and negatively through the accumulation of organic material in histosols, particularly in peatlands. Our understanding of wetlands’ services is currently constrained by limited knowledge on their distribution, extent, volume, interannual flood variability and disturbance levels. We present an expert system approach to estimate wetland and peatland areas, depths and volumes, which relies on three biophysical indices related to wetland and peat formation: (1) long‐term water supply exceeding atmospheric water demand; (2) annually or seasonally water‐logged soils; and (3) a geomorphological position where water is supplied and retained. Tropical and subtropical wetlands estimates reach 4.7 million km² (Mkm²). In line with current understanding, the American continent is the major contributor (45%), and Brazil, with its Amazonian interfluvial region, contains the largest tropical wetland area (800,720 km²). Our model suggests, however, unprecedented extents and volumes of peatland in the tropics (1.7 Mkm² and 7,268 (6,076–7,368) km³), which more than threefold current estimates. Unlike current understanding, our estimates suggest that South America and not Asia contributes the most to tropical peatland area and volume (ca. 44% for both) partly related to some yet unaccounted extended deep deposits but mainly to extended but shallow peat in the Amazon Basin. Brazil leads the peatland area and volume contribution. Asia hosts 38% of both tropical peat area and volume with Indonesia as the main regional contributor and still the holder of the deepest and most extended peat areas in the tropics. Africa hosts more peat than previously reported but climatic and topographic contexts leave it as the least peat‐forming continent. Our results suggest large biases in our current understanding of the distribution, area and volumes of tropical peat and their continental contributions.     

High-Density Lipoprotein-Associated miR-223 Is Altered after Diet-Induced Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Males

Background and Aims

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate metabolic processes, including obesity. The levels of circulating miRNAs are affected by metabolic changes in obesity, as well as in diet-induced weight loss. Circulating miRNAs are transported by high-density lipoproteins (HDL) but the regulation of HDL-associated miRNAs after diet-induced weight loss has not been studied. We aim to determine if HDL-associated miR-16, miR-17, miR-126, miR-222 and miR-223 levels are altered by diet-induced weight loss in overweight and obese males.

Methods

HDL were isolated from 47 subjects following 12 weeks weight loss comparing a high protein diet (HP, 30% of energy) with a normal protein diet (NP, 20% of energy). HDL-associated miRNAs (miR-16, miR-17, miR-126, miR-222 and miR-223) at baseline and after 12 weeks of weight loss were quantified by TaqMan miRNA assays. HDL particle sizes were determined by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Serum concentrations of human HDL constituents were measured immunoturbidometrically or enzymatically.

Results

miR-16, miR-17, miR-126, miR-222 and miR-223 were present on HDL from overweight and obese subjects at baseline and after 12 weeks of the HP and NP weight loss diets. The HP diet induced a significant decrease in HDL-associated miR-223 levels (p = 0.015), which positively correlated with changes in body weight (r = 0.488, p = 0.032). Changes in miR-223 levels were not associated to changes in HDL composition or size.

Conclusion

HDL-associated miR-223 levels are significantly decreased after HP diet-induced weight loss in overweight and obese males. This is the first study reporting changes in HDL-associated miRNA levels with diet-induced weight loss.     

Seasonal flight activity and genetic relatedness of Torymus species in Italy

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Leaf wax n‐alkane patterns of six tropical montane tree species show species‐specific environmental response

It remains poorly understood how the composition of leaf wax n‐alkanes reflects the local environment. This knowledge gap inhibits the interpretation of plant responses to the environment at the community level and, by extension, inhibits the applicability of n‐alkane patterns as a proxy for past environments. Here, we studied the n‐alkane patterns of five Miconia species and one Guarea species, in the Ecuadorian Andes (653–3,507 m a.s.l.). We tested for species‐specific responses in the average chain length (ACL), the C₃₁/(C₃₁ + C₂₉) ratio (ratio), and individual odd n‐alkane chain lengths across an altitudinally driven environmental gradient (mean annual temperature, mean annual relative air humidity, and mean annual precipitation). We found significant correlations between the environmental gradients and species‐specific ACL and ratio, but with varying magnitude and direction. We found that the n‐alkane patterns are species‐specific at the individual chain length level, which could explain the high variance in metrics like ACL and ratio. Although we find species‐specific sensitivity and responses in leaf n‐alkanes, we also find a general decrease in “shorter” (<C₂₉) and an increase in “longer” (>C₃₁) chain lengths with the environmental gradients, most strongly with temperature, suggesting n‐alkanes are useful for reconstructing past environments.