The innervation of some proboscis structures involved in feeding behavior of the blowfly (Calliphora vicina)

The microtopology of the motoneurons involved in protraction and retraction of the proboscis of the blowfly (Calliphora vicina) has been studied. In addition, taste input from the labellar hairs was investigated. As a result of this study it appears that protraction movements are controlled by two while retraction movements are guided by three motoneurons on each side. The neurons in each group apear to be in ipsicontralateral communication with each other. The musculi protractores fulcri (MPF) probably contain a proprioceptive cell group which projects to the MPF motoneurons. It is proposed that the proboscis motor system can be modulated by proprioception as well as by chemosensory labellar input. Neurosecretory cells may be involved in adjusting muscle power.     

mtDNA diversity in rhesus monkeys reveals overestimates of divergence time and paraphyly with neighboring species

Reconstructions of the human-African great ape phylogeny by using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been subject to considerable debate. One confounding factor may be the lack of data on intraspecific variation. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of intraspecific mtDNA diversity on the phylogenetic reconstruction of another Plio- Pleistocene radiation of higher primates, the fascicularis group of macaque (Macaca) monkey species. Fifteen endonucleases were used to identify 10 haplotypes of 40-47 restriction sites in M. mulatta, which were compared with similar data for the other members of this species group. Interpopulational, intraspecific mtDNA diversity was large (0.5%- 4.5%), and estimates of divergence time and branching order incorporating this variation were substantially different from those based on single representatives of each species. We conclude that intraspecific mtDNA diversity is substantial in at least some primate species. Consequently, without prior information on the extent of genetic diversity within a particular species, intraspecific variation must be assessed and accounted for when reconstructing primate phylogenies. Further, we question the reliability of hominoid mtDNA phylogenies, based as they are on one or a few representatives of each species, in an already depauperate superfamily of primates.      

Cardiovascular adaptations to 10days of cycle exercise

Mier, Constance M., Michael J. Turner, Ali A. Ehsani, andRobert J. Spina. Cardiovascular adaptations to 10 days of cycleexercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(6):1900-1906, 1997.We hypothesized that 10 days of training wouldenhance cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV) during peak exerciseand increase the inotropic response to -adrenergic stimulation. Tensubjects [age 26 ± 2 (SE) yr] trained on a cycleergometer for 10 days. At peak exercise, training increasedO₂ uptake, CO, and SV(P < 0.001). Left ventricular (LV)size and function at rest were assessed with two-dimensional echocardiography before (baseline) and after atropine injection (1.0 mg) and during four graded doses of dobutamine. LV end-diastolic diameter increased with training (P < 0.02), whereas LV wall thickness was unchanged. LV contractileperformance was assessed by relating fractional shortening (FS) to theestimated end-systolic wall stress(_ES). Training increased theslope of the FS-_ES relationship (P < 0.05), indicating enhancedsystolic function. The increase in slope correlated with increases inCO (r = 0.71,P < 0.05) and SV(r = 0.70,P < 0.05). The increase in bloodvolume also correlated with increases in CO(r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and SV (r = 0.85, P < 0.004). These datashow that 10 days of training enhance the inotropic response to-adrenergic stimulation, associated with increases in CO and SVduring peak exercise.

     

The genus Aphidura (Hemiptera,Aphididae) in the collection of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle of?Paris,with six new species

Specimens were studied of 65 samples of the genus Aphidura (Aphididae, Aphidinae, Macrosiphini) from the collection of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris). The possible synonymies of three pairs of species are discussed. New aphid host plant relationships are reported for Aphidura bozhkoae, Aphidura delmasi, Aphidura ornata, Aphidura pannonica and Aphidura picta; this last species is recorded for first time from Afghanistan. The record of Aphidura pujoli from Pakistan is refuted. The fundatrices, oviparous females and males of Aphidura delmasi are described. Six new species are established: Aphidura gallica sp. n. and Aphidura amphorosiphon sp. n. from specimens caught on species of Silene (Caryophyllaceae) from France and Iran, respectively, Aphidura pakistanensis sp. n., Aphidura graeca sp. n. and Aphidura urmiensis sp. n. from specimens caught on species of Dianthus, Gypsophila and Spergula (Caryophyllaceae) from Pakistan, Greece and Iran, respectively, and Aphidura iranensis sp. n. from specimens caught on Prunus sp. from Iran. Modifications are made to the keys by Blackman and Eastop to aphids living on Dianthus, Gypsophyla, Silene, Spergula and Prinsepia and Prunus (Rosaceae). An identification key to apterous viviparous females of species of Aphidura is also provided.     

DOTA-Functionalized Polylysine: A High Number of DOTA Chelates Positively Influences the Biodistribution of Enzymatic Conjugated Anti-Tumor Antibody chCE7agl

Site-specific enzymatic reactions with microbial transglutaminase (mTGase) lead to a homogenous species of immunoconjugates with a defined ligand/antibody ratio. In the present study, we have investigated the influence of different numbers of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N-N′-N′′-N′′′-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelats coupled to a decalysine backbone on the in vivo behavior of the chimeric monoclonal anti-L1CAM antibody chCE7agl. The enzymatic conjugation of (DOTA)₁-decalysine, (DOTA)₃-decalysine or (DOTA)₅-decalysine to the antibody heavy chain (via Gln295/297) gave rise to immunoconjugates containing two, six or ten DOTA moieties respectively. Radiolabeling of the immunoconjugates with ¹⁷⁷Lu yielded specific activities of approximately 70 MBq/mg, 400 MBq/mg and 700 MBq/mg with increasing numbers of DOTA chelates. Biodistribution experiments in SKOV3ip human ovarian cancer cell xenografts demonstrated a high and specific accumulation of radioactivity at the tumor site for all antibody derivatives with a maximal tumor accumulation of 43.6±4.3% ID/g at 24 h for chCE7agl-[(DOTA)-decalysine]₂, 30.6±12.0% ID/g at 24 h for chCE7agl-[(DOTA)₃-decalysine]₂ and 49.9±3.1% ID/g at 48 h for chCE7agl-[(DOTA)₅-decalysine)]₂. The rapid elimination from the blood of chCE7agl-[(DOTA)-decalysine]₂ (1.0±0.1% ID/g at 24 h) is associated with a high liver accumulation (23.2±4.6% ID/g at 24 h). This behavior changed depending on the numbers of DOTA moieties coupled to the decalysine peptide with a slower blood clearance (5.1±1.0 (DOTA)₃ versus 11.7±1.4% ID/g (DOTA)₅, p<0.005 at 24 h) and lower radioactivity levels in the liver (21.4±3.4 (DOTA)₃ versus 5.8±0.7 (DOTA)₅, p<0.005 at 24 h). We conclude that the site-specific and stoichiometric uniform conjugation of the highly DOTA-substituted decalysine ((DOTA)₅-decalysine) to an anti-tumor antibody leads to the formation of immunoconjugates with high specific activity and excellent in vivo behavior and is a valuable option for radioimmunotherapy and potentially antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).     

Canstatin, a novel matrix-derived inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth

We isolated and identified an endogenous 24-kDa human basement membrane-derived inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth, termed canstatin. Canstatin, a fragment of the alpha2 chain of type IV collagen, was produced as a recombinant molecule in Escherichia coli and 293 embryonic kidneys cells. Canstatin significantly inhibited human endothelial cell migration and murine endothelial cell tube formation. Additionally, canstatin potently inhibited 10% fetal bovine serum-stimulated endothelial cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, with no inhibition of proliferation or apoptosis observed on non-endothelial cells. Inhibition of endothelial proliferation was not concomitant with a change in extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation. We demonstrate that apoptosis induced by canstatin was associated with a down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein, FLIP. Canstatin also suppressed in vivo growth of large and small size tumors in two human xenograft mouse models with histology revealing decreased CD31-positive vasculature. Collectively, these results suggest that canstatin is a powerful therapeutic molecule for suppressing angiogenesis.     

orthoFind Facilitates the Discovery of Homologous and Orthologous Proteins

Finding homologous and orthologous protein sequences is often the first step in evolutionary studies, annotation projects, and experiments of functional complementation. Despite all currently available computational tools, there is a requirement for easy-to-use tools that provide functional information. Here, a new web application called orthoFind is presented, which allows a quick search for homologous and orthologous proteins given one or more query sequences, allowing a recurrent and exhaustive search against reference proteomes, and being able to include user databases. It addresses the protein multidomain problem, searching for homologs with the same domain architecture, and gives a simple functional analysis of the results to help in the annotation process. orthoFind is easy to use and has been proven to provide accurate results with different datasets. Availability: http://www.bioinfocabd.upo.es/orthofind/.     

Roles of the Yfe and Feo transporters of Yersinia pestis in iron uptake and intracellular growth

In Yersinia pestis, the Yfe and Feo systems likely function to transport ferrous iron. Both FeoA and FeoB are essential for iron acquisition activity while FeoC is not. Mutations in yfe and feo had an additive effect on microaerophilic growth under iron-chelating conditions. Y. pestis cells lacking the Ybt siderophore-dependent system, the Yfe or the Feo system grow normally in J774A.1 cells. However, a double yfeAB feoB mutant was no longer able to grow in this murine macrophage cell line. This growth defect likely resulted from iron and not manganese deprivation since a yfeAB mntH mutant grew normally in J774A.1 cells. These results suggest that the Yfe and Feo systems are somewhat redundant ferrous iron transporters capable of iron acquisition during intracellular growth of the plague bacterium.