Allometric growth and adaptive value of exaggerated body parts in the larvae of Gratiana spadicea (Klug) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

1. Larvae of tortoise beetles present exaggerated body parts in association with an abdominal shield, which is made of faeces and exuviae that are deposited on the urogomphi throughout ontogeny. Growth trajectories and scaling relationships of these functional structures associated with the shield, if any, are unknown. 2. This study of Gratiana spadicea first tested, under field conditions, whether there is adaptive value associated with the shield regarding protection against predation and sunlight. Then, under laboratory conditions, the growth trajectory and allometric relationships among body parts were investigated, including scoli, individual and apparent furcae, and shield. The influence of food deprivation on the development of these structures was also determined. 3. Findings from previous studies were confirmed, suggesting that the adaptive value assigned to the shield is related to protection against predators. The present study demonstrated for the first time that the shield acts as a parasol in cassidines, decreasing the exposure of their larval body to sunlight. The scoli and apparent furca are exaggerated structures of G. spadicea, the development of which involves allometric growth and greater energetic investment (positive allometry) during ontogeny. There was proportionally less energetic investment for somatic construction of individual furca (negative allometry) due to the accumulation of the exuviae. 4. The possible consequences, in terms of developmental costs and survivorship benefits associated with the evolution of such exaggerated structures, are discussed.     

Partition of lindane in synthetic and native membranes

Partition coefficients of the insecticide γ-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (trivially, lindane) were determined in model and native membranes. Partition in egg phosphatidylcholine bilayers decreases linearly with temperature, over a range (10–40°C) at which the lipid is in the liquid-crystalline state. Addition of 50 mol% cholesterol dramatically decreases partition (2100 falls to 100, at 10°C) and abolishes the temperature dependence. First-order phase transitions of dimyristoyl-, dipalmitoyl- and distearoylphosphatidylcholines (DMPC, DPPC and DSPC) are accompanied by a sharp increase in lindane partition. Apparently, the insecticide is easily accommodated in bilayers of short-aliphatic-chain lipids, since the partitions were 2450, 600 and 50 in DMPC, DPPC and DSPC, respectively, at temperatures 10 Cdeg below the midpoint of their transitions. The lindane partition sequence in native membranes is as follows: mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, myelin, brain microsomes and erythrocytes. This sequence correlates reasonably well with the relative content of cholesterol and is similar in liposomes of total extracted lipids, although the absolute partitions showed decreased values. Therefore, the presence of proteins in native membranes contributes to the insecticide partition, probably by favouring its interaction with lipids.     

Effect of foliar‐applied potassium silicate on coffee leaf infection by Hemileia vastatrix

Coffee leaf rust, caused by Hemileia vastatrix, is the most devastating disease of coffee. Since limited information is available in the literature on silicon (Si) affecting plant diseases in coffee, this study was designed to investigate foliar application of potassium silicate (PS), a source of soluble (Si), on infection process of coffee leaf rust at the microscopic level. The foliar Si concentration for plants sprayed with water and PS has no significant difference (0.24 and 0.30 dag kg^?1, respectively). X‐ray microanalysis indicated that the deposition of Si on the leaves of the plants that were sprayed with PS was greater in comparison to the leaf samples from the plants sprayed with water. Rust severity on leaves of plants sprayed with water or sprayed with PS reached 44% and 32%, respectively, at 36 days after inoculation (dai). Plates of polymerised PS were observed on the leaf surfaces of the plants sprayed with the product, in contrast to its absence on the leaf surfaces of plants sprayed with water. At 36 dai, a greater number of uredia were observed on the leaf surfaces of plants sprayed with water in comparison to the leaf surfaces of plants sprayed with PS. On fractured leaf tissues that were sprayed with PS, less fungal colonisation was observed in comparison to the leaves of plants sprayed with water. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the effect of foliar‐applied Si on the control of the coffee leaf rust development may be attributed to the physical role of the polymerised PS, its osmotic effect against urediniospores germination, or both.     

Decrease in insulin-containing secretory granules and mitochondrial gene expression in mouse pancreatic islets maintained in culture following streptozotocin exposure

We have previously described a preferential reduction in the secretory response to nutrient secretagogues in pancreatic mouse islets maintained in culture after in vitro exposure to streptozotocin (SZ). This reduction was associated with an impaired substrate metabolism at the mitochondrial level. To further clarify this issue, mouse pancreatic islets were exposed in vitro to 2.2 mM SZ for 30 min. At 4 h after SZ treatment ultrastructural changes were apparent in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi areas of the B-cells. However, 2 and 6 days following SZ exposure the B-cells appeared well preserved, except for a marked decrease in the number of insulin-containing secretory granules. A morphometric analysis of the B-cells 6 days after SZ exposure showed a normal B-cell size and a normal volume fraction of B-cell mitochondria. However, there was a decrease in total islet size and a 13% decrease in the volume fraction of B-cells in the islets. These mouse islets exhibited a decreased content of the mitochondrial DNA-encoded cytochrome b mRNA, as evaluated by dot-blot analysis. As a whole, the data obtained indicate that SZ treatment does not induce a decrease in the number of mitochondria or long-lasting ultrastructural damage to this organelle. However, there is a clear decrease in the cytochrome b mRNA, suggesting that SZ can induce damage to the mitochondrial DNA.     

Partition of DDT in synthetic and native membranes

Partition of DDT (2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane) was determined in artificial and native membranes. Partition in egg phosphatidylcholine of about 260 000 is independent of temperature over the range from 10 to 40 degrees C, in which the lipid is in the liquid-crystalline state. Incorporation of 50 mol% cholesterol decreases DDT partition to about 120 000. First-order phase transitions of dimyristoyl-, dipalmitoyl- and distearoylphosphatidylcholines (DMPC, DPPC and DSPC) are accompanied by a sharp increase in DDT partitioning. Partition decreases symmetrically in the temperature ranges to both sides of the phase transition. The insecticide is preferentially accommodated in bilayers of short-aliphatic-chain lipids, since the partitions were 336 000, 180 000 and 88 000 in DMPC, DPPC and DSPC, respectively, at temperatures 10 Cdeg below the midpoint of their transitions. Partition values in native membranes decrease sequentially as follows: sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, myelin, brain microsomes and erythrocytes. This sequence is similar to that observed in related liposomes of total extracted lipids, although the absolute partitions showed decreased values. Partition of DDT in native membranes exhibits a negative temperature coefficient not apparent in related lipid dispersions. The effect of intrinsic membrane cholesterol on partition of DDT was also investigated.     

Effect of short-chain primary alcohols on fluidity and activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes

Intramolecular excimer formation with the fluorescent probe 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction were used to assess the effect of ethanol, 1-butanol, and 1-hexanol on the bilayer organization in model membranes, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) lipids and native SR membranes. These alcohols have fluidizing effects on membranes and lower the main transition temperature of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), but only 1-hexanol alters the cooperativity of the phase transition and significantly increases the thickness of DMPC bilayers. The interaction of the three alcohols with the SR Ca2+ pump was also investigated. Hydrolysis of ATP and coupled Ca2+ uptake are differently sensitive to the three alcohols. Whereas ethanol and 1-butanol inhibited the Ca2+ uptake, 1-hexanol stimulated it. Nevertheless, the energetic efficiency of the pump (Ca2+/ATP) is not significantly affected by ethanol or 1-hexanol, but uncoupling was observed with 1-butanol at high concentrations. The different effects of alcohols on the activity of SR membranes rule out an unitary mechanism of action on the basis of fluidity changes induced in the lipid bilayer. Depending on the chain length, the alcohols interact with the SR membranes in different domains, perturbing differently the Ca2+-pump activity.     

Light- and electron microscopic observations on parathyroid glands in different age groups of rats

The parathyroid hormone (PTH) acts on bones, intestines, and kidneys to maintain the calcium homeostasis which, in turn, is a main factor in controling the parathyroid (PT) gland activity. In all mammals studied, the chief cells of PT glands changed their size, shape, and cytoplasmic structure due to different functional states which vary the serum calcium levels. The chief cells of the rat PT glands were classified as dark and light. The dark cells may constitute an active form, characterized mainly by the abundant free ribosomes, conspicuous rough endoplasmic reticulum, and GOLGI complexes, greater number of secretory granules (SG) and increased tortuosity of the plasma membranes as compared to the light ones which were considered as a less active type of cells. Due to different calcium requirements in newborn and young rats for the ossification of growing skeleton and in adult and senile rats with consolidate mature bones, the PT glands studied with electron microscope showed various cytological features. The parenchyma of newborn and young PT glands was composed by dark chief cells. The light chief cells were more frequent in adult and senile animals as a less active type of cell. Mature SG were only occasionally observed in dark cells of newborn, young and adult PT glands. They may constitute a reserve supply of PTH but probably not the main way of secretion, according to their little number. Another pool of PTH probably answers the needs for the small basal variations in the steady-state secretion and may be represented by the vesicles observed in the chief cells cytoplasm.     

Modulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-pump activity by membrane fluidity

Intramolecular excimerization of 1,3-di-1-pyrenylpropane [Py(3)Py] was used to assess the fluidity of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes (SR); on the basis of the spectral data, the probe incorporates completely inside the membrane probably somewhere close to the polar head groups of phospholipid molecules, however not in the very hydrophobic core. The excimerization rate is very sensitive to lipid phase transitions, as revealed by thermal profiles of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers. Cholesterol abolishes pretransitions and broadens the thermal profiles of the main transitions which vanish completely at 50 mol % sterol. Excimer formation in liposomes of SR total lipid extracts does not show any sharp transitions, as in the case of DMPC and DPPC. However, the plots display discontinuities at about 20 degrees C which are broadened by cholesterol and not observed at 50 mol % sterol. Also cholesterol has been incorporated in native SR membranes by an exchange technique allowing progressive enrichment without changing the phospholipid/protein molar ratio. As in liposomes, discontinuities of excimer formation at 20 degrees C are broadened by cholesterol enrichment. The full activity of uncoupled Ca2+-ATPase is only affected by cholesterol above a molar ratio to phospholipid of 0.4. However, a significant decrease in activity (about 20%) is only noticed at a ratio of 0.6 (the highest technically achieved); at this ratio, about 28 lipid molecules per Ca2+-ATPase are expected to be relatively free from cholesterol interaction. The vesicle structure is still intact at this high ratio, as judged from the absence of basal activity (not Ca2+ stimulated).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparative studies of seed proteins of the genusArtocarpus with respect to lectins

Proteins from two species of the genusArtocarpus (A. integrifolia L. andA. incisa L.) were compared by ammonium sulphate fractionation, molecular sieve chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with special attention to the lectins. The protein content and hemagglutinating activity were markedly different in the two seeds. The protein pattern obtained by both molecular sieve chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were quite different. The only similarities found were the elution volume of the lectins in the Sephadex G-100 column and the lectin bands (11 500 and 15 000 daltons) in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

DNA sequence analysis of spontaneous histidine mutations in a polA1 strain of Escherichia coli K12 suggests a specific role of the GTGG sequence

Summary Spontaneously arising histidine mutations in an Escherichia coli K12 strain deficient for DNA polymerase I were analysed at the DNA sequence level. We screened approximately 150000 colonies and isolated 106 histidine auxotrophs. Of these, 98 were unstable hisC mutations; 12 representative mutants analysed were shown to have arisen by the excision of a single quadruplet repeat in the sequence 5-GCTGGCTGGCTGGCTG-3. Of the eight mutations at other sites, three hisA deletions and one hisD deletion occurred as a consequence of misalignment of tandemly repeated pentamers (hisD) or decamers (hisA). A single hisA point mutation was found to be a missense mutation. Two extended deletions, covering the his operon were not analysed. We could not identify the hisC deletion by sequencing. We conclude that polA1 is a strong imitator that induces mutations mostly of the minus frameshift and deletion type by a Streisinger-type of mispairing in repetitive DNA sequences. Finally, the possible role of a 5-GTGG-3 sequence and its inverted or direct complements, which are found in the vicinity of all the deletions and frameshifts, is discussed.