Recognition of nestmate eggs in the ant Formicafusca is based on queen derived cues

Inclusive fitness benefits depend on recognizing the right individuals to interact with. Social insect nests protect themselves from non-kin intruders through nestmate recognition based on chemical cues. The recognition cues on adult individu- als are from a mixture of genetic and environmental sources, but the ontogeny and use of recognition cues on eggs has not been previously assessed. We studied recognition by workers of eggs that were either nestmates or non-nestmates, and the ontogeny of recognition cues on eggs in the ant Formica fusca, a species with precise egg recognition abilities. Workers were able to dis- criminate among freshly laid eggs with no nest derived cues on them, and the egg surface chemicals varied among nests in these eggs, suggesting that queen derived cues are used in nestmate recognition. The results are discussed in the light of their implica- tions on deceptive social parasite strategies and within colony conflicts     

Chemical deception among ant social parasites

Deception is widespread throughout the animal kingdom and various deceptive strategies are exemplified by social parasites. These are species of ants, bees and wasps that have evolved to invade, survive and reproduce within a host colony of another social species. This is achieved principally by chemical deception that tricks the host workers into treating the invading parasite as their own kin. Achieving levels of acceptance into typically hostile host colonies requires an amazing level of decep- tion as social insects have evolved complex species- and colony-specific recognition systems. This allows the detection of for- eigners, both hetero- and con-specific. Therefore, social parasitic ants not only have to overcome the unique species recognition profiles that each ant species produces, but also the subtle variations in theses profiles which generate the colony-specific profiles We present data on the level of chemical similarity between social parasites and their hosts in four different systems and then discuss these data in the wider context with previous studies, especially in respect to using multivariate statistical methods when looking for differences in these systems.     

Prognostic value of pS2 protein and receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF-R), Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1-R) and somatostatin (SS-R) in patients with breast and ovarian cancer

The prognostic value of EGF-R, IGF-1-R and SS-R, and of cytosolic estrogen-regulated pS2 protein, was studied in patients (pts) with primary breast and advanced ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer tissues were negative for pS2 (by immunoradiometric assay) IGF-1-R and EGF-R contents (by ligand binding assay, LBA) were of no or moderate prognostic value for breast cancer pts (n = 214). For advanced ovarian cancer pts, EGF-R content determined by LBA (n = 55) showed no prognostic value, whereas EGF-R status (n = 55) determined by immunohistochemistry (MoAb 2E9) signiificantly correlated with progression of disease (P < 0.05). In breast cancer pts, both SS-R and pS2 showed no association with tumor size, nodal status and grade. For pS2 the best cut-off level with respect to relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) was found to be 11 ng/mg protein. Both SS-R (1 g% SS-R+, n = 135; P < 0.04) and pS2 (27% pS2+, n = 197; P < 0.001), which were mainly positive in ER+ tumors, were of prognostic value, especially within the subgroups with ER+/PgR+ tumors. Also within N+ and No pts the 5-yr RFS and OS showed a difference between pS2+ and pS2- (33 and 54% for N+, and 31 and 13% difference for No pts). In summary, SS-R and pS2 are valuable pronosticators in breast cancer pts, and prognostic significance of EGF-R in ovarian cancer pts needs further study.     

Steady-state H+/O stoichiometry of liver mitochondria.

We have measured the H+/O stoichiometry of rat liver mitochondria respiring in a steady-state, using a novel method. This involves measuring the initial rate of H+ back-flow into mitochondria after respiratory inhibition, with the assumption that this is equal to the steady-state H+-ejection rate. Division by the steady-state O2-consumption rate yields the H+/O ratio. The H+/O values obtained were: 8.3 +/- 1.0 (mean +/- S.E.M.) for 3-hydroxybutyrate: 8.2 +/- 0.7 for glutamate plus malate; 6.0 +/- 0.2 for succinate; 4.1 +/- 0.3 for ascorbate/tetramethylphenylenediamine and 3.0 +/- 0.1 for ascorbate/ferrocyanide. These values correspond to H+/O stoichiometries for electron flow to oxygen from NAD+-linked substrates, succinate and cytochrome c of 8, 6 and 2 (charge/O ratio = 4) respectively.     

Digital imaging approaches for phenotyping whole plant nitrogen and phosphorus response in Bracbypodium distacbyon

This work evaluates the phenotypic response of the model grass （Brachypodium distacbyon （L.） P. Beauv.） to nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition using a combination of imaging techniques and destructive harvest of shoots and roots. Reference line Bd21-3 was grown in pots using 11 phosphorus and 11 nitrogen concentrations to establish a dose-response curve. Shoot biovolume and biomass, root length and biomass, and tissue phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations increased with nutrient concentration. Shoot biovolume, estimated by imaging, was highly correlated with dry weight （R2 〉 0.92） and both biovolume and growth rate responded strongly to nutrient availability. Higher nutrient supply increased nodal root length more than other root types. Photochemical efficiency was strongly reduced by low phosphorus concentrations as early as 1 week after germination, suggesting that this measurement may be suitable for high throughput screening of phosphorus response. In contrast, nitrogen concentration had little effect on photochemical efficiency. Changes in biovolume over time were used to compare growth rates of four accessions in response tonitrogen and phosphorus supply. We demonstrate that a time series image-based approach coupled with mathematical modeling provides higher resolution of genotypic response to nutrient supply than traditional destructive techniques and shows promise for high throughput screening and determina- tion of genomic regions associated with superior nutrient use efficiency.     

nhe regulation and deregulation of Wnt signaling by PARK genes in health and disease

Wingless/Int （Wnt） signaling pathways are signal transduction mechanisms that have been widely studied In the field of embryogen- esis. Recent work has established a critical role for these pathways in brain development, especially of midbrain dopaminergic neu- rones, However, the fundamental importance of Wnt signaling for the normal function of mature neurones in the adult central nervous system has also lately been demonstrated by an increasing number of studies. Parkinson＇s disease （PD） is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide and is currently incurable. This debilitating disease is characterized by the progres- sive loss of a subset of midbrain dopaminergic neurones in the substontla nigm leadingto typical extrapyramidal motor symptoms. The aetiology of PD is poorly understood but work performed over the Last two decades has identified a growing number of genetic defects that underlie this condition. Herewe review a growing body of data connecting genes implicated in PD--most notablythe PARKgenes-- with Wnt signaling. These observations provide clues to the normal function of these proteins in healthy neurones and suggest that deregulated Wnt signaling might be a frequent pathomechanlsm leading to PD. These observations have implications for the patho- genesis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in general.     

Fuel load and flight ranges northern Iberia during autumn of blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla in and spring migrations

Fuel accumulation, mainly as fatty acids, is one of the main characteristics of migratory, birds. Studying to what extent each population or species manages fuel load and how it varies along routes of migration or between seasons （autumn and spring migrations） is crucial to our understanding of bird migration strategies. Our aim here was to analyse whether migratory blackcaps Sylvia atrieapilla passing through northern Iberia differ in their mean fuel loads, rate of fuel accumulation and ＇ potential＇ flight ranges between migration seasons. Blackcaps were mist netted for 4 h-periods beginning at dawn from 16 September to 15 November 2003 - 2005, and from 1 March to 30 April 2004 - 2006 in a European Atlantic hedgerow at Loza, northern Iberia. Both fuel load and fuel deposition rate （this latter assessed with difference in body mass of within-season recaptured individuals） were higher in autumn than in spring. Possible hypotheses explaining these results could be seasonal-associated variations in food availability （likely lower during spring than during autumn）, the fact that a fraction of the migrants captured in spring could breed close to the study area and different selective pressures for breeding and wintering     

Evolutionary implications of deception in mimicry and masquerade

Aggressive mimicry occurs when an organism resembles some aspect of another organism （the model） in order to obtain prey through its deceptive resemblance. This may function either through the overt response of the receiver or through the lack of response of the receiver. Reviewing selected examples, I discuss some of the difficulties in ascribing a model for the mimic. I also discuss how a single animal can have multiple ploys in its armoury of deceptive signals, thus belonging within two or more categories of deceptive signalling. In addition to aggressive mimicry, these may include crypsis or camouflage, mas- querade （mimicry of inanimate objects）, and Batesian or protective mimicry. Each of these examples of deception has multiple evolutionary pathways, and some deceptive signals may be more costly to receivers than others, but no single organism is subject to a single selection pressure, leading to the reality that many evolutionary pathways contribute to the diversity we see around us. New technologies are opening new channels of investigation into deceptive signaling in many different sensory modalities, and this is reflected in the recent increase in studies investigating the structure and function of deceptive signals. In turn, these studies are beginning to expose the fascinating complexity of deceptive signaling systems, allowing us to discover the myriad, non-mutually exclusive, solutions that can be selected for to obtain prey     

The correlation between iron homeostasis and telomere maintenance

Eukaryotic organisms require iron to sustain genome stability, cell proliferation and development. Chromosomes contain telomeres to ensure complete replications and avoid fusions. Numerous evidences reveal that iron can act directly or indirectly on telomere maintenance. In human, disruption of systemic or cellular iron homeostasis is reportedly to cause serious health problems such as iron overload （hereditary hemochromatosis）, iron deficiency anemia, carcinogenesis and acceleration of aging process. These processes commonly associate with abnormal telomere length. Additionally, cells containing mutations in iron-containing proteins such as DNA polymerases （Pola, g, and ~）, regulator of telomere length 1 （RTEL1） and the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductases （RNRs） have abnormal telomere length. This review briefly summarizes current understandings on iron homeostasis and telomere maintenance in cancer and aging process, followed by discussing their direct and indirect correlation, and the possible regulatory mechanisms.     

Animal personality and the ecological impacts of freshwater non-native species

While the ecological impacts of invasive species have been demonstrated for many taxonomic groups, the potential effects of behavioural variation among nonnative individuals （i.e. personality） on these impacts have been largely overlooked. This is despite the fact that recent studies have demonstrated that, by nature, the three first stages of biological invasions （i.e. transport, establishment and spread） can lead to personalitybiased populations. Freshwater ecosystems provide a unique oppor tunity to investigate this issue, notably because the ecological impacts of nonnative species have been extensively documented and because animal personality has been widely studied using freshwater model species. Here, we aim at developing some per spectives on the potential effects of animal personality on the ecological impacts of freshwater nonnative species across levels of biological organizations. At the individual level, personality types have been demonstrated to affect the physiolo gy, metabolism, life history traits and fitness of individuals. We used these effects to discuss how they could subsequently impact invaded popula tions and, in turn, recipient communities. We also discussed how these might translate into changes in the structure of food webs and the functioning of invaded ecosystems. Finally we discussed how these perspectives could interact with the management of invasive species .     

Variations in body melanisation,ovariole number and fecundity in highland and lowland populations of Drosophila melanogaster from the Indian subcontinent

We investigated geographical variations in three fitness-related traits （body melanisation, ovariole number and fecundity） in laboratory-reared offspring of 10 populations of Drosophila melanogaster. The populations were collected from adjacent lowland and highland localities （-80-100 km apart） in the tropical as well as subtropical regions （11.15-31.06°N） covering a linear distance about 3 000 kilometers from south to north on the Indian subcontinent. Persistence of within- as well as between-population differences at 21 ℃ suggest that observed variations in fitness-related traits have a genetic basis. Populations from higher altitudes showed consistently higher trait values （1.4-fold increase） as compared with their corresponding lowland populations. By contrast, latitudinal variations were about two-fold higher across the entire continent. Along latitude as well as altitude, population means showed higher correlation values （r 〉 0.98） between all the three fitness traits. However, on the basis of within-population analysis （assorted darker and lighter flies）, changes in body melanisation were significantly correlated with fecundity but not with ovariole number. Thus, analysis of within-population trait variability should be preferred as compared with data on population means for adaptive significance of fitness-related traits. In the present study, the role of climatic selection is evident from regression analysis with changes in annual average temperature of the sites of origin of populations along latitude as well as altitude.     

Comparative analysis of chromosome segregation in human,yeasts and trypanosome

Chromosome segregation is a tightly regulated process through which duplicated genetic materials are equally partitioned into daughter cells. During the past decades, tremendous efforts have been made to understand the molecular mechanism of chromosome segregation using animals and yeasts as model systems. Recently, new insights into chromosome segregation have gradually emerged using trypanosome, an early branching parasitic protozoan, as a model organism. To uncover the unique aspects of chromosome segregation in trypanosome, which potentially could serve as new drug targets for anti-trypanosome chemotherapy, it is necessary to perform a comparative analysis of the chromosome segregation machinery between trypanosome and its human host. Here, we briefly review the current knowledge about chromosome segregation in human and Trypanosoma brucei, with a focus on the regulation of cohesin and securin degradation triggered by the activation of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome （APC/C）. We also include yeasts in our comparative analysis since some of the original discoveries were made using budding and fission yeasts as the model organisms and, therefore, these could provide hints about the evolution of the machinery. We highlight both common and unique features in these model systems and also provide perspectives for future research in trypanosome.     

Sexual conflict and deception in poison frogs

I review evidence that females deceive males in the context of sexual selection and sexual conflict in the green poison frog, Dendrobates auratus. In this species, males mate polygynously when they have the opportunity, but polygyny imposes a cost on female reproductive success. Some females attempt to guard their mates when those males are approached by other fe- males. This behavior involves both aggression toward other females and active ＂pseudo-courtship＂ of the male. This courtship is hypothesized to be a deceptive signal that ffmctions to prevent the male from mating with other females. Observational and com- parative evidence is presented in support of the predictions of this hypothesis. This form of deception is compared to similar be- haviors that occur in other species, and the possibility that other forms of deception occur in poison frogs is discussed     

Unhatched and Hatched Eggshells of the Chinese Cobra Naja atra

Changes in structure and composition of the eggshell resulting from embryonic mobilization of minerals from the eggshell are found in all oviparous reptiles studied thus far. In this study, we measured samples of unhatched and hatched eggshells of the Chinese cobra Naja atra to determine the percentage of ash and the phase composition of calcium carbonate. The mean percentage of ash was significantly higher in unhatched eggshells （24.6%） than in hatched eggshells （22.3%）. The dominant phase in unhatched eggshells was the calcite form of calcium carbonate. In addition to the peaks of calcite, a few small peaks were found to be caused by the aragonite and vaterite phases of calcium carbonate, implying that there are small amounts of aragonite and vaterite in the eggshell. The concentration of the various phases calculated from the intensity of the X-ray diffraction spectra allowed the estimation that percentages of calcite, aragonite and vaterite were about 92%, 4% and 4%, respectively. Hatched eggshells produced similar spectral characteristics as unhatched eggshells, with one exception. The dominant phase composition in the hatched eggshell was also calcite, but the amount of the aragonite phase had a marked increase. Our study adds evidence that embryonic mobilization of minerals from the eggshell may result in changes in structure of the eggshell.     

Protein kinase C-δ and -β coordinate flow-induced directionality and deformation of migratory human blood T-lymphocytes

T-tym phocyte migration under flow is critical for immune responses, but the mechanisms by which flow modulates the migratory beha- viors of T-lymphocytes remain unclear. Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes （PBTLs）, when stimulated with phorboL 12-myristate 13-acetate （PMA）, stretched their ceU bodies dramatically and moved alongthe flow direction. In contrast, stromal ceil-derived factor- lα-stimulated PBTI.s deformed and migrated in a random manner. Here we elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying flow- induced directionality and deformation of PMA-stimulated PBTLs. PMA primed PBTLs for polarization under flow, with protein kinase C （PKC）-δ enriched in the leading edge, PKC-β1 in the microtubuie organizing center, and PKC-1311 in the uropod and peripheral region. PKC-δ regulated cell protrusions in the leading edge through Tiaml/Racl/caLmoduUn, whereas PKC-β regulated RhoA/Rho- associated kinase activity and microtubule stability to modulate uropod contractility and detachment. Our findings indicate that PKC-δ and -β coordinate in the cell Leading edge and uropod, respectively, to modu｜ate the directionality and deformability of migratory T-Lymphocytes under flow.     

Small molecule compound induces chromatin de-condensation and facilitates induced pluripotent stern cell generation

The revolutionary induced pturipotent stem celt （iPSC） technoLogy provides a new means for celt replacement therapies and drug screening. Small molecule compounds have been found extremely useful to improve the generation of iPSCs and understand the repro- gramming mechanism. Here we report the identification of a novel chemical, CYT296, which improves OSKM-mediated induction of iPSCs for 〉10 folds and enables efficient reprogramming with only Oct4 in combination with other small molecules. The derived iPSCs are genuinely pluripotent and support the development oftwo ＇All-iPSC＇ mice by tetraploid complementation. CYT296 profoundly impacts heterochromatin formation without affecting celt viability. MEFs treated with CYT296 exhibit de-condensed chromatin structure with markedly reduced loci containing heterochromatin protein 1α （HPIoL） and H3K9me3, which is very similar to the chromatin configuration in embryonic stem cells （ESCs）. Given that an open chromatin structure serves as a hallmark of pLuripotency and has to be acquired to fulfill reprogramming, we propose that CYT296 might facilitate this process by disrupting condensed chromatin, thereby creating a more favorable environment for reprogramming. In agreement of this idea, shRNA targeting HP1α also promotes the generation of iPSCs. Thus current findings not only provide a novel chemical for efficient iPSC induction, but also suggest a new approach to regulate somatic cell reprogramming by targeting chromatin de-condensation with small molecules.     

Eastern Asian endemic seed plant genera and their paleogeographic history throughout the Northern Hemisphere

We review the fossil history of seed plant genera that are now endemic to eastern Asia. Although the majority of eastern Asian endemic genera have no known fossil record at all, 54 genera, or about 9%, are reliably known from the fossil record. Most of these are woody （with two exceptions）, and most are today either broadly East Asian, or more specifically confined to Sino-Japanese subcategory rather than being endemic to the Sino-Himalayan area. Of the ＂eastern Asian endemic＂ genera so far known from the fossil record, the majority formerly occurred in Europe and/or North America, indicating that eastern Asia served as a late Tertiary or Quaternary refugium for taxa. Hence, many of these genera may have originated in other parts of the Northern Hemisphere and expanded their ranges across continents and former sea barriers when tectonic and climatic conditions allowed, leading to their arrival in eastern Asia. Although clear evidence for paleoendemism is provided by the gymnosperms Amentotaxus, Cathaya, Cephalotaxus, Cunninghamia, Cryptomeria, Glyptostrobus, Ginkgo, Keteleeria, Metasequoia, Nothotsuga, Pseudolarix, Sciadopitys, and Taiwania, and the angiosperms Cercidiphyllum, Choerospondias, Corylopsis, Craigia, Cyclocarya, Davidia, Dipelta, Decaisnea, Diplopanax, Dipteronia, Emmenopterys, Eucommia, Euscaphis, Hemiptelea, Hovenia, Koelreuteria, Paulownia, Phellodendron, Platycarya, Pteroceltis, Rehderodendron, Sargentodoxa, Schizophragma, Sinomenium, Tapiscia, Tetracentron, Toricellia, Trapella, and Trochodendron, we cannot rule out the possibility that neoendemism plays an important role especially for herbaceous taxa in the present-day flora of Asia, particularly in the Sino-Himalayan region. In addition to reviewing paleobotanical occurrences from the literature, we document newly recognized fossil occurrences that expand the geographic and stratigraphic ranges previously known for Dipelta, Pteroceltis, and Toricellia.