Induced responses to herbivory by R. Karban and I.T. Baldwin

The University of Chicago Press, 1997. $44.00/￡35.25 hbk, $17.95/￡14.25 pbk (x+320 pages) ISBN 0 226 42495 2/0 226 42496 0.     

Wetland history

Wetlands of the American Midwest: A Historical Geography of Changing Attitudes by Hugh Prince The University of Chicago Press (University of Chicago Geography Research Papers), 1997. $21.00/￡16.75 pbk (xiii+395 pages) ISBN 0 226 68283 8.     

Measuring richness and evenness

Surveying Natural Populations by L-A.C. Hayek and M.A. Buzas Columbia University Press, 1997. $69.00/￡48.00 hbk, $28.00/￡19.00 pbk (xvi+563 pages) ISBN 0 231 10240 2/0 231 10241 0.     

The origin of animal body plans: a study in evolutionary developmental biology, by w. Arthur, and cells, embryos and evolution, by j. Gerhart and m. Kirschner

Cambridge University Press, 1997. $64.95/￡45.00hbk (xii +338 pages) ISBN 0 521 55014 9 Blackwell Science, 1997. $49.50/￡29.50pbk (xi +642 pages) ISBN 0 865 42574 4.     

Tropical ecology in miniature

The Butterflies of Costa Rica and their Natural History. Volume II: Riodinidae. by P.J. DeVries Princeton University Press, 1997. $90.00/￡70.00 hbk, $29.95/￡23.95 pbk (xxvii+288 pages) ISBN 0 691 02890 7 / 0 691 02889 3.     

Two books in one: natural history and evolutionary theory

Evolutionary Ecology across Three Trophic Levels: Goldenrods, Gallmakers and Natural Enemies by W.G. Abrahamson and A.E. Weis Princeton University Press, Monographs in Population Biology, 1997. $29.95/￡24.95 hbk (xiii+456 pages) ISBN 0 691 01208 3.     

Designer snails

The Algorithmic Beauty of Sea Shells (2nd edn) by Hans Meinhardt Springer-Verlag, 1998. DM89.00/$54.95/￡34.00 hbk (xi+236 pages) ISBN 3 540 63919 5.     

Broccoli and phyletic gradualism

The Evolutionary Biology of Plants by K.J. Niklas University of Chicago Press, 1997. ￡51.95/$65.00 hbk, ￡15.95/$19.95 pbk (xix +449 pages) ISBN 0 226 58082 2/0 226 58083 0.     

Book review

THE EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY OF PLANTS, by Karl J. Niklas. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1997. ISBN 0–226–58082–2; price $65.00 (cloth). ISBN 0–226–58083–0; price $19.95 (Paper).     

Foraging for Survival: Yearling Baboons in Africa

By Stuart A. Altmann. 2000. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. 610 pp. ISBN 0‐226‐01596‐3. $40.00 (paper).     

Something to chew on

Foraging for Survival: Yearling Baboons in Africa by Stuart A. Altmann University of Chicago Press, 1998. $70.00 hbk (xii+536 pages) ISBN 0 226 01595 5.     

X-ray crystal structure of a mutant assimilatory nitrite reductase that shows sulfite reductase-like activity

Assimilatory nitrite reductase (aNiR) reduces nitrite ions (NO$\rm{{_{2}^{-}}}$) to ammonium ions (NH$\rm{{_{4}^{+}}}$), whereas assimilatory sulfite reductase reduces sulfite (SO$\rm{{_{3}^{2-}}}$) to hydrogen sulfide (HS(-) ). Although aNiR can also reduce SO$\rm{{_{3}^{2-}}}$, its activity is much lower than when NO$\rm{{_{2}^{-}}}$ is reduced as the substrate. To increase the SO$\rm{{_{3}^{2-}}}$-reduction activity of aNiR, we performed a N226K mutation of Nii3, a representative aNiR. The resulting Nii3-N226K variant could bind non-native targets, SO$\rm{{_{3}^{2-}}}$, and HCO$\rm{{_{3}^{-}}}$, in addition to its native target, i.e., NO$\rm{{_{2}^{-}}}$. We have determined the high-resolution structure of Nii3-N226K in its apo-state and in complex with SO$\rm{{_{3}^{2-}}}$, NO$\rm{{_{2}^{-}}}$, and HCO$\rm{{_{3}^{-}}}$. This analysis revealed conformational changes of Lys226 and the adjacent Lys224 upon binding of SO$\rm{{_{3}^{2-}}}$, but not NO$\rm{{_{2}^{-}}}$. In contrast, HCO$\rm{{_{3}^{-}}}$ binding induced a conformational change at Arg179. After replacing Asn226 with a positively charged Lys, aNiR showed affinity for several anions. A comparison of all ligand-bound structures for Nii3-N226K revealed that structural changes in the active site depend on the size of the substrate.     

Physiological relationship between the temperate phages lambda and phi80

Summary This work deals with the ability of phage 80 to provide defective mutants of with their missing functions. Functions Involved in Recombination. As shown by others, the Int mechanism of 80 cannot excise prophage . However, 80 efficiently excises recombinants from tandem dilysogens, using its Ter mechanism. Likewise, the nonspecific mechanism Red is interchangeable between 80 and . Maturation of DNA by 80. The Ter recombinants excised by 80 from tandem dilysogens are packaged into a 80 protein coat. This contrasts with the fact, already mentionned by Dove, that 80 is extremely inefficient for packaging phage superinfecting a -lysogen. The latter result is also found when the helper phage is a hybrid with the left arm of (80hy4 or 80hy41 — see Fig. 1). However, the maturation of the superinfecting is much more efficient if the 80hy used as a helper has the att-N region of (like 80hy1). Conversely a with the att-N region of 80 (hy6 — see Fig. 1) is packaged more efficiently by 80 or 80hy4 than by 80hy1. It is suggested that the maturation of chromosome superinfecting an immune cell requires a recombination with the helper phage. Vegetative Functions. Among the replicative functoons O and P, the latter only can be supplied by 80. That N mutants are efficiently helped by 80 does not tell that 80 provides the defective with an active N product; the chromosomes are simply packaged into a 80 coat. This shows that 80 is unable to switch on the late genes of . That neither 80 nor any of the 80hy tested can provide an active N product is shown in a more direct way by their complete failure to help N ^-r₁₄; this phage carries a polar mutation which makes the expression of genes O and P entirely N-dependant. The maturation of a N ^- by 80 contrasts with the fact that mutants affected in late genes (A, F or H) are not efficiently helped by 80. This suggests that the products coded by these genes are not interchangeable between 80 and , and that packaging of DNA into 80 coats is possible but inhibited when late proteins are present in the cell. Activation of the Late Genes. Among the im ₈₀ h ⁺ hybrids tested, only 80hy41 is able to switch on the late genes of a N defective mutant. This hybrid differs from the other hybrids studied here, by the fact that it has the Q-S-R region of (see Fig. 1). The results are consistant with the view that the product of Q gene is sufficient for activating the late genes of a DNA. N would thus control the expression of late genes only indirectly by controlling the expression of gene Q (Couturier & Dambly have independantly reached the same conclusion, 1970). Furthermore the failure of 80 and of the 80hy1 and 80hy4 to activate the late genes of would imply that these phages are unable to provide an Q product active on the chromosome Reciprocally, switches on the late genes of prophage 80hy41, but not of prophages 80hy1 and 80hy4. This suggests that the initiation of late genes expression takes place at a main specific site located in the Q-S-R region of the chromosome. The expression of the late genes would thus be sequential, and proceed through the left arm only when steaky ends cohere. Similar conclusions were reached independantly by Toussaint (1969) and by Herskowitz and Signer (1970).

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Ce travail a été réalisé dans le cadre du contrat d'association Euratom-U. L. B. 007-61-10 ABIB et avec l'aide du Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective.     

口服结核Ag85A-CD226 DNA疫苗在小鼠脾与肠道的表达水平检测

目的了解结核Ag85A-CD226 DNA疫苗经灌胃方式接种小鼠后在脾淋巴细胞与肠道的表达情况。方法将构建的pcDNA3.1-Ag85A-CD226、pcDNA3.1-Ag85A和pcDNA3.1-CD226真核表达质粒转化DH5α感受态大肠杆菌,扩增并提取纯化质粒,用脂质体包裹制成DNA疫苗。经灌胃方式将制备的DNA疫苗接种C57BL/6小鼠,设置Ag85A-CD226疫苗组、Ag85A疫苗组、CD226疫苗组、pcDNA3.1质粒组和生理盐水对照组。采用间接免疫荧光法检测Ag85A和CD226在肠道的表达。采用流式细胞术检测脾CD4+T细胞、CD8+T细胞和NK细胞的CD226表达。结果 CD226在Ag85A-CD226疫苗组脾脏CD4+T细胞和NK细胞的表达均明显强于Ag85A疫苗组、CD226疫苗组、pcDNA3.1质粒组和生理盐水对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.01);CD226在Ag85A-CD226疫苗组脾脏CD8+T细胞的表达明显强于Ag85A疫苗组、pcDNA3.1质粒组和生理盐水对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.01),与CD226疫苗组相比虽有所增加,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。CD226在Ag85A-CD226疫苗组小肠派氏淋巴结表达明显强于Ag85A疫苗组、CD226疫苗组、pcDNA3.1质粒组和生理盐水对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.01)。Ag85A只在Ag85A-CD226疫苗组和CD226疫苗组小肠固有层表达,且在Ag85A-CD226疫苗组的表达明显强于CD226疫苗组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论 Ag85A-CD226 DNA疫苗接种后,CD226在脾淋巴细胞和肠道表达增强,Ag85A在肠道表达增强,CD226的表达增加会增强Ag85A在肠道的表达水平。     

Lag-phases in phytochrome-mediated enzyme synthesis (PAL)

Summary In experiments with the mustard seedling (Sinapis alba L.) it was confirmed that in the case of secondary irradiation induction of PAL by phytochrome is a very rapid process. The lag-phase after the onset of light is too brief to be detected. However, the data of other investigators, who found extended secondary lag-phases in their experimental material, can be imitated with the mustard seedling. We explain why these investigators were not able to eliminate the secondary lag-phase.PAL=Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC.4.3.1.5).     

CD226 is specifically expressed on the surface of Th1 cells and regulates their expansion and effector functions

Surface molecules that are differentially expressed on Th1 and Th2 cells may be useful in regulating specific immune responses in vivo. Using a panel of mAbs, we have identified murine CD226 as specifically expressed on the surface of differentiated Th1 cells but not Th2 or Th0 cells. Although CD226 is constitutively expressed on CD8 cells, it is up-regulated on CD4 cells upon activation. Th1 differentiation results in enhanced CD226 expression, whereas expression is down-regulated upon Th2 polarization. We demonstrate that CD226 is involved in the regulation of T cell activation; in vivo treatment with anti-CD226 results in significant reduction of Th1 cell expansion and in the induction of APCs that inhibit T cell activation. Furthermore, anti-CD226 treatment delays the onset and reduces the severity of a Th1-mediated autoimmune disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Our data suggest that CD226 is a costimulatory molecule that plays an important role in activation and effector functions of Th1 cells.     

Madagascar's Lemurs: Cryptic diversity or taxonomic inflation?

We live in inflationary times. A quarter of a century ago, cigarettes were about $1 a pack in New York City, a bottle of Château Beaucastel set you back $15, and there were 36 different species of lemur alive in Madagascar 1 (Table 1). Today the equivalent figures are $7.40, $95, and 83 lemur species 2 (Table 1). The increase in dollar prices has a lot to do with the economics of growth, something that obviously cannot be sustained indefinitely on a finite planet. Is the recent inflation in lemur taxonomy any more secure? The question is all the more worth asking because this is no isolated phenomenon: Madagascar's primates have not been alone in multiplying. The same burgeoning of species names has occurred throughout the order Primates 3 , 4 and beyond, 5 provoking both concern and energetic debate. 6 - 9 Interestingly, this debate has largely unfolded among ecologists, conservationists, and other “consumers” of taxonomy; many “producers” seem to be content to generate new taxonomies with a remarkable lack of introspection, as if they were no more than passive consequences of more lofty concerns. And because the same causes underlie taxonomic inflation in Madagascar as elsewhere, this extraordinary island once again presents us with a microcosm of the larger world.     

Biosynthetic relationships between β-diketones and esterified alkan-2-ols deduced from epicuticular wax of barley mutants

Summary The synthesis and deposition of the epicuticular waxes in barley are determined by the eceriferum (cer) loci. On the uppermost internodes, leaf sheaths and spikes of the wild type Bonus, the -diketones and hydroxy--diketones (almost entirely hentriacontan-14,16-dione and 25-hydroxyhentriacontan-14,16-dione, respectively) are the predominating wax classes. In these same waxes esters containing alkan-2-ols (primarily tridecan-2-ol and pentadecan-2-ol) are present. Analyses of the -diketone content and ester composition of waxes from Bonus and eight cer mutants led to the hypothesis that these two wax classes are synthesized from common precursors, namely C₁₄ and C₁₆ chain elongation intermediates. Subsequently, decarboxylation with a simultaneous retention of the carbonyl groups in the -position would lead to the esterified alkan-2-ols while retention of two carbonyl groups plus further elongation would lead to the -diketones. This closer biosynthetic relationship of the -diketones to the esterified alkan-2-ols than to the other lipid classes-hydrocarbons, alkan-1-ol containing esters, aldehydes, alkan-1-ols and free acids—found in all barley waxes is illustrated schematically and the approximate sites of action of the cer loci indicated.     

Evolution of miniaturisation in inquiline parasitic ants: Timing of male elimination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plagiolepis pygmaea</Emphasis>, the host of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plagiolepis xene</Emphasis>

Let v be a valuation of terms of type , assigning to each term t of type a value v(t) 0. Let k 1 be a natural number. An identity of type is called k-normal if either s = t or both s and t have value k, and otherwise is called non-k-normal. A variety V of type is said to be k-normal if all its identities are k-normal, and non-k-normal otherwise. In the latter case, there is a unique smallest k-normal variety to contain V , called the k-normalization of V. Inthe case k = 1, for the usual depth valuation of terms, these notions coincide with the well-known concepts of normal identity, normal variety, and normalization of a variety. I. Chajda has characterized the normalization of a variety by means of choice algebras. In this paper we generalize his results to a characterization of the k-normalization of a variety, using k-choice algebras. We also introduce the concept of a k-inflation algebra, and for the case that v is the usual depth valuation of terms, we prove that a variety V is k-normal iff it is closed under the formation of k-inflations, and that the k-normalization of V consists precisely of all homomorphic images of k-inflations of algebras in V .     

Structural,catalytic and stabilizing consequences of aromatic cluster variants in human carbonic anhydrase II

The presence of aromatic clusters has been found to be an integral feature of many proteins isolated from thermophilic microorganisms. Residues found in aromatic cluster interact via π–π or C–H?π bonds between the phenyl rings, which are among the weakest interactions involved in protein stability. The lone aromatic cluster in human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA II) is centered on F226 with the surrounding aromatics F66, F95 and W97 located 12 Å posterior the active site; a location which could facilitate proper protein folding and active site construction. The role of F226 in the structure, catalytic activity and thermostability of HCA II was investigated via site-directed mutagenesis of three variants (F226I/L/W) into this position. The measured catalytic rates of the F226 variants via ¹⁸O-mass spectrometry were identical to the native enzyme, but differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed a 3–4 K decrease in their denaturing temperature. X-ray crystallographic analysis suggests that the structural basis of this destabilization is via disruption and/or removal of weak C–H?π interactions between F226 to F66, F95 and W97. This study emphasizes the importance of the delicate arrangement of these weak interactions among aromatic clusters in overall protein stability.