Molecular phylogeny of siboglinid annelids (a.k.a. pogonophorans): a review

Siboglinid, or pogonophoran, annelids are tubicolous worms that rely on chemoautotrophic endosymbionts for nutrition. Three clades within the siboglinids are recognized: Frenulata, Vestimentifera, and Monilifera. As a group, these worms have received considerable attention from molecular phylogenetists. Most studies have focused either on the evolutionary origins of the group or on the relationships within vestimentiferans, which live at hydrocarbon seeps and hydrothermal vents. Here I review the literature to date on siboglinid molecular phylogeny and summarize the clade’s evolution. The vestimentiferans have been well studied, especially in the eastern Pacific. The seep taxon Lamellibrachia is basal in the clade with vent species being more derived. Recent studies of seeps are finding new species and suggest that habitat depth can be correlated with species boundaries. In contrast to the vestimentiferans, frenulate evolution has been poorly studied. Despite their greater apparent diversity, frenulate specimens have not been sampled so extensively, and thus little is known about their evolution. Sclerolinum, also referred to as Monilifera, is a recognized genus of siboglinids that forms the sister group to Vestimentifera. Like the frenulates, little is known about the history of this group. Our present understanding of siboglinid phylogeny has, in large part, been dictated by insufficient sampling effort.     

Oligosaccharides obtained from a blood-group-Sd(a+) Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein. An n.m.r. study.

Treatment of Tamm-Horsfall urinary glycoprotein with Bacteroides fragilis endo-beta-galactosidase over a range of enzyme concentrations, pH and temperature resulted in the release of a small but constant proportion of the terminal sugars, which indicates the presence in the glycoprotein of relatively few enzyme-susceptible -GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc- units. Three oligosaccharides were isolated from the enzyme digest and characterized as Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4 GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal and GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal by methylation analysis and exo-glycosidase digestion. The alditols of these oligosaccharides and related structures were examined by 500 MHz 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy aided by spin-spin decoupling and two-dimensional correlated spectroscopy. An almost complete assignment of proton shifts was possible, and significant differences between the signals of some of the protons in the blood-group-Sda-active oligosaccharide III and literature values for the corresponding signals in the structurally related Cad-blood-group determinant are noted.     

Topographic anatomical data on the a.testicularis, a.ductus deferentis and a.cremasterica in ram

130 Ram testes have been used in the study, and the following methods were applied to fill and study the testical arteries: r?ntgenography, stereor?ntgenography, corosive method, Indian ink and gel injections. Variabilities occur as to the site where the a.testicularis arises in rams. Individual differences can also be observed in the arrangement of the epididymal arteries, in most cases, however, they arise from the first loops of the convolution. Both epididymal arteries are considerably thinner than the testicular artery, forming 2 independent vessel convolutions, located at both sides of the convolution of the a.testicularis, and not interfering with the loops of the latter. A.accessoria testis has been found in one ram only. 2 to 3 large waved loops can be observed in the pars marginalis and the a.testicularis of the ram. Bifurcation mostly occurs in the second third of the margo epididymidis. Individual variations have been found at further ramification of the rr.testiculares. The shape of the lobulus testis is indicated by the centripetal branch with its centrifugal twigs. In rams the a.ductus deferentis forms anastomoses both with the branches running from the a.epididymidis caudalis and the a.cremasterica.