Sex combs,allometry, and asymmetry in Drosophila

There has been recent debate about the expected allometry of sexually‐selected traits. Although sexually‐selected traits exhibit a diversity of allometric patterns, signalling characters are frequently positively allometric. By contrast, insect genitalia tend to be negatively allometric, although the allometry of nongenital sexually‐selected characters in insects is largely unknown (with some notable exceptions). It has also been suggested that there should be a negative association between the asymmetry and size of bilaterally‐paired, sexually‐selected traits, although this claim is controversial. We assessed the allometry and asymmetry (fluctuating asymmetry, FA) of a nongenital contact–courtship structure, the sex comb, in replicate populations of three species of Drosophila (we also measured wing FA). Sex combs are sexually‐selected characters used to grasp the female's abdomen and genitalia and to spread her wings prior to and during copulation. Although species differed in the size of the sex combs, all combs were positively allometric, and comb allometry did not generally differ significantly between species or populations. Comb and wing asymmetry did vary across species, although not across populations of the same species. However, FA was trait specific and was never negatively associated with trait size. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103 , 923–934.     

Cluster root development in Grevillea robusta (Proteaceae). I. Xylem, pericycle, cortex, and epidermis development in a determinate root

The cluster roots of Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R. Br. are composed of determinate rootlets that stop growing, but remain physiologically active for several months. Their apical organization, both before and after maturation, was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Each cell layer forms a dome, with an initial cell at its end. Xylem elements form a complicated triarch array at the base of the rootlet, passing along the rootlet as two files, and then joining at the tip to form a single file, surrounded by six pericycle cells. At the base of the rootlet, shorter xylem cells and thick-walled support cells are visible. A root cap, present in rootlets grown in vermiculite, was eventually displaced by root hair growth. Rootlets grown in Hoagland's solution lacked root caps and were significantly shorter than those grown in vermiculite. Cell fate was analysed in terms of cell position and is discussed in terms of pattern and development.     

The role of subcellular organelles in hormone secretion : The interactions of calcium, vitamin A, vinblastine, and cytochalasin B in PTH secretion

To determine the role of subcellular organelles in hormone secretion, we studied the interaction of low calcium concentration (low Ca), retinol (vitamin A, vit A), vinblastine (VB), and cytochalasin B (CB) in parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Bovine parathyroid tissue pieces were incubated in media containing the above agents. Vit A stimulated PTH release to a mean of 170% of control. This effect of vit A was diminished when tissues were simultaneously stimulated with low Ca and, furthermore, absent when tissues were pre-incubated in low Ca.VB had no effect on low Ca-stimulated secretion, but did inhibit vit A-induced secretion in the presence of low Ca.CB stimulated PTH secretion to a mean of 150% of control during the second and third hours of incubation. CB had at least an additive effect with low Ca in stimulating PTH secretion, with a more prompt and greater response than seen in normal calcium. VB did not inhibit the acute effect of CB on secretion in normal calcium media, but did inhibit CB-induced secretion during the third hour of incubation.None of the agents stimulated the release of lysosomal cathepsin D, and vit A and CB did not stimulate the release of LDH.Our results suggest that; (1) vit A and low Ca stimulate PTH secretion through a common pathway involving the cell membrane; (2) CB stimulates PTH secretion through a separate effect on the cell membrane or submembrane microfilaments, which normally retards secretion of PTH; and (3) microtubular proteins may facilitate basal secretion of PTH, but are not involved in low Ca-stimulated secretion of PTH.     

Litterfall,litter decomposition,and flux of particulate organic material in a coastal plain stream

Import of allochthonous material in terms of litterfall in a 3rd order stream in Mississippi coastal plain was 386g dry wt/m²/yr. Litter materials consisting of deciduous leaves, pine needles, and woody twigs collected during different seasons showed some differences in ash-free dry weight, caloric, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus contents. In situ decomposition to particulate form of deciduous and pine litter enclosed in nylon litter bags showed 15% and 65%, respectively, of the litter remaining after 334 days. Downstream net transport of suspended particulate organic material in the river averaged 688,290 kg dry wt/yr with a range of 456,061 to 920,518 kg dry wt/yr. There was a tendency for the particulate organic matter load of the water to increase during ebbtide and to decrease during floodtide.Supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA Grant No. NGL-25-001-40) and by the National Science Foundation Biological Oceanography Section (NSF Grant No. GA-35715).     

Seasonal variation in standing crop,density and leaf growth rate of the seagrass, Heterozostera tasmanica, in western Port and Port Phillip Bay,Victoria, Australia

Standing crop, density and leaf growth rate of Heterozostera tasmanica (Martens ex Aschers.) den Hartog along with light, temperature, nutrient and sediment characteristics were determined monthly for fifteen months at three study sites in Western Port and one site in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. Erect vegetative stems of H. tasmanica were frequently branched, were present throughout the year and accounted for 25–60% of the above-sediment biomass, with the stem proportion higher during winter than summer. At three of the four sites there was a unimodal seasonal pattern in which minimum leaf standing crop (27–61 g dry wt. m^?2), density (600–2000 leaf cluster m^?2) and leaf productivity (0.34–0.77 g dry wt. m^?2 day^?1) generally occurred during winter (June–August) and maximum leaf standing crop (105–173 g dry wt. m^?2), density (2700–5000 leaf cluster m^?2) and leaf productivity (2.6–4.2 g dry wt. m^?2 day^?1) occurred during summer (December–February). A bimodal seasonal pattern with minimum standing crop and density during midsummer occurred at one site. This anomalous seasonal pattern may be due to exposure and desiccation stress during spring low tides. At the site receiving the lowest irradiance, standing crop, density and annual leaf production also were lowest, but length and width of leaves, shoot height and leaf growth rate per leaf cluster were the highest of the four study sites. On average, each leaf cluster at any one of the study sites produced 30–31 leaves per year with mean leaf turnover rates of 1.3–1.7% day^?1. Annual leaf production of H. tasmanica ranged from 410 to 640 g dry wt.m^?2 at the four sites.     

Adenine recognition: a motif present in ATP-, CoA-, NAD-, NADP-, and FAD-dependent proteins.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) plays an essential role in energy transfer within the cell. In the form of NAD, adenine participates in multiple redox reactions. Phosphorylation and ATP-hydrolysis reactions have key roles in signal transduction and regulation of many proteins, especially enzymes. In each cell, proteins with many different functions use adenine and its derivatives as ligands; adenine, of course, is present in DNA and RNA. We show that an adenine binding motif, which differs according to the backbone chain direction of a loop that binds adenine (and in one variant by the participation of an aspartate side-chain), is common to many proteins; it was found from an analysis of all adenylate-containing protein structures from the Protein Data Bank. Indeed, 224 protein-ligand complexes (86 different proteins) from a total of 645 protein structure files bind ATP, CoA, NAD, NADP, FAD, or other adenine-containing ligands, and use the same structural elements to recognize adenine, regardless of whether the ligand is a coenzyme, cofactor, substrate, or an allosteric effector. The common adenine-binding motif shown in this study is simple to construct. It uses only (1) backbone polar interactions that are not dependent on the protein sequence or particular properties of amino acid side-chains, and (2) nonspecific hydrophobic interactions. This is probably why so many different proteins with different functions use this motif to bind an adenylate-containing ligand. The adenylate-binding motif reported is present in "ancient proteins" common to all living organisms, suggesting that adenine-containing ligands and the common motif for binding them were exploited very early in evolution. The geometry of adenine binding by this motif mimics almost exactly the geometry of adenine base-pairing seen in DNA and RNA.     

Bicarbonate measurements in rat liver, brain, heart, and skeletal muscle.

A method is described for measuring total CO₂ and HCO₃^? in tissues rapidly frozen in liquid nitrogen. The method is a modification of the procedure of D. D. Van Slyke and J. M. Neill (1924, J. Biol. Chem.61, 523–573) for use with freeze-clamped tissue where anoxic changes have not occurred. The HCO₃^? content exclusive of tissue CO₂ in fed rats was found to be: liver, 19.4 ± 1.0; brain, 20.2 ± 0.9; thigh, 16.2 ± 0.8; and heart, 15.4 ± 1.4 μmol/g.     

中心体蛋白Cenexin在大鼠精子发生过程中的表达特征

中心体蛋白Cenexin是成熟中心粒的唯一标志分子。为阐明中心粒在大鼠精子发生过程中的成熟以及功能,我们首先通过RT-PCR技术从大鼠睾丸组织中扩增出了Cenexin cDNA片段,原核表达重组蛋白后,用其免疫小鼠制备了高滴度的抗Cenexin的多克隆抗体,然后利用免疫荧光染色、Western Blot和半定量RT-PCR方法,研究了大鼠精子发生过程中Cenexin蛋白和基因的表达特征。结果显示Cenexin mRNA水平在精原细胞和精母细胞中较高,随后表达水平下降,而蛋白质分子在精原细胞到精子细胞中都定位于细胞的一个中心粒上,表示有成熟中心粒的存在,在长形精子细胞中该蛋白位于鞭毛的基体部。附睾的绝大多数成熟精子中Cenexin免疫染色消失。中心体蛋白Cenexin在精子变态期的表达变化可能与精子鞭毛形成的起始有关。     

Bill Arnold: Scientist, philosopher, friend

Bill Arnold is a great scientist in whose laboratory I was privileged to work during the years he discovered the thermoluminescence and the electroluminescence of green plants. I reminisce about Bill's influences on me, scientific and otherwise, during those years.     

Effects of aspirin on renal sodium excretion, blood pressure, and plasma and extracellular fluid volume in salt-loaded rats

The effect of aspirin administration and presumed blockade of prostaglandin synthesis on renal sodium excretion, plasma and extracellular fluid volumes, and blood pressure were examined in rats on a high sodium intake. After acute salt loading aspirin treated rats showed an impaired sodium excretion, while no changes in glomerular filtration rate were observed. In chronically loaded rats (7 weeks) administration of aspirin induced significant increases in both plasma and extracellular fluid volume, but no significant changes in blood pressure were found. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that prostaglandins mediate renal sodium excretion and therefore participate in extracellular fluid volume regulation.     

贡山竹属——我国云南竹亚科一新属

灌木状竹,有时附生于树干基部。地下茎短颈粗型。秆单丛;节问圆筒形;每节分枝单一,与主秆近等粗。秆释宿存性,革质;滓耳大,镰刀状;滓舌较低;算片外展。叶耳镰刀状;     

福建、浙江、江苏、上海疫霉种的研究

1985—1986年,从福建漳州,浙江杭州,上海,江苏南京,苏州,扬州,常州等地采集100多种植物进行分离,在雪松(Cedrus deodara),倒挂仙人鞭(Cereus flagelliformis),冬青卫茅(Euonymus japonieus),构树(Broussonetia papyrifera),蓖麻(Ricinus communis),柑桔(Citrus reticulata),带叶兜兰(Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum),芋(Colocasia esculenta),鳄梨(Persea americana),山茶(Camellia sp.),珊瑚樱(Solanum pseudo-capsicum),百合(Lilium brownii var.viridulum),蔓常春花(Vinca major),西瓜(Citrullus lanatus)等14种寄主植物上分离到51个疫霉菌株,鉴定为9个种:烟草疫霉(=寄生疫霉)Phytophthora nicotianae B.de Haan(=P.parasitica Dast.),掘氏疫霉P.drechsleri Tucker,樟疫霉 P.ciunamomi Rands,棕榈疫霉P.palmivora(Butl.)Butl.,柑桔褐腐疫霉P.citrophthora(R.et E.Smith) Leon.,苎麻疫霉P.bochmeriae Saw.,蜜色疫霉P.meadii McRae,簇囊疫霉P.botryosa Chee,隐地疫霉P.cryptogea Pethyb.et Laff.。其中,烟草疫霉,掘氏疫霉,樟疫霉出现频率较高,分布较广,初步认为是上述地区植物疫病的主要病原菌。簇囊疫霉、蜜色疫霉是国内新记录。     

The ontogeny of agonistic behaviour in the blue gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus (Pisces,Anabantoidei)

The development of agonistic behaviour in the blue gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus, was studied from hatching to four months of age. Larval motor patterns appear first as simple, uncoordinated, and irregular movements and gradually become regular and well coordinated, forming integrated complex patterns, such as swimming, surfacing, and feeding. Most motor patterns used in agonistic interactions are first exhibited in non-social contexts. Initial interactions between young fish consist of Approach and investigation in a feeding context, in some cases followed by nibbling, Biting, and Chasing by one fish. Later, initial Approaches are separated from Biting and Chasing by Lateral Displays, circling, Tail Beating, and Fin Tugging, and by Appeasement behaviour that inhibits Chasing and Biting by the opponent.Agonistic behaviour of socially isolated fish, when paired in dyadic encounters as adults, indicates that the role of social experience as an integrator and regulator of social behaviour may change progressively during development and become more important as ontogeny proceeds.     

Polymorphic microsatellites loci in the black Aphid,Aphis fabae Scopoli, 1763 (Hemiptera,Aphididae)

Aphis fabae is a widespread pest in Europe. This species includes four morphological cryptic subspecies which are mostly identified by their partially distinct secondary host range. To determine the extent of gene flow and isolation between these four taxa, we isolated and characterized eight microsatellite loci from A. fabae fabae and tested them on the three other subspecies. Polymorphism ranged from five to 35 alleles on the 138 individuals collected. When analysing each taxon separately, significant deviations from Hardy‐Weinberg (HW) equilibrum were observed. This could have different explanations, including the presence of null alleles, or the Wahlund effect or the mating system.     

Removal of N,P, BOD5, and coliform in pilot-scale constructed wetland systems

Pilot-scale surface-flow (SF), subsurface-flow (SSF), and floating aquatic plant (FAP) constructed wetland system designs were installed and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of constructed wetlands to treat tertiary effluent wastewater in a Midwestern U.S. climate (central Illinois). Average ammonia-nitrogen (N) concentrations decreased approximately 50% in the SSF system design, suggesting that this design had the highest nitrification rate. Nitrate-N concentrations decreased by over 60% in the FAP system design, possibly due to dissimilatory reduction or plant uptake. Total phosphorus (P) concentration reductions of 25 to 40% were observed in all three system designs. Five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and dissolved oxygen (DO) results suggested that biodegradation was highest in the SSF system design and lowest in the FAP system design. Greater than 90% concentration reductions of total coliform and E. coli recovered were also observed following treatment in all three system designs. The FAP system design appeared to yield the highest concentration reduction efficiency for E. coli, possibly due to increased sunlight and related bacteriocidal ultraviolet light exposure. Ongoing experiments will test regularly for a variety of vegetative, water quality, and biological conditions for longer time periods in order to gain a better understanding of the pilot constructed wetland system design kinetics.     

河北曲阳灵山下石盒子组植物群

研究河北曲阳灵山地区下石盒子组植物化石约18种,分析了当时的气候环境特点及变迁.并对主要植物化石进行属种描述和讨论,建立了1新属新种.     

Response dynamics of 26-, 34-, 39-, 54-, and 80-kDa proteases in induced cultures of recombinant Escherichia coli

Several researchers have demonstrated that the presence of a heterologous protein in recombinant Escherichia coli elicits a response similar to the heat-shock response, which includes enhanced protease expression. The present work detects, quantifies, and characterizes intracellular protease activity in E. coli that are "shocked" by the induction of a recombinant protein, CAT, which is an endogenous protein in some E. coli strains. A novel, sodium dodecyl sulfate gelatin poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-GPAGE) method is used to detect, quantify, and characterize the presence of these proteases. A hypothesis is proposed which links the amplified protease activity to a temporary depletion of specific amino acid pools, and a stringent-like stress response. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Double labeling of chromatin proteins,in vivo and in vitro,and their two-dimensional electrophoretic resolution

A modification of the two-dimensional electrophoretic method that involves nonequilibrium pH gradients has been adapted for high resolution of chromatin proteins from sea urchin embryos. A simple method of labeling the protein, in vitro, by reductive methylation with boro[³H]hydride to a specific activity of 100,000 cpm/μg of protein is detailed. Chromatin protein may be labeled, in vivo with ¹⁴C-amino acids, and newly synthesized (³H and ¹⁴C-labeled) and preexistent proteins (only ³H labeled) may be distinguished. The method reveals that sea urchin embryo chromatin contains over 200 proteins.