Long‐distance signals influence assessment of close range mating displays in the field cricket,Gryllus integer

Male sexual displays often include components detected across long distances, and those perceived only at close range. Understanding what information females gain from each component of a complex display and how they use these signals to make decisions are questions of major interest in sexual selection research. We evaluated content‐based hypotheses (‘redundant signals’ and ‘multiple messages’) for the courtship displays of field crickets (Gryllus integer) by measuring female responses to males' long‐distance calling song (calls) and close‐range chemical cues. Females' responses to a male's calls and chemical cues were uncorrelated, supporting the ‘multiple messages’ hypothesis. We also tested the ‘inter‐signal interaction’ hypothesis by investigating how long‐distance calls influence evaluation of close‐range courtship. The relationship between long‐ and close‐range signals was complex and conditional: females accepted close‐range courtship more quickly after exposure to attractive calling song than they did after exposure to either unattractive calling song or silence, and unattractive calls were no more or less effective than silence. This inter‐signal interaction could affect our understanding of mate choice in species with multiple mating signals because it implies that females may save time and energy by not assessing the close‐range signals of attractive long‐distance signalers. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100 , 856–865.     

Mate searching in Ennya maculicornis (Membracidae: Polyglyptini) initiated by females: behavioural and acoustic descriptions

1. In treehoppers in which courtship has been studied, males initiate the search for females by periodically emitting a vibrational signal. The responses by the female are used by males as a beacon and give rise to a duet. 2. Courtship and mating of the treehopper Ennya maculicornis were characterised through the simultaneous recording of vibrational signals and the behaviour of males and females in an arena. 3. In E. maculicornis, female initiated mate searching. Females produced two types of signals during the this process: (i) a signal that preceded the approach by the male and (ii) a signal that preceded mating. Males emitted two signals associated with two stereotyped body movements: (i) a signal produced as a response to the first signal emitted by the female, involving a change in the male's locomotory mode and the approach to the female, and (ii) a signal produced after finding and holding on to the female, involving simultaneous abdomen raising and wing fluttering. These signals were repeated several times before the female emitted the second signal. The four signalling patterns were observed in all recordings in which mating was observed. When any of the signals was missing, mating did not occur. 4. Female‐biased sex ratios in E. maculicornis, along with iteroparity, are suggested to explain the initiation of mate searching behaviour by females. A comparison of data with that from other treehoppers indicates that vibrational signals and their associated behaviour are more diverse among treehoppers than has been appreciated previously.     

褐飞虱求偶鸣声中有效声段及其特征

对褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) 雌、雄虫播放求偶鸣声信号的不同声段及其组合,结果表明在它们求偶识别过程中,由多个规则连续的声脉冲所组成的声段是有效的。播放不同声脉冲重复频率和主振频率组合的模拟信号,表明褐飞虱雌、雄虫求偶信号的声脉冲重复频率是它们识别异性的敏感声学特征参数,其敏感范围较窄,分别为70～90 Hz和22 Hz左右;而对主振频率的敏感范围较宽,分别为200 ～1 700 Hz和100～300 Hz。     

The continuous presence of ewes in estrus in spring influences testicular volume,testicular echogenicity and testosterone concentration,but not LH pulsatility in rams

The continuous presence of active male small ruminants prevents seasonal anestrus in females, but evidence of the same mechanism operating from the females to the males is scarce. This study assessed the effects of the continuous presence of ewes in estrus in spring on ram sexual activity, testicular size and echogenicity, and LH and testosterone concentrations. On 1 March, 20 rams were assigned to two groups (n = 10 each): isolated (ISO) from other sheep, or stimulated (STI) by 12 ewes, which were separated from the rams by an openwork metal barrier, allowing contact between sexes. Each week, four ewes were induced into estrus by intravaginal sponges. Live weight, scrotal circumference, testicular width (TW) and length (TL) were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the experiment, and testicular volume (TV) was calculated; at the same time, testicular ultrasonography and color Doppler scanning were performed. Blood samples (March to May) were collected once per week for testosterone determinations, and at the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for 6 h at 20-min intervals for LH analysis. Rams were exposed to four estrous ewes in a serving-capacity test. Scrotal circumference, TW and TL were higher in the STI than in the ISO rams (P < 0.05) in May, and TV was higher (P < 0.05) in the STI (391 ± 17 cm³) than in the ISO rams (354 ± 24 cm³). In ISO rams, the number of white pixels was higher (P < 0.01) in May (348 ± 74) than in March (94 ± 21) and differed significantly (P < 0.01) from that of the STI rams in May (160 ± 33). In ISO rams, the number of grey pixels was higher (P < 0.05) in May (107 ± 3) than it was in March (99 ± 1). Stimulated and ISO rams did not differ significantly in mean LH plasma concentrations (0.8 ± 0.5 v. 0.9 ± 0.4 ng/ml), LH pulses (2.1 ± 0.5 v. 2.2 ± 0.2) and amplitude (2.0 ± 0.4 v. 3.2 ± 0.7 ng/ml, respectively). Stimulated rams had significantly higher testosterone concentrations than ISO rams from April to the end of the experiment. Stimulated rams performed more (P < 0.05) mountings with intromission (3.0 ± 0.4) than did ISO rams (1.5 ± 0.5). In conclusion, after 3 months in the continuous presence of ewes in estrus in spring, rams had higher TV and some testicular echogenic parameters were modified than isolated rams. Although exposed rams also had higher levels of testosterone after 2 months in the presence of estrous ewes, their LH pulsatility at the end of the study was not modified.     

An in vitro approach for the characterization of the cycling B cell response

Summary Because isolation of sufficient numbers of cycling, germinal center B cells from mice for biochemical characterization of BCR-derived signals can be problematic, we have designed an experimental approach for generating large numbers of cycling B cells for further study. In the experiments reported here, small, resting B cells were polyclonally stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and cycling B cells isolated as two bands on three-step Percoll gradients. Cycling B cells isolated at Days 2, 4, or 6 of preactivation showed an increased expression of Fas receptor and peanut agglutinin binding, with a concomitant decrease in sIgD positivity. These cells phenotypically resembled extrafollicular or early germinal center B cells. These cycling B cells were used to study the functional consequences of differential signaling through the BCR. Strong cross-linking of BCR, by restimulation of cycling normal B cells with either immobilized or soluble F(ab’)₂ anti-μ and cycling hen egg lysozyme (HEL) transgenic B cells with either soluble or immobilized HEL, extended cellular proliferation by 2–3 d. In contrast, cycling B cells either restimulated with soluble, whole anti-μ (to mimic binding of soluble immune complexes) or cultured in the absence of restimulation (to mimic cycling B cells not competitive for antigen) resulted in the rapid exit of the cells from cycle. This system will enable the molecular and biochemical characterization of signal delivery to cycling B cells.     

Distinct nuclear import and export pathways mediated by members of the karyopherin β family

Transport of proteins into and out of the nucleus occurs through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) and is mediated by the interaction of transport factors with nucleoporins at the NPC. Nuclear import of proteins containing classical nuclear localization signals (NLSs) is mediated by a heterodimeric protein complex, composed of karyopherin α and β1, that docks via β1 the NLS-protein to the NPC. The GTPase Ran; the RanGDP binding protein, p10; and the RanGTP binding protein, RanBP1 are involved in translocation of the docked NLS-protein into the nucleus. Recently, new distinct nuclear import and export pathways that are mediated by members of the karyopherin β family have been discovered. Karyopherin β2 mediates import of mRNA binding proteins, whereas karyopherin β3 and β4 mediate import of a set of ribosomal proteins. Two other β karyopherin family members, CRM1 and CAS, mediate export of proteins containing leucine-rich nuclear export signals (NES) and reexport of karyopherin α, respectively. This growing family contains new members that constitute potential transport factors for cargoes yet to be identified in the future. The common features of the members of karyopherin β family are the ability to bind RanGTP and the ability to interact directly with nucleoporins at the NPC. The challenge for the future will be to identify the distinct or, perhaps, overlapping cargo(es) for each member of the karyopherin β superfamily and to characterize the molecular mechanisms of translocation of karyopherins together with their cargoes through the NPC. J. Cell. Biochem. 70:231–239, 1998.© 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cargo-sorting signals promote polymerization of adaptor protein-1 in an Arf-1.GTP-independent manner

Adaptor protein-1 (AP-1) is recruited onto the trans-Golgi network via binding to Arf-1·GTP, cargo-sorting signals and phosphoinositides, where it orchestrates the assembly of clathrin-coated vesicular carriers that transport cargo molecules to endosomes. Here we show that cytosolic AP-1 polymerizes when recruited onto enriched Golgi membranes and liposomes containing covalently attached cargo-sorting signal peptides. Incubation of cytosolic or purified AP-1 with soluble sorting signal peptides also resulted in AP-1 polymerization, showing that Arf-1·GTP and membranes are not required for this process. We propose that cargo-induced polymerization of AP-1 contributes to stabilization of the coat complex in the formation of clathrin-coated buds.     

Action potentials as multifunctional signals in plants: a unifying hypothesis to explain apparently disparate wound responses

Abstract I suggest that action potentials, which occur in most, if not all, plants, play a major role in intercellular and intracellular communication. Long-distance communication is achieved through the transmitted changes in membrane potential, whereas local signalling is achieved through changes in the subcellular localization of ions (K⁺, Cl^?, and Ca²⁺) and of water, and perhaps by membrane depolarization and current flow. These local changes in ion concentration can lead to modified activities of enzymes in the cell wall (e.g. pectinase), the plasma membrane (e.g. cellulose synthetase, callose synthetase), and the cytoplasm (e.g. protein kinase). In particular, the elevated concentration of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ is shown to have a major, yet complex, role, especially in the modulation of translation. I suggest further that, in addition to their role in wounding, action potentials may also be important signalling mechanisms for chilling injury, mechanical perturbation and invasion by pathogens, as well as for light and gravity.     

干旱胁迫下氮素营养与根信号在气孔运动调控中的协同作用

干旱胁迫下根系与地上部分之间的信息传递可使植物叶片及时感知土壤水势变化,从而使植物在没有真正受到干旱伤害时即可做出主动、快速的抗旱应答反应,而在这一过程中,脱落酸（abscisic acid,ABA）和pH起着关键的作用。本研究表明。干旱胁迫下鸭趾草（Commelina communis L．）、番茄（Lycopersicon esculentum Mill．）和向日葵（Helianthus annuus L．）木质部汁液中pH的变化很不相同,且该pH变化和木质部汁液中硝态氮离子浓度的变化没有直接的关系;然而,饲喂实验表明,无论对于何种植物,蒸腾流中硝态氮离子浓度的增加都可有效地增加气孔对ABA的敏感度;分根实验进一步表明,土壤中硝态氮营养的增加可明显提高气孔对根信号的敏感度。以上结果说明,氮素营养可以和根信号相互作用共同操纵气孔运动。     

The evolution of locomotory behavior in profitable and unprofitable simulated prey

Prey that are unprofitable to attack (for example, those containing noxious chemicals) frequently exhibit slower and more predicable movement than species that lack these defenses. Possible explanations for the phenomenon include a lack of selection pressure on unprofitable prey to avoid predators and active selection on unprofitable prey to advertise their noxiousness. We explicitly tested these and other hypotheses using a novel artificial world in which the locomotory characteristics (step size, waiting time, and angular direction) of artificial profitable and unprofitable computer-generated prey were subject to continued selection by humans over a number of generations. Unprofitable prey evolved significantly slower movement behavior than profitable prey when they were readily recognized as unprofitable, and also when they frequently survived predatory attacks. This difference arose primarily as a consequence of more intense selection on profitable prey to avoid capture. When unprofitable prey were very similar (but not identical) in morphological appearance to profitable prey, unprofitable prey evolved particularly slow movement behavior, presumably because when they were slow-moving they could be more readily recognized as being unprofitable. When unprofitable prey were constrained to move slowly, a morphologically identical profitable prey species evolved locomotor mimicry only when it had no more effective means of avoiding predation. Overall, our results provide some of the first empirical support for a number of earlier hypotheses for differences in movement between unprofitable and profitable prey and demonstrate that locomotor mimicry is not an inevitable outcome of selection even in morphologically similar prey.     

Attention-altering signal interactions in the multimodal courtship display of the wolf spider Schizocosa uetzi

Complex signals are common throughout the animal kingdom, consistingof one or more signals in one or more sensory modalities presentedwithin a single display. I tested an efficacy-based backup hypothesisof complex signal function using the bimodal courtship signalingwolf spider Schizocosa uetzi. This hypothesis predicts thatthe visual and vibratory courtship displays function as backupsto each other in the presence of environmental variability.I compared mating frequencies across four environmental treatmentsin which the visual and vibratory environments were manipulatedindependently in a 2 x 2 design with visual treatments of light/dark(i.e., visual signal present/absent) and vibratory treatmentsof filter paper substratum/granite substratum (i.e., vibratorysignal present/absent). Results did not match the predictionsof an efficacy-based backup hypothesis. The vibratory environmentaffected mating frequency, with more mating occurring in thevibration-present treatments compared to the vibration-absenttreatments, but the visual environment had no effect on matingfrequency. A second experiment was then conducted to test foran inter-signal interaction. Using the video-playback technique,I presented females with manipulated video sequences simultaneouswith a controlled vibratory signal to test the hypothesis thatthe presence of a vibratory signal alters a female's responseto the visual signal. In the presence of a vibratory courtshipsignal, females were more receptive to more visually ornamentedmales. This increased receptivity to increased visual ornamentationwas not seen in a previous study conducted on S. uetzi in theabsence of a vibratory signal, suggesting a potential inter-signalinteraction. In a third experiment, I tested whether a female'svisual attention was altered by the vibratory signal by examiningfemale response to a visual "predator" while exposed to allpossible combinations of male courtship signals. Females weremore likely to get caught, and thus less likely to notice apredatory visual stimulus when exposed to a courtship vibration,supporting the hypothesis that the vibratory signal alters afemale's visual attention.     

Targeting of proteins into the peroxisomal matrix

Summary During the last few years much has been learned regarding signals that target proteins into peroxisomes. The emphasis in the near future will undoubtedly shift towards the elucidation of the mechanism of import. The use of mammalian and yeast cells deficient in peroxisome assembly and/or import (Zoeller & Raetz, 1986; Erdmann et al., 1989; Cregg et al., 1990; Morand et al., 1990; Tsukamoto, Yokota & Fujiki, 1990) should provide a handle on the genes (Erdmann et al., 1991; Tsukamoto et al., 1991) involved in these processes. This will have to be coupled with further development of in vitro systems which will permit the dissection of the steps in the translocation of proteins into peroxisomes. Though some progress has been made in the development of such assays (Imanaka et al., 1987; Small et al., 1987, 1988; Miyazawa et al., 1989), the fragility of peroxisomes and the absence of biochemical hallmarks of import (such as protein modifications or proteolytic processing) have hindered progress. Since peroxisomes exist in the form of a reticulum in mammalian cells (Gorgas, 1984), all peroxisome purification schemes (from mammalian cells at least) must undoubtedly rupture the peroxisomes, which then reseal to form vesicular structures. Additionally, the reliance on the latency of catalase alone as a major criterion for the integrity of peroxisomes ignores the fact that many other matrix proteins leak out of peroxisomes at vastly different rates during purification of the organelles (Thompson & Krisans, 1990). In view of these problems, the development of peroxisomal transport assays with semi-intact cells would also constitute an important advance. It is very likely that in the next few years we will witness some major advances in our understanding of the mechanism by which proteins enter this organelle.I would like to thank all the members of my lab and my collaborators, past and present, whose hard work provided the material for this review. This work has been supported by grants from the March of Dimes Foundation (#1081) and the NIH (DK41737).     

An analytical solution describing the propagation of positive injury signals in an axon: effect of dynein velocity distribution

A model describing the propagation of positive injury signals from the lesion site in an axon towards the neuron soma is described. It is assumed that these signals are driven by dynein molecular motors. An analytical solution that accounts for the probability density function (pdf) of a dynein velocity distribution is obtained. Two examples of pdf of dynein velocity distributions that follow from the results published in Ross et al. (2006, Processive bidirectional motion of dynein–dynactin complexes in vitro. Nat Cell Biol. 8:562–570) and Deinhardt et al. (2006, Rab5 and Rab7 control endocytic sorting along the axonal retrograde transport pathway. Neuron 52:293–305) are considered. The effect of dynein velocity distribution on the rate of spreading of the signal wave is discussed. It is demonstrated that the obtained solution can be applied to the problem of how neurons measure the distance between the lesion site and the neuron soma.     

Homosexual behavior in male goats is more frequent during breeding season and in bucks isolated from females

Male homosexual behavior is observed in many ruminant species; seasonality and isolation from females may affect the display of male–male sexual behavior. Our objectives were to determine whether: 1) homosexual behavior has a seasonal pattern in male goats (Capra hircus); 2) isolation from female goats influences the frequency of the display of homosexual behavior; and 3) the frequency of homosexual behaviors is related to testosterone concentration. Bucks were housed in a pen adjacent to another pen with 3 estrous goats (FC group) or in complete isolation from females (IF group). Homosexual behaviors and testosterone concentrations were recorded in October, December, February and May. Frequencies of penile display and flehmen increased in May and were observed more frequently in the IF than in the FC group. Ano-genital sniffing was more frequent in February and May and was more frequent in IF than in FC bucks. Lateral approaches were more frequent in May, in which period this was more frequently observed in IF bucks. Mount attempts and mounts were only observed in IF bucks. Testosterone concentrations increased from December to February and decreased in May, although they were still greater than in October and December. In May IF bucks had greater testosterone concentrations than FC bucks. Testosterone concentrations were only related to the number of lateral approaches in IF bucks in December. In conclusion, homosexual behavior was more frequent during the late breeding season than during the early and the non-breeding seasons, and in males isolated from females than in males housed near estrous females. Testosterone concentrations appear to be unrelated to homosexual behavior.     

Vocal signals in a tropical avian species, the redvented bulbulPycnonotus cafer: their characteristics and importance

Acoustic signals play an important role in the lives of birds. Almost all avian species produce vocal signals in a variety of contexts either in the form of calls or songs or both. In the present study different types of vocal signals of the tropical avian speciesPycnonotus cafer were characterized on the basis of their physical characteristics and context of production. This species used six types of vocal signals: contact signals, roosting signals, alarm signals, twittering signals, distress signals and begging signals. Two types of alarm signals are produced based on predation pressure. These signals are dissimilar in all physical characteristics except for dominant frequency. Although alarm signal type I and roosting signals are phonetically similar, they have completely different sonogram characteristics.