DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES BELONGING TO THE FAMILY PHYLLIDIIDAE (NUDIBRANCHIA: DORIDOIDEA)

A new genus of phyllidiid nudibranch, Reticulidia, is described.Distinguishing features are the reticulate pattern of smoothridges on the dorsum and the radially arranged, glandular discswhich make up the pharyngeal bulb. Additional features of theforegut are described and compared with other genera. The importanceof the alimentary system for the separation of genera withinthe Phyllidiidae is supported and its validity reinforced bythis new genus. One species, Reticulidia halgerda, is describedas new and differentiated from a second, sympatric species.Reticulidia is presently known from the eastern Indian Ocean,South China Sea and western Pacific Ocean. ^*Present address: Australian Biological and Environmental Survey,Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. GPO Box 1383,Canberra. ACT 2601. Australia. (Received 15 August 1989; accepted 8 January 1990)     

Siphonostomes (Copepoda -- Cyclopoida) from the Indian Ocean

Siphonostomes (Copepoda — Cyclopoida) from the InternationalIndian Ocean Expedition collections were studied. The groupwas represented by Pontoeciella abyssicola of family Pon-toeciellidaeand Ratania flava of family Rataniidae. This study has extendedthe distribution of both the species considerably, and includesthe first record of the male of P. abyssicola from the IndianOcean and of both species from the Bay of Bengal.     

Patterns of horizontal distribution of the larvae of southern bluefin (Thunnus maccoyii) and other tuna in the Indian Ocean

The fine- to coarse-scale distribution patterns of tuna larvaein the east Indian Ocean were investigated by a combinationof continuous transect sampling using surface tows and randomsampling using double oblique tows. Thunnus maccoyii was themost abundant species, reaching densities near patch centresof 22 m^–1 in surface tows, which is 25 times greater thanthe highest previous records for tuna larvae. Patches of T.maccoyiilarvae in areas of high abundance appeared to 5.2 for T.maccoyii.There was no change in the index when tow distance was doubledto 1200 m, older larvae. Lloyd's index of patchiness was consistentlyhigh for all tuna species, ranging from 3.0 to 5.2 for T.maccoyyii.There was no change in the index when tow distance was doubledto 1200 m, which suggests that the dominant patch size was somewhatlarger than the larger sampling interval. Sampling larvae atthe same site 4 days apart resulted in estimates of abundancethat differed by an order of magnitude. Abundance estimatedfrom a single station would depend largely on what day the stationwas occupied and where the sample was taken in relation to apatch. ¹Present address: Victoria Institute of Marine Sciences andDepartment of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3052, Australia     

Size-fractionated phytoplankton carboxylase activities in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean

During the ANTARES 3 cruise in the Indian sector of the SouthernOcean in October–November 1995, the surface waters ofKerguelen Islands plume, and the surface and deeper waters (30–60m) along a transect on 62°E from 48°36'S to the iceedge (58°50'S), were sampled. The phytoplankton communitywas size-fractionated (2 µm) and cell numbers, chlorophyllbiomass and carbon assimilation, through Rubisco and ß-carboxylaseactivities, were characterized. The highest contribution of<2 µm cells to total biomass and total Rubisco activitywas reported in the waters of the Permanent Open Ocean Zone(POOZ) located between 52°S and 55°S along 62°E.In this zone, the picophytoplankton contributed from 26 to 50%of the total chlorophyll (a + b + c) with an average of 0.09± 0.02 µg Chl l^–1 for <2 µm cells.Picophytoplankton also contributed 36 to 64% of the total Rubiscoactivity, with an average of 0.80 ± 0.30 mg C mg Chla^–1 h^–1 for <2 µm cells. The picophytoplanktoncells had a higher ß-carboxylase activity than largercells >2 µm. The mixotrophic capacity of these smallcells is proposed. From sampling stations of the Kerguelen plume,a relationship was observed between the Rubisco activity perpicophytoplankton cell and apparent cell size, which variedwith the sampled water masses. Moreover, a depth-dependent photoperiodicityof Rubisco activity per cell for <2 µm phytoplanktonwas observed during the day/night cycle in the POOZ. In thenear ice zone, a physiological change in picophytoplankton cellsfavouring phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activitywas reported. A species succession, or an adaptation to unfavourableenvironmental conditions such as low temperature and/or availableirradiance levels, may have provoked this change. The high contributionof picophytoplankton to the total biomass, and its high CO₂fixation capacity via autotrophy and mixotrophy, emphasize thestrong regeneration of organic materials in the euphotic layerin the Southern Ocean.     

A new species of Bradyidius (Copepoda, Calanoida) from the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

A new species of copepod belonging to the family Aetideidae,Bradyidius slyliformis sp. nov. is described and figured. Therelationship of this species to the other 12 members of thegenus is discussed. ¹Present address: 121 Jalan Athinahapan Dua, Taman Tun Dr Ismail,60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia     

Prochloron (Prochlorophyta): Biochemical Contributions to the Chlorophyll and RNA Composition

The prochlorophyte Prochloron, a symbiont of the colonial ascidianDidemnum molle, was collected in the Indian Ocean around Giravaru(Maldives) in depths between 1 and 40 m. The chlorophyll a tob ratio of the algal symbionts was higher in colonies livingbetween 1–6 m, compared to that determined for Prochloronfrom a depth of 30 m. This property for chromatic adaptationin correlation with changes in the total content of chlorophyllis dependent upon environmental factors. The association betweenDidemnum and Prochloron is only a facultative symbiosis. Thesize of the colonies, growing near the water surface is large(up to 3 cm), and it gradually decreases to 0.2 cm in a depthof 30 m dim locations. At a depth of 40 m the tunicates do notcontain the algal symbionts. Applying quantitative preparative isolation and sensitive immunologicalas well as biochemical detection techniques we have no evidencefor the existence of poly(A) stretches in RNA species from Prochloron.Moreover, we failed to detect both sn/scRNAs and their proteins,typically associated with them in RNP complexes from eukaryotes.From the data we suggest that mRNA synthesis proceeds in Prochloronin a way similar to prokaryotes. ¹ This contribution is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. B. Schmidton the occasion of his 50th birthday.     

Photosynthetic oxygen production and community respiration in the Indian sector of the Antarctic Ocean during austral summer

Photosynthetic oxygen production by phytoplankton and community respiration in the Indian sector of the Antarctic Ocean were estimated from changes in oxygen concentrations in light and dark bottles. Gross production varied between 0.1 and 5.1 µmol O₂ l^-1 day^-1. In the same water, community respiration (the sum of oxygen consumption by heterotrophs and phytoplankton) was 0.4-3.6 µmol O₂ l^-1 day^-1, which accounted for 47-343% of the gross production. Algal and heterotrophic respirations were distinguished using some assumptions. These estimates showed that heterotrophic respiration accounted for most of the community respiration (70-91% depending upon the assumptions), indicating that heterotrophic respiration plays an important role in the mineralization of phytoplankton production in the surveyed sea area. Gross production rate correlated with chlorophyll a concentration, showing that the photosynthetic production rate of oxygen depends on the abundance of phytoplankton. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between gross production and community respiration rates. These regression equations suggested that negative net production occurred under the usually low concentration of chlorophyll observed in the Indian sector of the Antarctic Ocean. Hence, the net exchange of carbon dioxide due to biological processes through the sea surface seemed to be not as large as expected in the Antarctic Ocean, although the number of data were limited at this stage.     

Functional characterization of high-affinity Na(+)/dicarboxylate cotransporter found in Xenopus laevis kidney and heart

The SLC13 gene family includes sodium-coupled transporters for citric acid cycle intermediates and sulfate. The present study describes the sequence and functional characterization of a SLC13 family member from Xenopus laevis, the high-affinity Na⁺/dicarboxylate cotransporter xNaDC-3. The cDNA sequence of xNaDC-3 codes for a protein of 602 amino acids that is 70% identical to the sequences of mammalian NaDC-3 orthologs. The message for xNaDC-3 is found in the kidney, liver, intestine, and heart. The xNaDC-3 has a high affinity for substrate, including a K_m for succinate of 4 µM, and it is inhibited by the NaDC-3 test substrates 2,3-dimethylsuccinate and adipate. The transport of succinate by xNaDC-3 is dependent on sodium, with sigmoidal activation kinetics, and lithium can partially substitute for sodium. As with other members of the family, xNaDC-3 is electrogenic and exhibits inward substrate-dependent currents in the presence of sodium. However, other electrophysiological properties of xNaDC-3 are unique and involve large leak currents, possibly mediated by anions, that are activated by binding of sodium or lithium to a single site. SLC13 gene family; citric acid cycle intermediate; lithium     

Ontogeny and distribution of Hygophum benoiti(Pisces, Myctophidae) of the North Western Mediterranean

Two species of the lanternfish genus Hygophum, H.benoiti andH.hygomii, are present in the Mediterranean. Differentiationof the larvae from these two species has been problematic. Anattempt to identify such larvae in the plankton samples of theNorth Western Mediterranean led to a broader study that includedthe examination of a large number of plankton samples collectedin the region since 1976. The large number of Hygophum larvaeobtained during July 1992 in the North Western Mediterranean(that proved to be H.benoiti), together with collections oflarvae from different geographic areas (especially H.hygomiifrom the Southwest Indian Ocean), allowed a detailed morphometriccomparison of the larvae of H.benoiti and H.hygomii. Developmentalstages of H.benoiti from yolk sac to post-flexion larvae aredescribed. Information on the temporal occurrence of H.benoitiin the plankton, as well as the spatial distribution of thisspecies during the survey of peak abundance (June/July 1992)in the North Western Mediterranean, is presented.     

Two new species belonging to the genus Anisomysis (Crustacea, Mysidacea) and a new record of Anisomysis bipartoculata from the Indian Ocean

This paper deals with three species of the genus Anisomysiscollected from the South West coast of Australia of which A.gracilis and A. robustispina are new to science and A. bipanocularais reported for the first time from the Indian Ocean.     

Comparative mapping of HKT genes in wheat, barley, and rice, key determinants of Na+ transport, and salt tolerance

Salt tolerance of plants depends on HKT transporters (High-affinityK⁺ Transporter), which mediate Na⁺-specific transport or Na⁺-K⁺co-transport. Gene sequences closely related to rice HKT geneswere isolated from hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)or barley (Hordeum vulgare) for genomic DNA southern hybridizationanalysis. HKT gene sequences were mapped on chromosomal armsof wheat and barley using wheat chromosome substitution linesand barley–wheat chromosome addition lines. In addition,HKT gene members in the wild diploid wheat ancestors, T. monococcum(A^m genome), T. urartu (A^u genome), and Ae. tauschii (D^t genome)were investigated. Variation in copy number for individual HKTgene members was observed between the barley, wheat, and ricegenomes, and between the different wheat genomes. HKT2;1/2-like,HKT2;3/4-like, HKT1;1/2-like, HKT1;3-like, HKT1;4-like, andHKT1;5-like genes were mapped to the wheat–barley chromosomegroups 7, 7, 2, 6, 2, and 4, respectively. Chromosomal regionscontaining HKT genes were syntenic between wheat and rice exceptfor the chromosome regions containing the HKT1;5-like gene.Potential roles of HKT genes in Na⁺ transport in rice, wheat,and barley are discussed. Determination of the chromosome locationsof HKT genes provides a framework for future physiological andgenetic studies investigating the relationships between HKTgenes and salt tolerance in wheat and barley. Key words: Barley, comparative mapping, HKT, rice, salt tolerance, sodium transport, wheat     

VE-cadherin: adhesion at arm's length

VE-cadherin was first identified in the early 1990s and quickly emerged as an important endothelial cell adhesion molecule. The past decade of research has revealed key roles for VE-cadherin in vascular permeability and in the morphogenic events associated with vascular remodeling. The details of how VE-cadherin functions in adhesion became apparent with structure-function analysis of the cadherin extracellular domain and with the identification of the catenins, a series of cytoplasmic proteins that bind to the cadherin tail and mediate interactions between cadherins and the cytoskeleton. Whereas early work focused on the armadillo family proteins -catenin and plakoglobin, more recent investigations have identified p120-catenin (p120^ctn) and a related group of armadillo family members as key binding partners for the cadherin tail. Furthermore, a series of new studies indicate a key role for p120^ctn in regulating cadherin membrane trafficking in mammalian cells. These recent studies place p120^ctn at the hub of a cadherin-catenin regulatory mechanism that controls cadherin plasma membrane levels in cells of both epithelial and endothelial origin. endothelial cell; cytoskeleton; -catenin; p120^ctn; cell adhesion; vascular endothelial cadherin     

Dynamics of microplankton communities at the ice-edge zone of the Lazarev Sea during a summer drogue study

Microzooplankton grazing and community structure were investigatedin the austral summer of 1995 during a Southern Ocean Drogueand Ocean Flux Study (SODOFS) at the ice-edge zone of the LazarevSea. Grazing was estimated at the surface chlorophyll maximum(5–10 m) by employing the sequential dilution technique.Chlorophyll a concentrations were dominated by chainformingmicrophytoplankton (>20 µm) of the genera Chaetocerosand Nitzschia. Microzooplankton were numerically dominated byaloricate ciliates and dinoflagellates (Protoperidinium sp.,Amphisoleta sp. and Gymnodinium sp.). Instantaneous growth ratesof nanophytoplankton (<20 µm) varied between 0.019and 0.080 day^–1, equivalent to between 0.03 and 0.12 chlorophylldoublings day^–1. Instantaneous grazing rates of microzooplanktonon nanophytoplankton varied from 0.012 to 0.052 day^–1.This corresponds to a nanophytoplankton daily loss of between1.3 and 7.0% (mean = 3.76%) of the initial standing stock, andbetween 45 and 97% (mean = 70.37%) of the daily potential production.Growth rates of microphytoplankton (>20 µm) were lower,varying between 0.011 and 0.070 day^–1, equivalent to 0.015–0.097chlorophyll doublings day^–1. At only three of the 10 stationsdid grazing by microzooplankton result in a decrease in microphytoplanktonconcentration. At these stations instantaneous grazing ratesof microzooplankton on microphytoplankton ranged between 0.009and 0.015 day^–1, equivalent to a daily loss of <1.56%(mean = 1.11%) of initial standing stock and <40% (mean =28.55%) of the potential production. Time series grazing experimentsconducted at 6 h intervals did not show any diel patterns ofgrazing by microzooplankton. Our data show that microzooplanktongrazing at the ice edge were not sufficient to prevent chlorophylla accumulation in regions dominated by rnicrophytoplankton.Here, the major biological routes for the uptake of carbon thereforeappear to be grazing by metazoans or the sedimentation of phytoplanktoncells. Under these conditions, the biological pump will be relativelyefficient in the drawdown of atmospheric CO₂.     

Glutamate 59 is critical for transport function of the amino acid cotransporter KAAT1

KAAT1 is a neutral amino acid transporter activated by K⁺ or by Na⁺ (9). The protein shows significant homology with members of the Na⁺/Cl^–-dependent neurotransmitter transporter super family. E59G KAAT1, expressed in Xenopus oocytes, exhibited a reduced leucine uptake [20–30% of wild-type (WT)], and kinetic analysis indicated that the loss of activity was due to reduction of V_max and apparent affinity for substrates. Electrophysiological analysis revealed that E59G KAAT1 has presteady-state and uncoupled currents larger than WT but no leucine-induced currents. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis showed the requirement of a negative charge in position 59 of KAAT1. The analysis of permeant and impermeant methanethiosulfonate reagent effects confirmed the intracellular localization of glutamate 59. Because the 2-aminoethyl methanethiosulfonate hydrobromid inhibition was not prevented by the presence of Na⁺ or leucine, we concluded that E59 is not directly involved in the binding of substrates. N-ethylmaleimide inhibition was qualitatively and quantitatively different in the two transporters, WT and E59G KAAT1, having the same cysteine residues. This indicates an altered accessibility of native cysteine residues due to a modified spatial organization of E59G KAAT1. The arginine modifier phenylglyoxal effect supports this hypothesis: not only cysteine but also arginine residues become more accessible to the modifying reagents in the mutant E59G. In conclusion, the results presented indicate that glutamate 59 plays a critical role in the three-dimensional organization of KAAT1. amino acid transport; structure/function; amino acid modifiers; Manduca sexta     

Highly Repetitive Tandem Arrays of a Short 32 bp Unit in the Pharbitis nil Genome: the RsaI Family

A highly repetitive DNA sequence of Pharbitis nil, designatedthe RsaI family, was cloned, sequenced and analyzed with respectto its genomic organization. The RsaI family is arranged intandem arrays and composed of a 32 bp repeat unit, which isthe shortest unit thus far reported for plant repetitive sequences.The RsaI family represents 3% of the total genomic DNA and thecopy number of the 32 bp unit is estimated to be about 1 ? 10⁶per haploid genome. We suggest the existence of a higher orderrepeat unit, which may be composed of hundreds of the 32 bpunits and be repeated many times in the genome. (Received May 12, 1988; Accepted July 28, 1988)     

Spatial distribution of transparent exopolymer particles in the Bransfield Strait, Antarctica

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are recognized to playan important role in the flux of exported carbon to the deepocean. However, there is little information on how TEP standingstocks are affected by different hydrographic conditions andother relevant ecological factors in situ. This lack of knowledgeis particularly serious for the Southern Ocean. During Australsummer 1999, the Strait of Bransfield presented high mesoscalevariability. Two fronts were present, the Bransfield hydrographicfront and a slope front along the South Shetland Islands andseveral mesoscale anticyclonic eddies and/or frontal meanders.The spatial distributions of biological properties were largelyaffected by this complex hydrography. Chlorophyll a (Chl a)(0.05–4.81 µg L^–1), TEP (from undetectableto 346 µg GXeq L^–1) and heterotrophic bacteria (HB)(1.7–9.4 x 10⁵ cells mL^–1) were positively correlateddespite the wide hydrographic heterogeneity of the BransfieldStrait. Higher abundances of autotrophic biomass, and correspondlyhigher TEP and heterotrophic bacteria (HB), were found in themore stratified waters. TEP spatial distribution was mostlyrelated to the abundance of autotrophic biomass although localhigh TEP concentrations were not matched by similarly high valuesof Chl a in some areas where diatoms were relatively abundant.     

Distribution of the cyanobacterium Richelia intracellularis as an epiphyte of the diatom Chaetoceros compressus in the western Pacific Ocean

The few available records on the association of the diazotrophheterocystous cyanobacterium Richelia intracellularis epiphyticallywith Chaetoceros compressus are restricted to the Indian andwestern Pacific Oceans, whereas the association of R. intracellularisas an endosymbiont in other diatoms is ubiquitous in warm oceans.From ten cruises in the western Pacific Ocean, the Richelia-Chaetocerosconsortia were exclusively observed in the periphery of thegeographic proliferations of C. compressus, coinciding withthe overlapping area of the populations of asymbiotic C. compressusand R. intracellularis as an endosymbiont in Rhizosolenia clevei.     

Characterization of transport mechanisms and determinants critical for Na+-dependent Pi symport of the PiT family paralogs human PiT1 and PiT2

The general phosphate need in mammalian cells is accommodated by members of the P_i transport (PiT) family (SLC20), which use either Na⁺ or H⁺ to mediate inorganic phosphate (P_i) symport. The mammalian PiT paralogs PiT1 and PiT2 are Na⁺-dependent P_i (NaP_i) transporters and are exploited by a group of retroviruses for cell entry. Human PiT1 and PiT2 were characterized by expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes with ³²P_i as a traceable P_i source. For PiT1, the Michaelis-Menten constant for P_i was determined as 322.5 ± 124.5 µM. PiT2 was analyzed for the first time and showed positive cooperativity in P_i uptake with a half-maximal activity constant for P_i of 163.5 ± 39.8 µM. PiT1- and PiT2-mediated Na⁺-dependent P_i uptake functions were not significantly affected by acidic and alkaline pH and displayed similar Na⁺ dependency patterns. However, only PiT2 was capable of Na⁺-independent P_i transport at acidic pH. Study of the impact of divalent cations Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ revealed that Ca²⁺ was important, but not critical, for NaP_i transport function of PiT proteins. To gain insight into the NaP_i cotransport function, we analyzed PiT2 and a PiT2 P_i transport knockout mutant using ²²Na⁺ as a traceable Na⁺ source. Na⁺ was transported by PiT2 even without P_i in the uptake medium and also when P_i transport function was knocked out. This is the first time decoupling of P_i from Na⁺ transport has been demonstrated for a PiT family member. Moreover, the results imply that putative transmembrane amino acids E⁵⁵ and E⁵⁷⁵ are responsible for linking P_i import to Na⁺ transport in PiT2. inorganic phosphate transport; retroviral receptor; SLC20     

COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTIONS IN LAMELLAR FRAGMENTS OF VARIOUS ALGAE AND SPINACH

The activity of various electron carriers, including DPIP, spinachplastocyanin, mammalian cytochrome c, and Anabaena cytochrome553, as donor in the reaction induced by the photochemical systemI was examined with lamellar fragments of various algae andspinach. Reduced DPIP was an effective electron donor irrespective ofthe organisms, when it was supplied at a high concentration(10^–3 M). Spinach plastocyanin was effective in the reactionswith the lamellae of green algae, Euglena, diatom Phaeodactyrumand red algae Porphyra yezoensis and Porphyra sp. Yamamoto II,whereas it was inactive in the lamellae of blue-green algae.Horse-heart cytochrome c and Anabaena cytochrome 553 were activein the reaction with the lamellae of bluegreen algae. The formercytochrome was also active in the reactions in Porphyridiumand Cyanidium. The cytochromes were less active in the reactionsin which spinach plastocyanin acted as effective electron donor. The data were interpreted as that the photochemical system Iin bluegreen algae differs from that of other photosyntheticorganisms with respect to the properties of the site of theelectron-input. ¹ Present address: Nomura Research Institute for Technologyand Economics, Kamakura, Kanagawa. ² Present address: Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo,Nakano, Tokyo.