Visual pigment absorbance and spectral sensitivity of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mysis relicta</Emphasis> species group (Crustacea,Mysida) in different light environments

Visual-pigment absorbance spectra and eye spectral sensitivities were examined in eight populations of opossum shrimp from different light environments. Four Finnish populations, two from the Baltic Sea and two from freshwater lakes, represent Mysis relicta, sensu stricto. The sibling species M. salemaai and M. diluviana are represented by, respectively, two Baltic Sea populations and two populations from freshwater lakes in Idaho, USA. In M. relicta, the visual pigments of the two lake populations were similar (λ_max=554.3±0.8 nm and 556.4±0.4 nm), but significantly red-shifted compared with the sea populations (at 529 and 535 nm) and with M. salemaai (at 521 and 525 nm). All these pigments had only A2 chromophore and the lake/sea difference indicates adaptive evolution of the opsin. In M. diluviana, λ_max varied in the range 505–529 nm and the shapes of spectra suggested varying A1/A2 chromophore proportions, with pure A1 in the 505 nm animals. Eye sensitivity spectra were flatter and peaked at longer wavelengths than the relevant visual-pigment templates, but declined with the same slope beyond ca. 700 nm. The deviations from visual-pigment spectra can be explained by ocular light filters based on three types of identified screening pigments.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of a novel endoglucanase (CMCase) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gymnoascella </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">citrina</Emphasis> produced under solid-state condition

Gymnoascella citrina produced two isoforms of endoglucanases (CMCase-I and -capital I, Ukrainiancapital I, Ukrainian) under solid-state condition. Purified CMCase-I was novel because it was apparently holoenzyme in nature. The enzyme was monomeric as its native and subunit mass were almost the same, i.e., 43 and 42 kDa, respectively. Ea for carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrolysis was 36.2 kJ mol(-1). The enzyme was stable over a pH range of 3.5-6.5, while temperature optimum was 55 degrees C. Vmax, Km and k (cat )for CMC hydrolysis were 39 U mg(-1) protein, 6.25 mg CMC mL(-1) and 27.5 s(-1), respectively. The pKa1 and pKa2 of ionizable groups of active site were 2.8 and 7.4, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters for CMC hydrolysis were as follows: DeltaH*=33.5 kJ mol(-1), DeltaG*=70.42 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS*=-114.37 J mol(-1) K(-1). The removal of metals resulted into complete loss of enzymatic activity and was completely recovered in the presence of 1 mM Mn2+, whereas inhibition initiated at 5 mM. The other metals like Ca2+, Zn2+ and K1+ showed no inhibition up to 7 mM, Co2+ completely inhibited the activity, while Mg2+ could not recover the initial activity up to 7 mM. So we are reporting for the first time, kinetics and thermodynamics of CMCase-Iota from G. citrina.     

Shortwave light filtration effect on spectral sensitivity of two shrimp populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. relicta</Emphasis> (Mysida)

Microspectrophotometric measurements of screening granules in Mysis relicta eyes showed that most of the granules have xanthommatin spectra (7n_max 455 nm) with selective absorption of blue light. We calculated spectral sensitivity of M.relicta eyes using screening granules absorption spectra and visual pigment absorption spectra. According to our computations the calculated spectral sensitivity curve appears to be in a good correspondence with the real spectral sensitivity.     

Morphological Differentiation Between Geographically Separated Populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neomysis integer</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mesopodopsis slabberi</Emphasis> (Crustacea,Mysida)

Morphological variation was examined in Neomysis integer and Mesopodopsis slabberi, two abundant, low dispersal mysid species (Crustacea, Mysida) along the European coasts. Both species dominate the hyperbenthic communities in the northeast Atlantic, and M. slabberi is also widely distributed in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Three populations of these species were sampled throughout their distribution range; samples of N. integer were collected in the northeast Atlantic Eems-Dollard, Gironde and Guadalquivir estuaries; in the case of M. slabberi, mysids were sampled in two northeast Atlantic estuaries (Eems-Dollard and Guadalquivir) and one Mediterranean site (Ebro Delta). A total of 12 morphometric and 2 meristic characters were measured from 30–64 mysids per sample. Multivariate analysis showed clear morphometric differences between populations of both species. The morphological differentiation within M. slabberi was highly concordant with the available genetic data from mitochondrial loci, pointing to a large divergence between the Atlantic and Mediterranean populations. However, due to some overlap of individuals between the different populations, the present morphometric analysis does not suffice to assign the different populations to a separate (sub)species status. In the case of N. integer, the morphometric patterns showed a divergence of the Gironde population. Differentiation of populations within this mysid, as in M. slabberi, were mainly related to eye and telson morphology. Potential interactions of the mysid morphology and environmental conditions are discussed.     

Digestive responses of two omnivorous rodents (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Peromyscus maniculatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. alstoni</Emphasis>) feeding on epigeous fungus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Russula occidentalis</Emphasis>)

The sporocarps of hypogeous and epigeous fungi are important dietary items for forest dwelling rodents in temperate and tropical forests throughout the world. However, results of some pioneering works have demonstrated that fungi cannot be considered as nutritionally high-quality food items for some mycophagous small rodents. According to these studies, when mycophagous rodents feed on fungus, they showed a minimal digestibility, but whether this applies to most rodent species that include fungi in their diets is unknown. In this study, we experimentally evaluated body mass changes and feed preferences in captive deer (Peromyscus maniculatus) and volcano (P. alstoni) mice when fed on epigeous fungus (Russula occidentalis). In experiment 1, the animals were fed with fungus as the only feedstuff in comparison to regular rodent chow and oat. In experiment 2, the animals were fed with fungus in a free-choice arrangement together with equal amounts of rodent chow and oat. Both species lost ∼15% of their body mass within 4 days when fed on fungus alone, but gained 5–10% body mass during the same time period when ingesting oat and rodent chow, respectively, as the only feedstuff. However, in contrast, in the free-choice arrangement with all three feedstuffs, both species gained 20–30% body mass, and showed the highest feed preference for fungus followed by oat and rodent chow. In addition, apparent digestibility of energy and nitrogen were analyzed in both rodent species, which were 50–60% for fungus, whereas approximately 90–94% for rodent chow and oat. According to our results, animals need to supplement their diets with alternative high-quality food items in order to maintain and increase their body mass, suggesting that epigeous fungi are only of moderate nutritional value for small rodents. Futures studies should focus on exploring the importance of a mixture of fungal species in the diet of small mycophagous rodents.     

An evaluation of the diet of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mysis relicta</Emphasis> using gut contents and fatty acid profiles in lakes with and without the invader <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bythotrephes longimanus</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Onychopoda,Cercopagidae</Emphasis>)

Diets of Mysis relicta from four lakes in central Ontario that had been invaded by Bythotrephes longimanus and three lakes that had not been invaded were investigated using gut content analysis and fatty acid (FA) composition. Gut content analysis of M. relicta revealed a high incidence of cannibalism in all lakes, and consumption of B. longimanus and native zooplanktivorous midges in the genus Chaoborus in lakes where these were present. Cladocera other than B. longimanus were present in the guts of all M. relicta examined except those from Bernard Lake, the lake with the most B. longimanus. In that lake, B. longimanus was the most frequent diet item. Copepod remains were found in 60–100% of M. relicta guts with the lowest frequency occurring in Bernard Lake. Fatty acids (FA) that contributed strongly to the variation in FA composition in M. relicta, as revealed by a principal component analysis, were C16:0 (palmitic acid), C16:1n7 (palmitoleic acid), C18:1n9c (oleic acid), C20:4n6 (arachidonic acid), C20:5n3 (eicosapentaenoic acid), and C22:6n3 (docosahexaenoic acid). Significant differences in FA amount and composition of M. relicta were found between invaded and non-invaded lakes, and among lakes within these groups. Generally, M. relicta in non-invaded lakes had higher concentrations of C16:0, C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c (linoleic acid), C18:3n3 (α-linolenic acid) and C20:4n6, while M. relicta in invaded lakes had higher concentrations of C22:6n3. Two of the non-invaded lakes had lower water transparency, as measured by Secchi depth, which may be the reason why mysids and abundant populations of Chaoborus spp. could be found in the water column during the day. However, differences in FA profiles and gut contents of M. relicta between invaded and non-invaded lakes are consistent with competition for Cladocera in the presence of the invader rather than pre-existing differences among lakes. We conclude that the diet of M. relicta is affected by the invasion of B. longimanus.     

New combinations and typifications in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bistorta</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Persicaria</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygonum,</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae)

New combinations are proposed in anticipation of the Polygonaceae treatment in the forthcoming volume of Intermountain Flora: Polygonum kelloggii var. esotericum, P. kelloggii var. watsonii , Rumex densiflorus var. pycnanthus , R. salicifolius var. utahensis, and R. occidentalis var. tomentellus. Typifications are proposed to facilitate ongoing studies in Polygonaceae and to maintain current usage.     

Isolation and characterization of melanin pigment from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus cystidiosus</Emphasis> (telomorph of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Antromycopsis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">macrocarpa</Emphasis>)

Melanins are enigmatic pigments that are produced by a wide variety of microorganisms including several species of bacteria and fungi. For more than 40 years, fungi have been known to produce pigments called melanins. Melanin pigment production by mushrooms was not intensively studied. The present study was carried out on isolation and characterization of melanin from an edible mushroom Pleurotus cystidiosus var. formosensis. The mushroom produced dark mucous mass of hyaline arthrospores on mycelium. The coremia exclusively produced dikaryotic arthrospores with the remnant of a clamp connection. Continuous cell extension and division in the coremium stipe supplied cells for arthroconidiation at the coremium apex, which is surrounded by a liquid droplet (coremioliquid). The black coloured coremea (conidia) were produced by Antromycopsis macrocarpa (anamorph of P. cystidiosus) when cultured on potato dextrose agar medium. The agar plate was incubated at continuous light illumination for high amount of pigment (coremea) production. The slimy layer of the coremea was extracted and partially purified by alkaline and acid treatment. The black pigment was confirmed as melanin based on UV, IR and EPR spectra apart from chemical analysis. This is the first report on characterization of melanin obtained from Pleurotus cystidiosus var. formosensis.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>1<Emphasis Type="Italic">/copia</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>3<Emphasis Type="Italic">/gypsy</Emphasis>-like DNA sequences in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus </Emphasis>species

Two repeated DNA sequences isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Helianthus annuus, p HaS13 and p HaS211, were shown to represent portions of the int gene of a Ty3 /gypsy retroelement and of the RNase-Hgene of a Ty1 /copia retroelement, respectively. Southern blotting patterns obtained by hybridizing the two probes to BglII- or DraI-digested genomic DNA from different Helianthus species showed p HaS13 and p HaS211 were parts of dispersed repeats at least 8 and 7 kb in length, respectively, that were conserved in all species studied. Comparable hybridization patterns were obtained in all species with p HaS13. By contrast, the patterns obtained by hybridizing p HaS211 clearly differentiated annual species from perennials. The frequencies of p HaS13- and p HaS211-related sequences in different species were 4.3x10(4)-1.3x10(5) copies and 9.9x10(2)-8.1x10(3) copies per picogram of DNA, respectively. The frequency of p HaS13-related sequences varied widely within annual species, while no significant difference was observed among perennial species. Conversely, the frequency variation of p HaS211-related sequences was as large within annual species as within perennials. Sequences of both families were found to be dispersed along the length of all chromosomes in all species studied. However, Ty3 /gypsy-like sequences were localized preferentially at the centromeric regions, whereas Ty1/ copia-like sequences were less represented or absent around the centromeres and plentiful at the chromosome ends. These findings suggest that the two sequence families played a role in Helianthusgenome evolution and species divergence, evolved independently in the same genomic backgrounds and in annual or perennial species, and acquired different possible functions in the host genomes.     

Floral development and systematic position of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arillastrum</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allosyncarpia</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stockwellia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptopsis</Emphasis> (Myrtaceae)

We have investigated the floral ontogeny of Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis (of the eucalypt group, Myrtaceae) using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Several critical characters for establishing relationships between these genera and to the eucalypts have been determined. The absence of compound petaline primordia in Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis excludes these taxa from the eucalypt clade. Post-anthesis circumscissile abscission of the hypanthium above the ovary in Stockwellia, Eucalyptopsis and Allosyncarpia is evidence that these three taxa form a monophyletic group; undifferentiated perianth parts and elongated fusiform buds are characters that unite Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis as sister taxa. No floral characters clearly associate Arillastrum with either the eucalypt clade or the clade of Stockwellia, Eucalyptopsis and Allosyncarpia.We gratefully acknowledge Clyde Dunlop and Bob Harwood (Northern Territory Herbarium) for collecting specimens of Allosyncarpia, and Bruce Gray (Atherton) for collecting specimens of Stockwellia. The Australian National Herbarium (CANB) kindly lent herbarium specimens of Eucalyptopsis for examination. This research was supported by a University of Melbourne Research Development Grant to Andrew Drinnan.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quinua</Emphasis> and Relatives (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis> sect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis> subsect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Celluloid</Emphasis>)

Traditionally viewed as an Andean grain crop,Chenopodium quinoa Willd. includes domesticated populations that are not Andean, and Andean populations that are not domesticated. Comparative analysis of leaf morphology and allozyme frequencies have demonstrated that Andean populations, both domesticated(quinua) and free-living(ajara), represent an exceptionally homogeneous unit that is well differentiated from allied domesticates of coastal Chile(quingua) and freeliving populations of the Argentine lowlands(C. hircinum). This pattern of relationships indicates that Andean populations represent a monophyletic crop/weed system that has possibly developed through cyclic differentiation (natural vs. human selection) and introgressive hybridization. Relative levels of variation suggest that this complex originated in the southern Andes, possibly from wild types allied withC. hircinum, with subsequent dispersal north to Colombia and south to the Chilean coast. Coastal populations were apparently isolated from post-dispersal differentiation and homogenization that occurred in the Andes. Other data point toward a center of origin in the northern Andes with secondary centers of genetic diversity subsequently developing in the southern Andes and the plains of Argentina. Comparative linkage of South American taxa, all tetraploid, with North American tetraploids of the subsection will eventually clarify this problem. While the possibility of a direct phyletic connection betweenC. quinoa and the Mexican domesticate(C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae,) cannot be excluded, available evidence indicates that the latter represents an autonomous lineage that is associated with the basal tetraploid, C. b. subsp.berlandieri, through var.sinuatum, whereas South American taxa show possible affinities to either var. zschackei or var.berlandieri. An extinct domesticate of eastern North America,C. b. subsp.jonesianum, represents either another instance of independent domestication, possibly from subsp. b. var.zschackei, or a northeastern outlier of subsp.nuttalliae.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of callus cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crataegus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aronia</Emphasis>

A genetic transformation system has been developed for callus cells of Crataegus aronia using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Callus culture was established from internodal stem segments incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5 mg l⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA). In order to optimize the callus culture system with respect to callus growth and coloration, different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators were tested. Results indicated that the best average fresh weight of red colored callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.5 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kin) (callus maintenance medium). Callus cells were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium harboring the binary plasmid pCAMBIA1302 carrying the mgfp5 and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) genes conferring green fluorescent protein (GFP) activity and hygromycin resistance, respectively. Putative transgenic calli were obtained 4 weeks after incubation of the co-cultivated explants onto maintenance medium supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the transgenes in transformed callus. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in Crataegus aronia.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis> species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccanthera</Emphasis> subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis>

A revision of Penstemon sect. Saccanthera subsect. Serrulati includes a new species (P. salmonensis), a new variety (P. triphyllus var. infernalis), and the elevation of a subspecies to species (P. curtiflorus), bringing the total number of species to eight, which are keyed and described, complete with nomenclature and type citations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mellonella</Emphasis> are Resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">murina</Emphasis> Infection

Studying Pneumocystis has proven to be a challenge from the perspective of propagating a significant amount of the pathogen in a facile manner. The study of several fungal pathogens has been aided by the use of invertebrate model hosts. Our efforts to infect the invertebrate larvae Galleria mellonella with Pneumocystis proved futile since P. murina neither caused disease nor was able to proliferate within G. mellonella. It did, however, show that the pathogen could be rapidly cleared from the host.     

Sociality in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euglossa</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Euglossa</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">viridissima</Emphasis> Friese (Hymenoptera,Apidae, Euglossini)

Euglossa viridissima is an orchid bee that forms both solitary and multiple female nests, making it a suitable species for the study of factors leading to diverse degrees of sociality in Euglossines. We conducted observations in eight reused nests (where a first generation of bees had been produced) kept in artificial boxes from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Five nests were reused (reactivated) by a single female (SFN), two nests reused by a mother and one daughter (MFN1) and one nest reused by the mother and two daughters (MFN2). No single nest was reactivated by unrelated females. The number of foraging trips, their duration and the duration of cell provisioning was not different between SFN and MFN. The overall production of cells per female was not different either between both types of nest. However, in MFN although all females did lay eggs, there was a reproductive skew in favor of the mother (95 and 45% of the brood produced in MFN1 and MFN2 respectively). She showed reproductive control of her daughters through oophagy and displaying threatening behavior when the daughters tried to open a cell where she had laid an egg. Brood losses to parasites (Anthrax sp. (Bom-byliidae) and Hoplostelis bivittata (Megachilidae)) were only found in SFN which possibly reflects and advantage of MFN in this respect. Our results coupled with other studies in Euglossa, reveal that a wide range of social behaviors occur in this genus, from solitary and communal to primitive reproductive division of labor. Multiple factors involving different levels of pressure imposed by food availability and parasites may favor such a diverse range of nesting behaviors. Interestingly, female associations in E. viridissima seem a result of kin selection that is enforced by coercion from mother females on their daughters. More studies are needed to shed light upon the social organization of Euglossa and other Euglossines and on their phylogenetic relationships in order to trace the origins of eusociality in Apidae. Received 12 February 2008; revised 25 June 2008; accepted 17 July 2008.     

Pedogamy in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neidium</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillariophyceae</Emphasis>)

Single (unpaired) vegetative cells of freshwater pennate diatom Neidium cf. ampliatum differentiated into gametangia and produced a single zygote (auxospore) via a pedogamic process. The gametic nuclei fused after auxospore expansion had begun. The auxospore expanded in parallel to the apical axis of the gametangium.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In silico</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> characterization of the zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">gnrh3</Emphasis> (sGnRH) gene

Background

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is responsible for stimulation of gonadotropic hormone (GtH) in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG). The regulatory mechanisms responsible for brain specificity make the promoter attractive for in silico analysis and reporter gene studies in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Results

We have characterized a zebrafish [Trp⁷, Leu⁸] or salmon (s) GnRH variant, gnrh 3. The gene includes a 1.6 Kb upstream regulatory region and displays the conserved structure of 4 exons and 3 introns, as seen in other species. An in silico defined enhancer at -976 in the zebrafish promoter, containing adjacent binding sites for Oct-1, CREB and Sp1, was predicted in 2 mammalian and 5 teleost GnRH promoters. Reporter gene studies confirmed the importance of this enhancer for cell specific expression in zebrafish. Interestingly the promoter of human GnRH-I, known as mammalian GnRH (mGnRH), was shown capable of driving cell specific reporter gene expression in transgenic zebrafish.

Conclusions

The characterized zebrafish Gnrh3 decapeptide exhibits complete homology to the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) GnRH-III variant. In silico analysis of mammalian and teleost GnRH promoters revealed a conserved enhancer possessing binding sites for Oct-1, CREB and Sp1. Transgenic and transient reporter gene expression in zebrafish larvae, confirmed the importance of the in silico defined zebrafish enhancer at -976. The capability of the human GnRH-I promoter of directing cell specific reporter gene expression in zebrafish supports orthology between GnRH-I and GnRH-III.

     

The tyrosine <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-prenyltransferase SirD catalyzes <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>-prenylations

Recently, the prenyltransferase SirD was found to be responsible for the O-prenylation of tyrosine in the biosynthesis of sirodesmin PL in Leptosphaeria maculans. In this study, the behavior of SirD towards phenylalanine/tyrosine and tryptophan derivatives was investigated. Product formation has been observed with 12 of 19 phenylalanine/tyrosine derivatives. It was shown that the alanine structure attached to the benzene ring and an electron donor, e.g., OH or NH₂, at its para-position are essential for the enzyme activity. Modifications were possible both at the side chain and the benzene ring. Enzyme products from seven phenylalanine/tyrosine derivatives were isolated and characterized by MS and NMR analyses including HSQC and HMBC and proven to be O- or N-prenylated derivatives at position C4 of the benzene rings. K _M values of six selected derivatives were found in the range of 0.10–0.68 mM. Catalytic efficiencies (K _cat/K _M ) were determined in the range of 430–1,110 s⁻¹·M⁻¹ with l-tyrosine as the best substrate. In addition, 7 of 14 tested tryptophan analogs were also accepted by SirD and converted to C7-prenylated derivatives, which was confirmed by comparison with products obtained from enzyme assays using a 7-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase 7-DMATS from Aspergillus fumigatus.     

Isolation and characterization of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix gmelinii </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">ANGUSTIFOLIA</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">LgAN</Emphasis>) gene

ANGUSTIFOLIA (AN), a plant homolog of C-terminal binding protein, controls the polar elongation of leaf cells and the trichome-branching pattern in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the present study, degenerate PCR was used to isolate an ortholog of AN, referred to as LgAN, from larch (Larix gmelinii). The LgAN cDNA is predicted to encode a protein of 646 amino acids that shows striking sequence similarity to AN proteins from other plants. The predicted amino acid sequence has a conserved NAD-dependent 2-hydroxy acid dehydrogenase (D2-HDH) motif and a plant AN-specific LxCxE/D motif at its N-terminus, as well as a plant-specific long C-terminal region. The LgAN gene is a single-copy gene that is expressed in all larch tissues. Expression of the LgAN cDNA rescued the leaf width and trichome-branching pattern defects in the angustifolia-1 (an-1) mutant of Arabidopsis, showing that the LgAN gene has effects complementary to those of AN. These results suggest that the LgAN gene has the same function as the AN gene.