The control of food flow in a society of the ant Myrmica rubra L

The control of prey, thin syrup and water flow, through a society of Myrmica was studied. Larval intake increases if they are deprived of prey, but not if they are deprived of water or sugar. Deprivation causes them to take prey juices from workers and they get more if the workers themselves have also been deprived; this is because such workers over-collect and readily pass on their surplus. Even well-fed larvae will take prey juices from these surfeited workers; they will also take sugary fluids but not water. The head of a larva elicits some food collection by workers even if it is immobile, but the real cause of food flow towards larvae is their ability to absorb and assimilate the prey juices which they can obtain from workers. Starved nurse workers can obtain prey and water from foragers but a reverse flow does not occur; only thin syrup is exchanged freely between workers.     

The Lipomycetaceae,a model family for phylogenetic studies

The Lipomycetaceae (Endomycetales) are known from the generaDipodascopsis, Lipomyces andZygozyma with budding anamorphic states inMyxozyma. The family is easily recognized culturally and physiologically but is phenotypically and ecologically extremely diverse. This natural taxon is phylogenetically distinct from the Saccharomycetaceae, but probably related to the Dipodascaceae. The possible evolution of the lipomycetaceous anamorphs is discussed.     

Glycemia and Immune Responses

The intensity of experimental and clinical immune responses was correlated with the degree of glycemia of the reacting subject. Hyperglycemias resulting from overdosage with sugars, cortisol, adrenaline, or from diabetes inhibit the anaphylactoid reactions; anaphylaxis, and the tuberculin reaction; but potentiate infections. Hypoglycemias resulting from fasting, insulin and adrenalectomy potentiate the anaphylactoid reactions, anaphylaxis, and the tuberculin reaction; but inhibit infections. The hypothesis is proposed that hyperglycemia inhibits certain antigen-antibody combinations; this results in an inhibition of hypersensitivity, but an aggravation of infection.     

High frequency sea‐level fluctuations in the Pillara Limestone,Guppy Hills,Lennard Shelf,Northwestern Australia

The Frasnian back‐reef Pillara Limestone from Guppy Hills, Lennard Shelf, northwestern Australia consists of 267 m of biostromal limestone. Seven facies are described and these form seventy‐six interpreted shallowing‐upward cycles, with an average thickness of 3.47 metres. These cycles differ only slightly from cycles described from Menyous Gap, but more markedly from those described from Windjana Gorge. The duration of the Guppy Hills cycles is estimated to be between 26 and 33 ka. This estimate is not well constrained, but falls in the band for estimated Milankovitch frequencies, and is probably influenced by precession. The Menyous Gap and Windjana Gorge cycle durations also fall into Milankovitch frequencies, but are thought to be influenced by obliquity. A Fischer plot for the Guppy Hills cycles, shows a negative shift, suggesting an overall shallowing trend. However, there is evidence of a rapid deepening implying contemporaneous tectonic activity. Correlation between this plot and one of a similar age from the Frasnian of Canada suggests part of the plot may be recording a third‐order eustatic fluctuation.     

Mecillinam: a new antibiotic for enteric fever.

Mecillinam is a new antibiotic related to the penicillins but more active than ampicillin against salmonellae, including Salmonella typhi. Mecillinam must be administered parenterally, but the ester, pivmecillinam, is absorbed from the gut. Eight patients suffering from typhoid fever and one suffering from paratyphoid fever were treated with the antibiotic, and seven responded satisfactorily. One patient could not tolerate pivmecillinam because of vomiting but there were no other adverse reactions. Serum and bile levels of mecillinam were many times the minimum inhibitory concentrations for most salmonellae. The antibiotic is a promising addition to the agents available for treating typhoid.     

Effects of differences in mineralization on the mechanical properties of bone

There is a considerable variation in the mineralization of bone; normal, non-pathological compact bone has ash masses ranging from 45 to 85% by mass. This range of mineralization results in an even greater range of mechanical properties. The Young modulus of elasticity can range from 4 to 32 GPa, bending strength from 50 to 300 MPa, and the work of fracture from 200 to 7000 Jm-2. It is not possible for any one type of bone to have high values for all three properties. Very high values of mineralization produce high values of Young modulus but low values of work of fracture (which is a measure of fracture toughness). Rather low values of mineralization are associated with high values of work of fracture but low values of Young modulus and intermediate values of bending strength. The reason for the high value for the Young modulus associated with high mineralization is intuitively obvious, but has not yet been rigorously modelled. The low fracture toughness associated with high mineralization may be caused by the failure of various crack-stopping mechanisms that can act when the mineral crystals in bone have not coalesced, but which become ineffective when the volume fraction of mineral becomes too high. The adoption of different degrees of mineralization by different bones, leading to different sets of mechanical properties, is shown to be adaptive in most cases studied, but some puzzles still remain.     

Carboxyl-terminal processing of the D1 protein and photoactivation of water-splitting in photosystem II. Partial purification and characterization of the processing enzyme from Scenedesmus obliquus and Pisum sativum.

The D1 polypeptide of photosystem II (PSII) is synthesized as a precursor that is processed by cleavage at the carboxyl terminus during assembly of the active PSII complex. A mutant of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus, LF-1, inactive in water-splitting, lacks the D1 processing activity but assembles otherwise normal PSII complexes containing the precursor D1 molecule. We have isolated and partially purified a soluble protease from sonicated thylakoids of both wild-type S. obliquus and Pisum sativum which will process the precursor D1 molecule in PSII-enriched membranes from the LF-1 mutant to the mature size. After processing (but not before), photoactivation of these PSII membranes in the presence of manganese restores water-splitting to levels seen after photoactivation of PSII membranes from dark-grown, wild-type, cells. The protease is unable to process D1 in intact thylakoids from the LF-1 mutant but processes D1 if present during sonication of the thylakoids, indicating that processing of the carboxyl-terminal extension of D1 occurs in the lumen of the thylakoid. The processing protease from both S. obliquus and P. sativum is a single subunit enzyme of native molecular mass 33-35 kDa. Processing rate is optimal at pH 6.5. Processing in vitro is evident within 5 min and is markedly inhibited by millimolar concentrations of divalent cations (Cu, Zn greater than Mn greater than Ca, Mg) but not by any known inhibitors of the major classes of proteases. The protease is inactive against the precursors of other thylakoidal proteins and is thus distinct from the thylakoidal amino-terminal processing enzyme involved in the removal of transit peptides from cytoplasmically-synthesised proteins imported into the thylakoid lumen.     

Morphology and Development of Bovine Ephemeral Fever Virus

The development of the virus of bovine ephemeral fever in mouse brain has been studied by electron microscopy. The virus particles are bullet-shaped, 70 by 145 nm, and slightly tapered toward the rounded end. The outer envelope is closely apposed to an electron-dense shell, about 12 nm thick, but no other internal structure is visible. The virus strains studied bud from the marginal membranes of neurones, but intracytoplasmic development, possibly aberrant, was also observed with one strain. Ephemeral fever virus is thus obviously a rhabdovirus, with points of resemblance to vesicular stomatitis, Flanders-Hart Park, and Kern Canyon viruses on the one hand, and to rabies virus on the other, but is structurally distinct from any of these.     

Expression of the 22 nucleotide let‐7 heterochronic RNA throughout the Metazoa: a role in life history evolution?

The 22 nucleotide let-7 small temporal RNA has been found consistently in samples from diverse bilateria but not from sponge or cnidarians. Here we further examine the phylogenetic distribution of this regulatory RNA by sampling representatives of diverse metazoan lineages. The 22 nucleotide let-7 RNA is detectable in triclad and polyclad platyhelminths, nemertean, and chaetognath but not ctenophore or acoel metazoans. These results support recent arguments that acoels are distinct from other acoelomate platyhelminths. We argue that let-7 is not a bilaterian or triploblast synapomorphy but instead evolved later in metazoan evolution, perhaps in association with complex life history traits.     

The Jungle Cat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Felis chaus</Emphasis> in Indochina: a threatened population of a widespread and adaptable species

The Jungle Cat Felis chaus is widespread in India and neighbouring countries but is known by only one historical specimen from Cambodia, Laos or Vietnam (Indochina), widely published as from Vietnam, but in fact from Cambodia. All but two of the recent Indochinese records come from extensive natural lowland habitat dominated by deciduous dipterocarp forest in northeast Cambodia. The species probably occurred more widely in Indochina, largely through additional use of secondary habitats, where hunting pressure is now very heavy. Suggestions of decline in Indochina are corroborated by more conclusive evidence from Thailand. In Indochina, all other small and medium-sized cats are recorded much more frequently than Jungle Cat: closed evergreen forest supports source populations of them, but there is no evidence that Jungle Cat uses extensively such forest. The open forests of northern and eastern Cambodia are highly significant for conserving threatened biodiversity, notably large waterbirds, vultures and ungulates, groups where species formerly widespread across Indochina have contracted in range and declined steeply. These taxa were better collected than small cats and it seems plausible that Jungle Cat showed a similar change. Jungle Cat conservation in Indochina needs extensive habitat retention with intensive anti-poaching activities, because suitable habitat is easily accessible to hunters. The habitat adaptability shown elsewhere by Jungle Cat could allow a much healthier regional conservation status if hunting (including trapping) can be greatly reduced in scrub and agricultural habitats, but changing culturally ingrained hunting practices will take a long time.     

Purification and characterization of epidermis-origin hemolymph protein in Galleria mellonella

Epidermis-origin hemolymph protein (EOHP) was identified and purified from the last instar larval hemolymph of Galleria mellonella by anion exchange chromatography, chromatofocusing chromatography, and Sephadex G-100. The EOHP has a native molecular mass of 47 kDa and is composed of one subunit. The isoelectric point of the EOHP was determined to be 5.3. The amino acid composition of the EOHP was rich in aspartic acid, glutamic acid and lysine, but poor in tyrosine, methionine, and tryptophan. EOHP is present in hemolymph over the period from the 4th instar larvae to the adult stage examined. Concentration of EOHP is high during the larval stage but gradually decreased during the developmental stage from pupal to adult stage. EOHP is present in the cuticle, fat bodies and trachea but not in hemocytes, fore gut, mid gut and hind gut.     

The human mitochondrial genome and evolution of transfer methionine RNA

The recently deciphered sequence of the human mitochondrial genome is analyzed in the light of an archigenetic hypothesis, according to which mitochondria are derived neither from pro- nor eukaryotes but from more primitive organisms. The possibility that animal mitochondria have only one gene both for elongator and initiator methionine tRNA is supported but C-A pair forming cytosine in the anticodon of these tRNAs is considered to be unmodified. The evolution of the gene and of the codon reading pattern of the methionine tRNA is discussed.     

Multiple forms of protein phosphatase inhibitors in mammalian tissues.

The heat-stable inhibitors of phosphorylase phosphatase from rat skeletal muscle, rat liver, beef heart, and beef adrenal cortex were studied. Two major types of inhibitors can be separated from all these tissues by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The two types of inhibitors from rat muscle are the same as those reported for rabbit muscle. The type-1 inhibitor, but not the type-2, is regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions. There is also a phosphorylatable inhibitor in beef heart and adrenal cortex, but such an inhibitor could not be demonstrated in liver.     

中国台湾秃蝗亚科一新属四新种(直翅目，斑腿蝗科)(英文)

记述了采自中国台湾斑腿蝗科秃蝗亚科1新属台秃蝗属Taipoodisma gen. nov. 和4新种：红股台秃蝗Taipodisma rufifemora sp. nov., 谢氏台秃蝗Taipodisma hsiehi sp. nov., 周氏台秃蝗Taipodisma chowi sp. nov., 黑胫台秃蝗Taipodisma nigritibia sp. nov.。新属台秃蝗属Taipoodisma gen. nov.同蹦蝗属Sinopodisma Chang, 1940近似,不同之处为前胸背板后缘中央缺凹口,中隆线在沟前区不显,在沟后区留有痕迹。新属同辽秃蝗属Liaopodisma Zheng, 1990也近似,不同之处为雄性后胸腹板两侧叶分开,不毗连。新种红股台秃蝗T. rufifemora sp. nov. 后足股节内侧和下方红色可与同属其他种相区别。新种谢氏台秃蝗T. hsiehi sp. nov. 缺黑色眼后带可与同属其他种相区别。新种周氏台秃蝗T. chowi sp. nov. 同红股台秃蝗T. rufifemora sp. nov.近似,不同之处为后足股节内侧和下方非红色。新种黑胫台秃蝗T. nigritibia sp. nov. 同周氏台秃蝗T. chowi sp. nov.近似,不同之处为前胸背板沿中隆线缺黑色纵带和前翅黄褐色,缺黑色带纹。列出了该属的种检索表。     

Studies with mechanism-based inactivators of lysine epsilon-transaminase from Achromobacter liquidum.

Analogues of lysine containing a 4,5-acetylenic linkage (lysyne) or a cis- or trans-4,5-olefinic linkage (lysenes) function as substrates for a homogeneous L-lysine epsilon-transaminase from Achromobacter liquidum but partition between transamination and time-dependent inactivation. The partition ratio is lowest for lysyne (40 per inactivation event) and higher for trans-lysene (160 per inactivation event), and the cis-lysene transaminates 1600 times per inactivation event. cis-Lysene yields alpha-picolinate as a detectable accumulating product, presumably from cyclization of initial 6-aldehyde to dihydropicolinate and spontaneous autoxidation. The trans isomer also yields some picolinate as an identifiable product. The product from the few lysyne turnovers is as yet unknown but has strong absorbance at 318 nm. The inactive enzyme species from all three lysine analogues slowly (overnight) regain full activity after gel filtration chromatography and dialysis, suggesting reversal of the initial adduct-forming reaction. Initial studies with partially purified pseudomonad lysine alpha-racemase show alpha-3H incorporation from 3H2O but no inactivation consistent with the expectation that these lysine analogues could act readily as mechanism-based inactivators for pyridoxal P enzymes which act at the epsilon- but not the alpha-carbon of lysine.     

中国甘肃突颜蝗属一新种(直翅目,蝗总科,癞蝗科)(英文)

记述了采自甘肃的突颜蝗属1新种,素色突颜蝗Eotmethis unicolor sp.nov.,新种与突颜蝗E.nasutus Bei-Bienko,1948近似,区别特征为:体色单一,后足股节外侧无暗色斑纹,后股节内侧下缘全长具红色细边,后足胫节刺内侧红色,后足跗节红色。新种也与红缘突颜蝗Eotmethis rufemarginisZheng,1985近似,区别特征为:雄性前翅到达腹部第6节背板,复眼的横径是颜面隆起在触角基部中间突起长度的2.2倍,后足股节外侧缺2个黑色斑块,后足跗节红色。模式标本保存于河北大学生命科学学院。正模♂,甘肃景泰,海拔1850m,2006-07-18,李新江,郑金玉采。词源:新种名出自拉丁前缀uni-(单一),后缀-color(颜色),示体色单一(素色)的突颜蝗。     

Palmitate decreases proton pumping of liver-type cytochrome c oxidase.

The H+/e- stoichiometry of reconstituted cytochrome c oxidase from bovine kidney, containing subunit VIaL (liver type), is 0.5 under standard conditions but 1.0 on addition of 1% cardiolipin to the lipid mixture (asolectin). Low concentrations of palmitate (half-maximal effect at 0.5 microm), but not laurate, myristate, stearate, oleate, 1-hexadecanol, palmitoyl glycerol and palmitoyl CoA, decreased the H+/e- ratio in the presence of cardiolipin from 1.0 to 0.5, accompanied by an increase of coupled, but not of uncoupled respiration of proteoliposomes. Cardiolipin and palmitate did not influence the H+/e- stoichiometry and respiration of reconstituted cytochrome c oxidase from bovine heart, containing subunit VIaH (heart-type). The H+/e- stoichiometry of the heart enzyme, however, is decreased from 1.0 to 0.5 by 5 mm intraliposomal ATP (instead of 5 mm ADP). It is assumed that palmitate binds to subunit VIaL. The partial uncoupling of proton pumping in cytochrome c oxidase is suggested to participate in mammalian thermogenesis.     

Purification and properties of protease F, a bacterial enzyme with chymotrypsin and elastase specificities

It has been previously demonstrated that commercial bacterial fibrinolysin (EC 3.4.21.7) selectively cleaves the bond between Met-53 and Ala-54 in ovine prolactin (199 amino acids). A one-step purification procedure on DEAE-cellulose for Protease F, which is the active component of bacterial fibrinolysin, and properties of the purified enzyme are reported. The enzyme is homogeneous as judged by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its molecular weight, calculated from gel filtration experiments on Sephadex G-100, is around 13,800. Amino acid analyses do not reveal the presence of any half-cystines. The presence of one tryptophan residue per enzyme molecule was resolved from the fluorescence spectrum. Amino terminal analysis showed that leucine was at the amino terminal position. Protease F hydrolyzes casein and synthetic specific substrates for chymotrypsin and elastase esterases but not for trypsin esterases. It is fully inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, by chicken ovoinhibitor, and by Chymotrypsin Inhibitor I from potatoes but not by the trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitors from soybeans and chick peas or by tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone. The enzyme is stable at room temperature and in the cold, it is not affected by dialysis or by freezing and thawing, but it is inactivated during freeze-drying. The circular dichroism spectra of Protease F indicate an approximate 20% alpha-helix content of the enzyme with a considerable similarity to those of subtilisin, elastase, and beta-trypsin. The relatively low molecular weight of Protease F, the absence of intrachain disulfide bridges, and the fact that it is inhibited by several, but not all, chymotrypsin inhibitors suggest that it may differ phylogenetically from the known serine proteases.