Allozyme analysis of cryptic species in the Asplenium niduscomplex from West Java,Indonesia

In various fern species, a large amount of rbcL sequence variation has been reported, and it is possible that these species contain several reproductively isolated cryptic species. In our previous study on Asplenium nidus L., it was suggested that the plants growing in Mt. Halimun National Park, West Java, Indonesia, consist of several cryptic species based on the results of crossing experiments among rbcL sequence types. In this study, we examined allozyme polymorphisms of five rbcL sequence types found in West Java in order to test the hypothesis that the assemblages of A. nidus delimited based on the rbcL sequences are separate Mendelian populations and gene flow is disrupted by reproductive isolation from one another. The calculated fixation indices suggested that the individuals in each rbcL type are randomly crossing at least in the investigated localities. Nevertheless, these rbcL-based assemblages were genetically differentiated in allozymes that are encoded in their nuclear genomes, and it is also suggested that gene flow is disrupted even between sympatrically distributed pairs of rbcL sequence types. Therefore, our findings support the view that the five rbcL sequence types in West Java are potential cryptic species. Electronic Publication     

Molecular investigations of pathogenesis-related Bet v 1 homologues in Passiflora (Passifloraceae)

The major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1, responsible for allergic reactions in many areas of the world, is homologous to a large number of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), identified as PR10. As part of a long-range investigation of these types of proteins and of evolution in Passiflora,DNA sequences from eight Bet v 1 homologue isoforms were obtained from five species of this genus in Brazil, and their sequences compared among themselves and with 30 others from 8 different species, classified in different taxonomic units. The objective was a first characterization of these PRs in wild passionflowers, and their use for evolutionary and applied investigations. High interspecific, but low intraspecific variability was observed, as expected from multigenic families subjected to concerted evolution. The relationships obtained both within Passiflora and between it and seven other genera probably best reflect functional similarities than evolutionary history.     

Two highly diverged New World Artemia species, A. franciscana and A. persimilis, from contrasting hypersaline habitats express a conserved stress protein complement

The brine shrimp Artemia is a well known animal extremophile adapted to survive in very harsh hypersaline environments. We compared the small stress proteins artemin and p26, and the chaperone hsc70 in encysted embryos (cysts) of the New World species, A. franciscana and A. persimilis. Cysts of the former, from San Francisco Bay, USA (SFB), were used essentially as a reference for these proteins, while both species were from locations in Chile where they occur in habitats at latitudinal extremes, the Atacama desert and Patagonia. These two species are phylogenetically distant, A. persimilis being closer to the Old World species, whilst A. franciscana is considered younger and undergoing evolutionary expansion. Using western blotting we found all three stress proteins in cysts from these five populations in substantial although variable amounts. The protein profiles revealed by Coomassie staining after electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were similar qualitatively, in spite of marked differences in the habitats from which these populations originated, and the long time since they diverged. We interpret these findings as further evidence for the adaptive importance of these three conserved proteins in coping with the variable, but severe stresses these encysted embryos endure.     

The specificity of yolk protein uptake in cyclorrhaphan diptera is conserved through evolution

Summary Yolk proteins are transported from the hemolymph into the oocytes of insects during vitellogenesis by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Since other hemolymph proteins, both native and foreign, are not accumulated in the oocyte, the process of uptake is selective for yolk proteins. Peptide domains within the yolk proteins must therefore be involved in receptor recognition. With the longterm aim of identifying these domains and to open the possibility of understanding the molecular basis of receptor-mediated endocytosis of yolk proteins, we began investigating how well this mechanism has been conserved in evolution. We studied the uptake of yolk proteins from 13 different Drosophila species and five other dipteran species, namely, Calliphora erythrocephala, Sarcophaga argyrostoma, Musca domestica, Lucilia servicata, and Protophormia terrae-novae, into the ovaries of Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila funebris. The results from these experiments showed that in all cases the foreign yolk proteins were taken up by the host ovaries, indicating that the mechanism and peptide domains of the yolk proteins involved in recognition of the receptor have been well conserved in dipteran evolution. Offprint requests to: M. Bownes     

Recommendations for the use of species diversity indices with reference to a recently published article as an example

There are some recommendations for the use of species diversity indices in a paper recently published in this journal by M. Ohsawa on the species richness and composition of weevils in five forest types in the middle region of Japan. Because several factors, such as small sample size, calculation of Simpson’s diversity index by the use of the original equation of Simpson’s measure of concentration D, and a weak point in the Shannon–Wiener diversity index H′, may have led to biased estimates, I recalculated these indices using combined species diversity values of the five forest types. As the general tendencies of 1−D and H′ values calculated here were similar to those in Ohsawa’s paper, there is no need to propose any change to his view. However, these recalculated diversity indices indicated that they are values which are more suitable for use. It should be noted that the characteristics and weak point associated with the diversity indices need to be taken into account in future studies.     

Structure,ontogeny and taxonomic significance of trichomes and stomata in some Capparidaceae

The present work embodies epidermal structure, structure and ontogeny of stomata in five genera embracing sixteen species of the Capparidaceae namely Cleome (8 species) Capparis (5 species), Cadaba (1 species), Crataeva (1 species) and Maerua (1 species). The epidermal cells are polygonal, isodiametric or elongated arranged irregularly, with evenly or unevenly thickened, sinuous, straight or arched anticlinal walls. Two main types of trichomes: glandular (four types) and eglandular (five types) are noticed. The stomatal types include cyclocytic, triacytic, staurocytic, tetracytic, anomocytic, anisocytic, paracytic and with a single subsidiary cell. The ontogeny of stomata with a single subsidiary cell is perigenous or mesoperigenous, of paracytic mesoperigenous or mesogenous, of anisocytic is mesoperigenous or mesogenous, while that of the other types is perigenous. Abnormalities observed are: single guard cell; aborted guard cells; complete or incomplete division of guard cells; contiguous stomata; giant stomata and cytoplasmic connections. The present observations do not support the separation of Cleomaceae from the Capparidaceae.     

Seasonal patterns of dehydrins and 70-kDa heat-shock proteins in bark tissues of eight species of woody plants

Although considerable effort has been directed at identifying and understanding the function and regulation of stress-induced proteins in herbaceous plants, reports concerning woody plants are limited. Studies with herbaceous crops have revealed similarities in the types of proteins that accumulate in response to a wide array of abiotic stresses and hormonal cues such as the accumulation of abscisic acid. Many of the identified proteins appear to be related to dehydrins (the D-11 subgroup of late-embryogenesis-abundant proteins). The objective of the present study was to determine if seasonal induction of dehydrins is a common feature in woody plants and to see if seasonal patterns existed for other stress-induced proteins. Bark tissues from eight species of woody plants were collected monthly for a period of 1.5 years. The species included: peach (Prunus persica) cv. Loring; apple (Malus domestica) cv. Golden Delicious; thornless blackberry (Rubus sp.) cv. Chester; hybrid poplar (Populus nigra); weeping willow (Salix babylonica); flowering dogwood (Cornus florida); sassafras (Sassafras albidum); and black locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia). Immunoblots of bark proteins were probed with a polyclonal antibody recognizing a conserved region of dehydrin proteins, and monoclonal antibodies directed against members of the HS70 family of heat-shock proteins. Some proteins, immunologically related to dehydrins, appeared to be constitutive; however, distinct seasonal patterns associated with winter acclimation were also observed in all species. The molecular masses of these proteins varied widely, although similarities were observed in related species (willow and poplar). Identification of proteins using the monoclonal antibodies (HSP70, HSC70, BiP) was more definitive because of their inherent specificity, but seasonal patterns were more variable among the eight species examined. This study represents only a precursory examination of several proteins reported to be stress related in herbaceous plants, but the results indicate that these proteins are also common to woody plants and that further research to characterize their regulation and function in relation to stress adaptation and the perennial life cycle of woody plants is warranted.     

5种虾脊兰菌根显微结构观察

采用石蜡切片法观察5种虾脊兰菌根的显微结构、菌根真菌的侵入途径与分布特征,为更好地保护和开发利用虾脊兰属植物资源提供理论依据.结果表明:(1)5种虾脊兰菌根的显微结构由根被、皮层和中柱组成,根被细胞3～6层,皮层由9～13层薄壁细胞组成,韧皮部与木质部8～12束,呈辐射状相间排列,中柱中央为薄壁细胞组成的髓.(2)菌丝...     

Presence of a highly specific histone H1-like protein in the chromatin of the sperm of the bivalve mollusks

Chromatin organization in the sperm of the bivalve mollusks results from the interaction between a discrete number of protamine-like proteins (PL) and DNA. A small variable amount of histones is also present. An extensive study carried out on a relatively large number of species, within the class Bivalvia, has shown that it is possible to arrange these mollusks into five major categories on the basis of their PL composition (Ausio, J. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 85, 439–449, (1986) [1]). In the present work, we have extended this analysis to a larger number of species and found that in spite of the inter- and intra-specific similarity of all PL proteins in their chemical composition, they exhibit different degrees of structural variability. Moreover one of these PL proteins is present in all the species analyzed, and bears an enormous resemblance to histones of the H1 family. The evolutionary significance of this finding is discussed.     

Mytilus edulis Histone Gene Clusters Containing Only H1 Genes

We isolated five different phage clones containing histone gene clusters with up to five H1 genes per phage clone from a Mytilus edulis genomic library. Among these H1 genes, nine gene types coding for five different H1 proteins have been identified. All H1 histone genes were located on repetitive restriction fragments with only slightly different sizes. The H1 coding regions show highly related sequences, suggesting that the multitude of H1 genes has evolved by gene duplication events. Core histone genes could not be found on these five Mytilus edulis genome fragments. Received: 28 July 1998 / Accepted: 17 May 1999     

The Cladocera of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), with remarks on some species

The freshwater Cladocera of Sri Lanka has been revised based on the study of over 700 zooplankton samples collected from all habitat types during 1965–1980. The cladoceran fauna is represented by six families; members of the families Polyphemidae, Leptodoridae and Holopedidae are absent. The common temperate genus Daphnia is rare.Sixty-two species have been recorded from Sri Lanka. Of these, five are new records. Remarks on a few species are given with illustrations. The distribution of Cladocera in different types of habitats is discussed. The greatest species diversity was found in ponds. The Sri Lankan fauna is numerically and in species diversity typical of tropical cladoceran fauna. It resembles the southern Indian fauna very closely except for the absence in Sri Lanka of the genera Acroperus and Camptocercus.     

Differences in stable isotope composition within and among zooplanktivorous Utaka cichlid populations from Lake Malawi

Stable isotope analysis was used to determine whether five sympatric zooplanktivorous cichlids of the Utaka assemblage from Lake Malawi vary in isotopic signature as an indication of possible differences in food resource composition. The isotopic composition of the Utaka in combination with literature data about diet composition suggests that these species exploit a narrow range of zooplanktonic prey types. At five sampling locations, significant differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were detected among species but a consistent pattern across locations was absent. Significant intraspecific differences between locations were found. These differences were relatively low in view of the large geographic distances between the populations and there was no consistent spatial pattern among the species. The observed differences may be indicative of local variations in diet composition, which may help in reducing niche overlap among these zooplanktivores.     

Sequence,structure and function-based classification of the broadly conserved FAH superfamily reveals two distinct fumarylpyruvate hydrolase subfamilies

Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) superfamily proteins are found ubiquitously in microbial pathways involved in the catabolism of aromatic substances. Although extensive bioinformatic data on these proteins have been acquired, confusion caused by problems with the annotation of these proteins hinders research into determining their physiological functions. Here we classify 606 FAH superfamily proteins using a maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree, comparative gene-neighbourhood patterns and in vitro enzyme assays. The FAH superfamily proteins used for the analyses are divided into five distinct subfamilies, and two of them, FPH-A and FPH-B, contain the majority of the proteins of undefined function. These subfamilies include clusters designated FPH-I and FPH-II, respectively, which include two distinct types of fumarylpyruvate hydrolase (FPH), an enzyme involved in the final step of the gentisate pathway. We determined the crystal structures of these FPH enzymes at 2.0 Å resolutions and investigate the substrate binding mode by which these types of enzymes can accommodate fumarylpyruvate as a substrate. Consequentially, we identify the molecular signatures of the two types of FPH enzymes among the broadly conserved FAH superfamily proteins. Our studies allowed us to predict the relationship of unknown FAH superfamily proteins using their sequence information.     

EQUIPMENT REVIEW

ABSTRACT

Five distinct song types of the genus Mecopoda were found in Southern India. Four were morphologically indistinguishable. Some of them were both sympatric and had synchronous breeding seasons. The songs of these five song types ranged from simple short chirps to highly complex songs with multiple components. The temporal patterns of the songs of the five song types were very distinctive, whereas their spectral features were similar. Component elements of the different songs were distinct despite overall similarity. The song types possibly represent sibling species.     

Parvalbumin-immunoreactive proteins in the nervous system of planarians

Summary 1. Using immunological methods, we have identified parvalbumin-like material in the triclade flatworms,Polycelis nigra, Polycelis auriculata, Crenobia alpina, Dugesia tahitiensis, andDugesia polychroa.2. Western immunoblot analysis of these five species revealed heat stable parvalbumin-immunoreactive proteins between 32 kD and 44 kD.3. Proteins at 19 and 32 kD revealed intense labeling with⁴⁵Ca²⁺.4. Double immunodiffusion of planarian supernatants showed complete fusion of precipitates, indicating immunological relatedness of the parvalbuminlike material among the species investigated.5. Immunocytochemical studies exhibit parvalbumin-immunoreactive material exclusively in neurons supporting the notion of an early evolutionary appearance of these proteins in the nervous system.     

Five new 14-3-3 isoforms from Nicotiana tabacum L.: implications for the phylogeny of plant 14-3-3 proteins

About thirty years after the initial identification of 14-3-3 proteins in mammalian brain, they are now thought to be ubiquitous among eukaryotes. We identified five cDNAs encoding 14-3-3 proteins of Nicotiana tabacum L. using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based screening strategy. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out with 14-3-3 amino-acid sequences from twelve plant species. The results showed that 14-3-3 proteins of plants can be divided into at least five different subgroups. Four of these subgroups resulted from early gene duplication events that happened prior to the speciation of most of the plant species considered. Interestingly, 14-3-3 epsilon isoforms from mammals and insects form one subgroup together with epsilon-like isoforms from plants. The 14-3-3 genes known from monocots descend from the same ancestor, forming the fifth subgroup. Received: 30 June 1997 / Accepted: 29 August 1997     

The tetrameric pheromone module SteC‐MkkB‐MpkB‐SteD regulates asexual sporulation,sclerotia formation and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus flavus

For eukaryotes like fungi to regulate biological responses to environmental stimuli, various signalling cascades are utilized, like the highly conserved mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. In the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans, a MAPK pathway known as the pheromone module regulates development and the production of secondary metabolites (SMs). This pathway consists five proteins, the three kinases SteC, MkkB and MpkB, the adaptor SteD and the scaffold HamE. In this study, homologs of these five pheromone module proteins have been identified in the plant and human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus flavus. We have shown that a tetrameric complex consisting of the three kinases and the SteD adaptor is assembled in this species. It was observed that this complex assembles in the cytoplasm and that MpkB translocates into the nucleus. Deletion of steC, mkkB, mpkB or steD results in abolishment of both asexual sporulation and sclerotia production. This complex is required for the positive regulation of aflatoxin production and negative regulation of various SMs, including leporin B and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), likely via MpkB interactions in the nucleus. These data highlight the conservation of the pheromone module in Aspergillus species, signifying the importance of this pathway in regulating fungal development and secondary metabolism.     

松嫩平原不同生境蝴蝶群落多样性及其保护建议

随着气候变化加剧和人类活动影响,生物多样性变化及其保护逐渐受到广泛关注。蝴蝶作为开花植物的传粉媒介和生态环境监测及评价的关键指示者,其多样性变化能够在一定程度上反映生境状况,因此,有必要清晰认识不同生境中的蝴蝶多样性变化。为明确松嫩平原蝴蝶资源和不同生境的群落多样性差异,采用样线法于2016年5月-2018年8月对松嫩平原的割草草地、湿地、农田、放牧利用草地及恢复草地共五种生境类型进行调查研究。结果发现,调查共记录蝴蝶5108头,隶属于6科21属26种,其中牧女珍眼蝶（Coenonympha amaryllis）和红珠灰蝶（Plebejus argyrognomon）为优势种类,分别占蝴蝶个体总数的25.61%和31.66%,且在五种生境类型中均有分布。不同生境类型中,蝴蝶群落的物种丰富度指数和均匀度指数无明显差异,而恢复草地生境的蝴蝶群落Shannon-Wiener多样性指数较高,优势度指数较低。农田生境中的蝴蝶个体数量较少,且群落组成与其他四种生境之间均具有显著差异。五种生境类型中的蝴蝶数量和多样性均呈现一定的月动态和年动态变化趋势。除湿地和农田外,其余三种生境中蝴蝶物种和个体数量从5月到8月均持续升高。四种生境的蝴蝶物种数量、个体数量（除农田外）在2018年均出现明显下降趋势。物种丰富度指数等指标的月动态和年动态在不同生境类型间存在较大差异。这些结果表明,生境类型和人类活动与蝴蝶多样性变化关系密切,表现为单一生境中蝴蝶多样性较低,复杂生境有利于保护蝴蝶多样性。本研究有助于厘清松嫩平原蝴蝶资源的基础数据,并为该地区蝴蝶多样性保护和利用及评估该区域生态环境提供一定理论支撑。     

Linkage relationships between prolamin genes located on chromosome 1H<Superscript>ch</Superscript> in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Hordeum chilense</Emphasis>

The endosperm storage proteins of Hordeum chilense Roem. et Schult., a species used in the synthesis of the amphiploid tritordeum (×Tritordeum Ascherson et Graebner), have a great effect on the gluten strength of this amphiploid. We have analysed electrophoretically the heredity of these proteins, which are synthesised by genes located on chromosome 1H^ch, and detected up to five loci in a cross between two lines of H. chilense. These loci present a certain homology with loci synthesising the same proteins in wheat. The genetic distances between these loci were calculated.Communicated by H.F. Linskens