Cell—cell interactions in bacterial populations

In developing bacterial populations many essential processes, such as division, genetic transformation, sporulation, and synthesis of antibiotics and secondary metabolites, are regulated by intercellular communication mediated by secretion of signaling molecules, such as homoserine lactones and peptides. Another intercellular communication type, namely a physical contact between cells (cell aggregation), plays a key role in formation of biofilms or cellular consortia and in cell proliferation under unfavorable conditions. The mechanisms involved in these two types of bacterial communication are discussed in this review.Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 69, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1555–1564.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Voloshin, Kaprelyants     

Ecology and evolution of plant�Cpollinator interactions

Background

Some of the most exciting advances in pollination biology have resulted from interdisciplinary research combining ecological and evolutionary perspectives. For example, these two approaches have been essential for understanding the functional ecology of floral traits, the dynamics of pollen transport, competition for pollinator services, and patterns of specialization and generalization in plant–pollinator interactions. However, as research in these and other areas has progressed, many pollination biologists have become more specialized in their research interests, focusing their attention on either evolutionary or ecological questions. We believe that the continuing vigour of a synthetic and interdisciplinary field like pollination biology depends on renewed connections between ecological and evolutionary approaches.

Scope

In this Viewpoint paper we highlight the application of ecological and evolutionary approaches to two themes in pollination biology: (1) links between pollinator behaviour and plant mating systems, and (2) generalization and specialization in pollination systems. We also describe how mathematical models and synthetic analyses have broadened our understanding of pollination biology, especially in human-modified landscapes. We conclude with several suggestions that we hope will stimulate future research. This Viewpoint also serves as the introduction to this Special Issue on the Ecology and Evolution of Plant–Pollinator Interactions. These papers provide inspiring examples of the synergy between evolutionary and ecological approaches, and offer glimpses of great accomplishments yet to come.Key words: Floral traits, generalization and specialization, global change, male fitness, mating systems, multiple paternity, plant–pollinator networks, pollen and gene dispersal, pollinator behaviour, pollination syndromes, pollination webs, self-fertilization     

Cell–cell contact and signaling in the muscle stem cell niche

Muscle stem cells (also called satellite cells or SCs) rely on their local niche for regulatory signals during homeostasis and regeneration. While a number of cell types communicate indirectly through secreted factors, here we focus on the significance of direct contact between SCs and their neighbors. During quiescence, SCs reside under a basal lamina and receive quiescence-promoting signals from their adjacent skeletal myofibers. Upon injury, the composition of the niche changes substantially, enabling the formation of new contacts that mediate proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation. In this review, we summarize the latest work in understanding cell–cell contact within the satellite cell niche and highlight areas of open questions for future studies.     

Cloud streets and land�Cwater interactions in the Amazon

Cloud streets are common feature in the Amazon Basin. They form from the combination of the vertical trade wind stress and moist convection. Here, satellite imagery, data collected during the COBRA-PARÁ (Caxiuanã Observations in the Biosphere, River and Atmosphere of Pará) field campaign, and high resolution modeling are used to understand the streets?? formation and behavior. The observations show that the streets have an aspect ratio of about 3.5 and they reach their maximum activity around 15:00 UTC when the wind shear is weaker, and the convective boundary layer reaches its maximum height. The simulations reveal that the cloud streets onset is caused by the local circulations and convection produced at the interfaces between forest and rivers of the Amazon. The satellite data and modeling show that the large rivers anchor the cloud streets producing a quasi-stationary horizontal pattern. The streets are associated with horizontal roll vortices parallel to the mean flow that organizes the turbulence causing advection of latent heat flux towards the upward branches. The streets have multiple warm plumes that promote a connection between the rolls. These spatial patterns allow fundamental insights on the interpretation of the Amazon exchanges between surface and atmosphere with important consequences for the climate change understanding.     

Functional rules for lac repressor�Coperator associations and implications for protein�CDNA interactions

The Lac repressor has been used as a tool to understand protein–DNA recognition for many years. Recent experiments have demonstrated the ability of the Lac repressor to control gene expression in various eukaryotic systems, making the quest for an arsenal of protein–DNA binding partners desirable for potential therapeutic applications. Here, we present the results of the most exhaustive screen of Lac repressor‐DNA binding partners to date, resulting in the elucidation of functional rules for Lac–DNA binding. Even within the confines of a single protein–DNA scaffold, modes of binding of different protein–DNA partners are sufficiently diverse so as to prevent elucidation of generalized rules for recognition for a single protein, much less an entire protein family.     

Tethering,evagination, and vesiculation via cell–cell interactions in microvascular flow

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - Vesiculation is a ubiquitous process undergone by most cell types and serves a variety of vital cell functions; vesiculation from erythrocytes, in...     

Cell electrophoresis — a method for cell separation and research into cell surface properties

In this paper, we discuss the application of various methods of cell electrophoresis in research into cell surface properties (analytical methods), and the separation of uniform cell subpopulations from cell mixtures (preparative methods). The emphasis is on the prospects of the development of simplified and versatile methodologies, i.e. microcapillary cell electrophoresis and horizontal cell electrophoresis under near-isopycnic conditions. New perspectives are considered on the use of analytical and preparative cell electrophoresis in research on cell differentiation, neoplastic transformation, cell-cell interactions and the biology of stem cells. Paper authored by participants of the international conference: XXXIV Winter School of the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology of Jagiellonian University, Zakopane, March 7–11, 2007, “The Cell and Its Environment”. Publication cost was covered by the organisers of this meeting.     

Waves affect predator�Cprey interactions between fish and benthic invertebrates

Little is known about the effects of waves on predator-prey interactions in the littoral zones of freshwaters. We conducted a set of mesocosm experiments to study the differential effects of ship- and wind-induced waves on the foraging success of littoral fish on benthic invertebrates. Experiments were conducted in a wave tank with amphipods (Gammarus roeseli) as prey, and age-0 bream (Abramis brama, B0), age-0 and age-1 dace (Leuciscus leuciscus, D0 and D1) as predators. The number of gammarids suspended in the water column was higher in the wave treatments compared to a no-wave control treatment, especially during pulse waves mimicking ship-induced waves in comparison to continuous waves mimicking wind-induced waves. The resulting higher prey accessibility in the water column was differently exploited by the three types of predatory fish. D0 and D1 showed significantly higher foraging success in the pulse wave treatment than in the continuous and control treatments. The foraging success of D0 appears to be achieved more easily, since significantly higher swimming activity and more foraging attempts were recorded only for D1 under the wave treatments. In contrast, B0 consumed significantly fewer gammarids in both wave treatments than in the control. Hence, waves influenced predator-prey interactions differently depending on wave type and fish type. It is expected that regular exposure to ship-induced waves can alter littoral invertebrate and fish assemblages by increasing the predation risk for benthic invertebrates that are suspended in the water column, and by shifting fish community compositions towards species that benefit from waves.