Dendrogramma,New Genus,with Two New Non-Bilaterian Species from the Marine Bathyal of Southeastern Australia (Animalia,Metazoa incertae sedis) – with Similarities to Some Medusoids from the Precambrian Ediacara

A new genus, Dendrogramma, with two new species of multicellular, non-bilaterian, mesogleal animals with some bilateral aspects, D. enigmatica and D. discoides, are described from the south-east Australian bathyal (400 and 1000 metres depth). A new family, Dendrogrammatidae, is established for Dendrogramma. These mushroom-shaped organisms cannot be referred to either of the two phyla Ctenophora or Cnidaria at present, because they lack any specialised characters of these taxa. Resolving the phylogenetic position of Dendrogramma depends much on how the basal metazoan lineages (Ctenophora, Porifera, Placozoa, Cnidaria, and Bilateria) are related to each other, a question still under debate. At least Dendrogramma must have branched off before Bilateria and is possibly related to Ctenophora and/or Cnidaria. Dendrogramma, therefore, is referred to Metazoa incertae sedis. The specimens were fixed in neutral formaldehyde and stored in 80% ethanol and are not suitable for molecular analysis. We recommend, therefore, that attempts be made to secure new material for further study. Finally similarities between Dendrogramma and a group of Ediacaran (Vendian) medusoids are discussed.     

Petrocephalus boboto and Petrocephalus arnegardi,two new species of African electric fish (Osteoglossomorpha,Mormyridae) from the Congo River basin

A specimen of the African weakly electric fish genus Petrocephalus (Osteoglossomorpha, Mormyridae) collected in the Congo River at Yangambi, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, is described as a new species. Petrocephalus boboto sp. n. can be distinguished from other Central African species of Petrocephalus by a combination of the following characteristics: three distinct black spots on the body, one at the origin of the pectoral fin, one at the origin of the caudal fin and one below the anterior base of the dorsal fin; Nakenrosette and Khelrosette electroreceptor clusters distinct on head but Augenrosette cluster reduced in size; 23 branched dorsal rays, 34 branched anal rays, and electric organ discharge waveform triphasic. Petrocephalus boboto sp. n. most closely resembles the holotype of Petrocephalus binotatus but is easily distinguished from it by its smaller mouth. A comparative molecular analysis including 21 other Petrocephalus species shows Petrocephalus boboto sp. n. to be genetically distinctive and to represent a deep lineage in the genus. Two specimens of Petrocephalus collected at Yangambi are morphologically similar and genetically closely related to specimens previously assigned to Petrocephalus binotatus, collected in the northwestern Congo River basin within Odzala-Kokua National Park, Republic of the Congo. This prompts us to formally describe a new species from these collections, Petrocephalus arnegardi sp. n., that, although similar to the holotype of Petrocephalus binotatus, can be distinguished from it by its smaller mouth and shorter interorbital width.     

Mortierella oedorhiza,a new species forming a dichotomously branched rhizoid at the sporangiophore base

A new species, Mortierella oedorhiza, is described as a fungus forming a dichotomously branched rhizoid with a bulbil-like mass of hyphae at the base of the sporangiophore. The species is morphologically and phylogenetically similar to M. rostafinskii, which has rarely been reported. A trace of a columella on dehiscence of the sporangium and a dichotomously branched rhizoid are distinguishing characteristics of this species compared with M. rostafinskii.     

Characterization and mapping of a Prbs gene controlling spike development in Hordeum vulgare L.

The barley mutant, poly-row-and-branched spike (prbs) showed altered inflorescence morphology: complete conversion of the rudimentary lateral spikelets in two-rowed barley into fully developed fertile spikelets similar to the six-rowed phenotype, and additional spikelets in the middle of spike. Moreover, branched spikes emerged in progeny from a cross between the mutant and a six-rowed barley cultivar. Morphological observation of the development of immature spikes of the mutant and descendants with branched spikes showed that the Prbs gene is involved in spikelet development in the triple-mound stage. In mutant prbs, new meristems initiated at the flanks of lateral spikelets and middle spikelet meristems were converted to branch meristems, developing branched spikes. These observations suggested that the Prbs gene plays a crucial role in spikelet initiation and identity maintenance. The Prbs gene may be an important modifier in inflorescence differentiation from a panicle into a spike. The branched spikes emerging in hybrids from a cross between the mutant and six-rowed barley cultivar were not conferred by the gene vrs1 or Int-c, which decide spike morphology in six-rowed barley. These results imply that although six-row genes vrs1 and Int-c and prbs have similar effects on lateral spikelet development, they have different functions in branched spikes. The Prbs gene was mapped to chromosome 3H between SSR marker Bmag0023 and marker Cbic60 at a genetic distance of 3.3 and 5.4 centimorgans (cM), respectively.     

A new Alokistocaridae Resser, 1939 (Trilobita) from the middle Cambrian of Spain

A new trilobite species, Schopfaspis? graciai, from the middle Cambrian of Spain is the first member of Alokistocaridae reported from west Gondwana. A cladistic analysis of this trilobite and other Gondwanan trilobites of possible alokistocarid affinities (Schopfaspis granulosa, Chelidonocephalus anatolicus, Derikaspis toluni, Kounamkites multiformis) suggests that this family can be divided into two subfamilies: Alokistocarinae and Altiocculinae. Schopfaspis? graciai nov. sp. and Schopfaspis granulosa are assigned to the subfamily Altiocculinae laying in a more basal position than Altiocculus species. The cladistic analysis also demonstrates a possible relationship of Chelidonocephalus anatolicus and Derikaspis toluni with Alokistocaridae. Enrolment is analysed in this new trilobite describing novelties in the ventral surface of the cephalon which allowed interlocking of the trunk and cephalon in a discoidal enrolment-type.     

Morphological and phylogenetic studies of Cytospora (Valsaceae,Diaporthales) isolates from Chinese scholar tree,with description of a new species

Cytospora species are the most serious and widespread pathogens associated with canker disease on multiple plants. In this study, three species, i.e., Cytospora sophoricola, C. chrysosperma, and C. sophorae, which were isolated from Sophora in China, are described and illustrated based on their morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses. Cytospora sophoricola was distinguished clearly by its larger disc, multiple ostioles, cystic and multiple locules, and specific cultural characteristics, i.e., protruding fruiting bodies. Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis showed that it did not cluster with any known species of Cytospora, so it is described as a new species. Cytospora sophorae is a previously reported species from Sophora, which is redescribed based on new isolates and additional observations. Another species was identified as C. chrysosperma, which is reported for the first time on Sophora, so Papilionaceae is shown to be a new host family for C. chrysosperma. The morphological affinities of these species with related taxa are discussed, while the phylogenetic relationships of these species with other fungus in the genus Cytospora were elucidated based on their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA region sequences.     

Microbial Degradation of the Multiply Branched Alkane 2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyltetracosane (Squalane) by Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium ratisbonense

Among several bacterial species belonging to the general Gordonia, Mycobacterium, Micromonospora, Pseudomonas, and Rhodococcus, only two mycobacterial isolates, Mycobacterium fortuitum strain NF4 and the new isolate Mycobacterium ratisbonense strain SD4, which was isolated from a sewage treatment plant, were capable of utilizing the multiply branched hydrocarbon squalane (2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane) and its analogous unsaturated hydrocarbon squalene as the sole carbon source for growth. Detailed degradation studies and high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis showed a clear decrease of the concentrations of squalane and squalene during biomass increase. These results were supported by resting-cell experiments using strain SD4 and squalane or squalene as the substrate. The degradation of acyclic isoprenoids and alkanes as well as of acids derived from these compounds was also investigated. Inhibition of squalane and squalene degradation by acrylic acid indicated the possible involvement of β-oxidation in the degradation route. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the biodegradation of squalane by using defined axenic cultures.     

Comparative analysis of GT14/GT14-like gene family in Arabidopsis, Oryza, Populus, Sorghum and Vitis

Glycosyltransferase family14 (GT14) belongs to the glycosyltransferase (GT) superfamily that plays important roles in the biosynthesis of cell walls, the most abundant source of cellulosic biomass for bioethanol production. It has been hypothesized that DUF266 proteins are a new class of GTs related to GT14. In this study, we identified 62 GT14 and 106 DUF266 genes (named GT14-like herein) in Arabidopsis, Oryza, Populus, Sorghum and Vitis. Our phylogenetic analysis separated GT14 and GT14-like genes into two distinct clades, which were further divided into eight and five groups, respectively. Similarities in protein domain, 3D structure and gene expression were uncovered between the two phylogenetic clades, supporting the hypothesis that GT14 and GT14-like genes belong to one family. Therefore, we proposed a new family name, GT14/GT14-like family that combines both subfamilies. Variation in gene expression and protein subcellular localization within the GT14-like subfamily were greater than those within the GT14 subfamily. One-half of the Arabidopsis and Populus GT14/GT14-like genes were found to be preferentially expressed in stem/xylem, indicating that they are likely involved in cell wall biosynthesis. This study provided new insights into the evolution and functional diversification of the GT14/GT14-like family genes.     

Mortierella thereuopodae,a new species with verticillate large sporangiophores,inhabiting fecal pellets of Scutigeromorpha

A new species, Mortierella thereuopodae, is described for a fungus sporulating on fecal pellets of the centipede Thereuopoda clunifera (Chilopoda). The species produces large cymosely to verticillately branched sporangiophores on well-developed rhizoids with the formation of chlamydospore clusters.     

Morphological and ITS rDNA-based phylogenetic identification of two new species in Tinctoporellus

Two new poroid wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes, Tinctoporellus bubalinus and T. hinnuleus, are described and illustrated based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of rDNA ITS sequences. Tinctoporellus bubalinus is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiocarps, white to buff coloured pore surface and thin- to slightly thick-walled, richly branched and contorted dendrohyphidia. Tinctoporellus hinnuleus is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiocarps, cinnamon, clay-buff to fawn pore surface, thin-walled, richly branched and contorted brown dendrohyphidia. Discriminating characters between the new species and the closely related species are discussed. A key to accepted species in Tinctoporellus is provided.     

Physoschistura chindwinensis, a new balitorid loach from Chindwin basin, Manipur, India (Teleostei: Balitoridae)

Physoschistura chindwinensis, a new balitorid species, is described from the Chindwin basin, Manipur, India. It is easily distinguished from congeners by the combination of characters: a dorsal fin with three simple and 8? branched rays; body with 13–17 dark-brown bars on the sides, and 11–16 dark-brown saddles; interorbital space with a rectangular dark-brown shield-like mark; a caudal fin with 8?+?8 branched rays; a moderately developed axillary pelvic lobe; males with a suborbital flap; preoperculomandibular canal with seven pores; and an air bladder with a well-formed free posterior chamber.     

Physiological,chemotaxonomic and genomic characterization of two novel piezotolerant bacteria of the family Marinifilaceae isolated from sulfidic waters of the Black Sea

Diversity analyses of microbial enrichments obtained from deep sulfidic water (2000 m) collected from the Black Sea indicated the presence of eleven novel putative lineages of bacteria affiliated to the family Marinifilaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes. Pure cultures were obtained for four strains (i.e. M1P^T, M3P, A4^T and 44) of this family, which could be grouped into two different clades based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences. All four strains were Gram-negative, rod-shaped and facultative anaerobic bacteria. The genomes of all strains were sequenced and physiological analyses were performed. All strains utilized a wide range of carbon sources, which was supported by the presence of the pathways involved in carbon utilization encoded by their genomes. The strains were able to grow at elevated hydrostatic pressure (up to 50 MPa), which coincided with increased production of unsaturated and branched fatty acids, and a decrease in hydroxy fatty acids. Intact polar lipid analysis of all four strains showed the production of ornithine lipids, phosphatidylethanolamines and capnine lipids as major intact polar lipids (IPLs). Genes involved in hopanoid biosynthesis were also identified. However, bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs) were not detected in the strains. Based on distinct physiological, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and phylogenetic differences compared to other members of the genera Ancylomarina and Labilibaculum, it was concluded that strains M1P^T and A4^T represented two novel species for which the names Ancylomarina euxinus sp. nov. and Labilibaculum euxinus sp. nov., respectively, are proposed.     

Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Micromonosporaceae

A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-J3^T, was isolated from soybean root (Glycine max (L.) Merr) and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain NEAU-J3^T fell within the family Micromonosporaceae. The strain was observed to form an extensively branched substrate mycelium, which carried non-motile oval spores with a smooth surface. The cell walls of strain NEAU-J3^T were determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and galactose, ribose and glucose were detected as whole-cell sugars. The major menaquinones were determined to be MK-9(H₄) and MK-9(H₆). The phospholipids detected were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were determined to be C_16:0, C_18:1 ω9c, C_18:0, C_17:0, C_17:1 ω7c, anteiso-C_17:0, C_16:1 ω7c and C_15:0. The DNA G + C content was 62.5 mol%. On the basis of the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and characteristic patterns of 16S rRNA gene signature nucleotides, strain NEAU-J3^T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Micromonosporaceae, for which the name Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Wangella harbinensis is strain NEAU-J3^T (=CGMCC 4.7039^T = DSM 45747^T).     

The PROSITE database, its status in 2002

PROSITE [Bairoch and Bucher (1994) Nucleic Acids Res., 22, 3583–3589; Hofmann et al. (1999) Nucleic Acids Res., 27, 215–219] is a method of identifying the functions of uncharacterized proteins translated from genomic or cDNA sequences. The PROSITE database (http://www.expasy.org/prosite/) consists of biologically significant patterns and profiles designed in such a way that with appropriate computational tools it can rapidly and reliably help to determine to which known family of proteins (if any) a new sequence belongs, or which known domain(s) it contains.     

Observations on Nothia aphylla Lyon ex Høeg

Naked branched axes associated with sporangia, originally described by Kidston and Lang (1920) as the probable fertile region of Asteroxylon mackiei, were later shown by Lyon (1964) to belong to an unknown plant which he named Nothia aphylla. The name was validated by Høeg in 1967. Nothia aphylla is described here in greater detail from new material collected from the Rhynie locality. The sporangia are lateral in terminal branched spikes. Their arrangement ranges from spiral to semiverticillate. The fertile axes terminate in clusters of 2–5 sporangia. The stalked sporangia are rather reniform with a distal transversely-extended dehiscence slit. Systematically Nothia has similarities to both Zosterophyllophytina and Rhyniophytina.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erromyzon damingshanensis</Emphasis>, a new sucker loach (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Gastromyzontidae) from the Pearl River drainage of Guangxi,China

Erromyzon damingshanensis, a new sucker loach is described from the Pearl River drainage in Guangxi, China. The new species Erromyzon damingshanensis is distinguished from the other species of the genus in having a crescentic median lobe of the rostral fold, rostral barbels shorter than rostral fold; postlabial groove broadly interrupted medially, seven branched dorsal fin rays, 16 branched pectoral fin rays, lateral line scales 88–95, caudal peduncle depth larger than its length; body with 12 irregular bars on flank, interrupted on dorsum.     

A deoxyribozyme that synthesizes 2',5'-branched RNA with any branch-site nucleotide

RNA molecules with internal 2′,5′-branches are intermediates in RNA splicing, and branched RNAs have recently been proposed as retrotransposition intermediates. A broadly applicable in vitro synthetic route to branched RNA that does not require self-splicing introns or spliceosomes would substantially improve our ability to study biochemical processes that involve branched RNA. We recently described 7S11, a deoxyribozyme that was identified by in vitro selection and has general RNA branch-forming ability. However, an important restriction for 7S11 is that the branch-site RNA nucleotide must be a purine (A or G), because a pyrimidine (U or C) is not tolerated. Here, we describe the compact 6CE8 deoxyribozyme (selected using a 20 nt random region) that synthesizes 2′,5′-branched RNA with any nucleotide at the branch site. The Mn²⁺-dependent branch-forming ligation reaction is between an internal branch-site 2′-hydroxyl nucleophile on one RNA substrate with a 5′-triphosphate on another RNA substrate. The preference for the branch-site nucleotide is U > C A > G, although all four nucleotides are tolerated with useful ligation rates. Nearly all other nucleotides elsewhere in both RNA substrates allow ligation activity, except that the sequence requirement for the RNA strand with the 5′-triphosphate is 5′-pppGA, with 5′-pppGAR (R = purine) preferred. These characteristics permit 6CE8 to prepare branched RNAs of immediate practical interest, such as the proposed branched intermediate of Ty1 retrotransposition. Because this branched RNA has two strands with identical sequence that emerge from the branch site, we developed strategies to control which of the two strands bind with the deoxyribozyme during the branch-forming reaction. The ability to synthesize the proposed branched RNA of Ty1 retrotransposition will allow us to explore this important biochemical pathway in greater detail.     

Morphology and ontogenesis of two new Hemiholosticha species (Ciliophora,Hypotrichia, Hemiholostichidae nov. fam.)

The morphology and ontogenesis of two new hypotrich ciliates, Hemiholosticha solitaria and Hemiholosticha germanica, were studied using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. Both species share a medium-sized, almost globular body with a short anterior projection; two macronuclear nodules with a single micronucleus in between; a central contractile vacuole; three or four ventral, one postoral, one right and one left marginal cirral row; and three dorsal kineties extending along ribs. However, H. germanica is distinguished from congeners by a higher number of cirri in ventral rows R1 and R2 (3–6 vs. 2 cirri in each row). Hemiholosticha solitaria differs from congeners by having four (vs. three) ventral cirral rows and by the lack (vs. presence) of intracellular green algae. The ontogenesis of H. solitaria follows the H. pantanalensis mode in that (i) the oral primordium develops in a deep pouch and generates the first two cirral streaks in addition to adoral membranelles and undulating membranes, (ii) the undulating membrane anlage does not produce any cirri, and (iii) the longitudinal ventral cirral row R3 originates from two anlagen. The ontogenetic peculiarities along with the 18S rRNA gene phylogenies suggest classification of Hemiholosticha, Psilotrichides, and Urospinula into a new family, Hemiholostichidae.     

New Insights into Plagiogrammaceae (Bacillariophyta) Based on Multigene Phylogenies and Morphological Characteristics with the Description of a New Genus and Three New Species

Plagiogrammaceae, a poorly described family of diatoms, are common inhabitants of the shallow marine littoral zone, occurring either in the sediments or as epiphytes. Previous molecular phylogenies of the Plagiogrammaceae were inferred but included only up to six genera: Plagiogramma, Dimeregramma, Neofragilaria, Talaroneis, Psammogramma and Psammoneis. In this paper, we describe a new plagiogrammoid genus, Orizaformis, obtained from Bohai Sea (China) and present molecular phylogenies of the family based on three and four genes (nuclear-encoded large and small subunit ribosomal RNAs and chloroplast-encoded rbcL and psbC). Also included in the new phylogenies is Glyphodesmis. The phylogenies suggest that the Plagiogrammaceae is composed of two major clades: one consisting of Talaroneis, Orizaformis and Psammoneis, and the second of Glyphodesmis, Psammogramma, Neofragilaria, Dimeregramma and Plagiogramma. In addition, we describe three new species within established genera: Psammoneis obaidii, which was collected from the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia; and Neofragilaria stilus and Talaroneis biacutifrons from the Mozambique Channel, Indian Ocean, and illustrate two new combination taxa: Neofragilaria anomala and Neofragilaria lineata. Our observations suggest that the biodiversity of the family is strongly needed to be researched, and the phylogenetic analyses provide a useful framework for future studies of Plagiogrammaceae.