Production of the lepidoptera-specific crystal protein by a local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis

Summary A local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.81) produced crystal protein which was identified as a cry I gene of Class I. The synthesis and assembly of crystal complements were investigated at intervals throughout the growth cycle. Incubation temperature had a marked effect on toxin synthesis; production being the highest at 25°C and the lowest at 42°C. The mutants of B. t. 81, unable to synthesize crystal protein complements, have also been described.     

Iodine binding and peroxidase activity in the endostyle of Salpa fusiformis,Thalia democratica,Dolioletta gegenbauri and Doliolum nationalis (Tunicata,Thaliacea)

Summary The protothyroid region in the endostyles of four species of tunicates was examined by means of autoradiography and cytochemistry, at both the light and electronmicroscopic levels. To reveal the primary binding site for iodine, autoradiography was carried out on endostylar tissue from animals that had been incubated with high activity ¹²⁵I^- over a short period of time. The specific iodine binding enzyme, a peroxidase, was traced by its reaction with DAB. In accordance with previous findings, the iodinebinding cells proved to be the same as those containing the peroxidase. There were also strong indications of a secondary uptake of iodinated compounds and subsequent release into the body fluid. Together with the ultrastructural features, the data provided strong evidence indicating that these cells constitute a protothyroid region, which partly functions as an endocrine organ, possibly homologous with the vertebrate thyroid gland. Since the number of zones varied between the species, the numeration of the protothyroid region also varied. However, in all the examined endostyles, the protothyroid region was seen to be situated dorsolaterally to the glandular regions of the endostyle concerned with food capture.     

The effect of manganese-induced hypercholesterolemia on learning in rats

Since the exact mechanism of manganese (Mn)-induced learning disability is not known, we investigated the role of elevated cholesterol in rats exposed daily to 357 and 714 μg Mn/kg for 30 d. Significant Mn accumulation was accompanied by increased cholesterol content in the hippocampal region of Mn-treated rats. The learning, which is based on the time needed to reach food placed at the exit of a T-maze after a 1-d training period, was significantly slower in exposed rats than in unexposed rats. The rats receiving 357 and 714 μg Mn/kg reached the food in 104.5±13.8 and 113.3±25.7 s, respectively, on d 30, whereas their untreated counterparts reached the food in 28.7±11.4 s. This delay was completely corrected to 29.3±7.8 and 30.7±6.0 s in rats with coadministration of an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis with 357 and 714 μg/kg of Mn. The correction of impaired learning was associated with the normalization of hippocampal cholesterol, but the Mn level in this region of the brain was not influenced in rats treated with a drug that inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis. These results suggested that Mn-induced hypercholesterolemia is involved in Mn-dependent learning disability.     

Flower heliotropism in an alpine population of Ranunculus acris (Ranunculaceae): effects on flower temperature,insect visitation,and seed production

Some plants in arctic and alpine habitats have heliotropic flowers that track the sun. This results in a heating of the flower's interior, which may improve the possibilities for insect pollination and seed production. Here, I examine whether flower heliotropism in an alpine population of the self-incompatible Ranunculus acris L. (Ranunculaceae) enhances pollinator visitation and seed production. Flowers of Ranunculus acris tracked the sun during the day. Tracking accuracy was greatest during the middle of the day. The temperature elevation in flowers was negatively correlated with the flower's angle of deviation from the sun. Despite the increased temperature, insects did not discriminate among flowers on the basis of their angle of deviation from the sun, or tend to stay longer in the flowers aligned closest towards the sun. A tethering experiment was conducted on three groups of plants flowering at different times in the 1993 season and on one group the following season. Manipulation plants were constrained not to track the sun, whereas control plants tracked the sun naturally. Solar tracking had no effect on seed:ovule ratio, seed mass, or abortion rate in any of the groups. There is probably a very narrow range of weather conditions (cold, sunny, and calm) where flower heliotropism may enhance visitation rate to flowers and their seed production.     

Long-lived primary radical pair state detected by time-resolved fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy in an isolated Photosystem two core

A Photosystem two (PS II) core preparation containing the chlorophyll a binding proteins CP 47, CP 43, D1 and D2, and the non-chlorophyll binding cytochrome-b559 and 33 kDA polypeptides, has been isolated from PS II-enriched membranes of peas using the non-ionic detergent heptylthioglucopyranoside and elevated ionic strengths. The primary radical pair state, P680⁺Pheo^-, was studied by time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, under conditions where quinone reduction and water-splitting activities were inhibited. Charge recombination of the primary radical pair in PS II cores was found to have lifetimes of 17.5 ns measured by fluorescence and 21 ns measured by transient decay kinetics under anaerobic conditions. Transient absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that the activity of the particles, based on primary radical pair formation, was in excess of 70% (depending on the choice of kinetic model), while time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that the particles were 91% active. These estimates of activity were further supported by steady-state measurements which quantified the amount of photoreducible pheophytin. It is concluded that the PS II core preparation we have isolated is ideal for studying primary radical pair formation and recombination as demonstrated by the correlation of our absorption and fluorescence transient data, which is the first of its kind to be reported in the literature for isolated PS II core complexes from higher plants.Abbreviations CP 43 and CP 47 chlorophyll binding proteins of PS II having apparent molecular weights on SDS-PAGE of 43 kDa and 47 kDa, respectively - D1 and D2 polypeptides PS II reaction centre polypeptides encoded by the psbA and psbD genes, respectively - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - PS II Photosystem two - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - P680 primary electron donor of PS II - Pheo phenophytin a - SPC single photon counting - PBQ phenyl-p-benzoquinone - DPC 1,5-diphenylcarbazide AFRC Photosynthesis Research Group, Department of Biochemistry     

Baseline serum levels of cardiac biomarkers in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Stable coronary artery disease (CAD) can cause repetitive reversible myocardial ischaemia, and it seems to be possible that reversibly injured myocardium releases small amounts of soluble cytoplasmic proteins. Hence, the aim was to evaluate the effect of stable CAD on baseline serum levels of cardiac biomarkers. We studied 68 consecutive outpatients referred for gated myocardial perfusion imaging. Before a treadmill exercise test, blood samples for measurement of creatine kinase (CK), CK-myocardial band (CK-MB) mass, myoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were collected. Normal perfusion patterns were detected in 29 (43%) patients (group 1) and perfusion defects were detected in 39 (57%) patients (group 2). Baseline serum levels of biomarkers except CK were significantly higher in group 2 (p=0.001). Stable CAD increases baseline levels of CK-MB mass, myoglobin, AST and LDH in the serum and this increase is related to the extent and severity of the perfusion defect and to some extent the ejection fraction of the left ventricle.     

Photoinhibition of photosynthesis represents a mechanism for the long-term regulation of photosystem II

The obligate shade plant, Tradescantia albiflora Kunth grown at 50 mol photons · m^–2 s^–1 and Pisum sativum L. acclimated to two photon fluence rates, 50 and 300 mol · m^–2 · s^–1, were exposed to photoinhibitory light conditions of 1700 mol · m^–2 · s^–1 for 4 h at 22° C. Photosynthesis was assayed by measurement of CO₂-saturated O₂ evolution, and photosystem II (PSII) was assayed using modulated chlorophyll fluorescence and flash-yield determinations of functional reaction centres. Tradescantia was most sensitive to photoinhibition, while pea grown at 300 mol · m^–2 · s^–1 was most resistant, with pea grown at 50 mol · m^–2 · s^–1 showing an intermediate sensitivity. A very good correlation was found between the decrease of functional PSII reaction centres and both the inhibition of photosynthesis and PSII photochemistry. Photoinhibition caused a decline in the maximum quantum yield for PSII electron transport as determined by the product of photochemical quenching (q_p) and the yield of open PSII reaction centres as given by the steady-state fluorescence ratio, F_vF_m, according to Genty et al. (1989, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 990, 81–92). The decrease in the quantum yield for PSII electron transport was fully accounted for by a decrease in F_vF_m, since q_p at a given photon fluence rate was similar for photoinhibited and noninhibited plants. Under lightsaturating conditions, the quantum yield of PSII electron transport was similar in photoinhibited and noninhibited plants. The data give support for the view that photoinhibition of the reaction centres of PSII represents a stable, long-term, down-regulation of photochemistry, which occurs in plants under sustained high-light conditions, and replaces part of the regulation usually exerted by the transthylakoid pH gradient. Furthermore, by investigating the susceptibility of differently lightacclimated sun and shade species to photoinhibition in relation to q_p, i.e. the fraction of open-to-closed PSII reaction centres, we also show that irrespective of light acclimation, plants become susceptible to photoinhibition when the majority of their PSII reaction centres are still open (i.e. primary quinone acceptor oxidized). Photoinhibition appears to be an unavoidable consequence of PSII function when light causes sustained closure of more than 40% of PSII reaction centres.Abbreviations F_o and F_o minimal fluorescence when all PSII reaction centres are open in darkness and steady-state light, respectively - F_m and F_m maximal fluorescence when all PSII reaction centres are closed in darkand light-acclimated leaves, respectively - F_v variable fluorescence - (F_m-F_o) under steady-state light con-ditions - F_s steady-state fluorescence in light - Q_A the primary,stable quinone acceptor of PSII - q_Ne non-photochemical quench-ing of fluorescence due to high energy state - (pH); q_Ni non-photochemical quenching of fluorescence due to photoinhibition - q_p photochemical quenching of fluorescence To whom correspondence should be addressedThis work was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (G.Ö.) and the award of a National Research Fellowship to J.M.A and W.S.C. We thank Dr. Paul Kriedemann, Division of Forestry and Forest Products, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia, for helpful discussions.     

Land snail diversity in the monsoon tropics of Northern Australia: revision of the genus Exiligada Iredale, 1939 (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Camaenidae), with description of 13 new species

Vast parts of the monsoon tropics of Australia feature semi‐arid habitats, which are generally thought to harbour a depauperate land snail fauna as compared to the mesic continental fringes, in particular the Australian wet tropics. However, our knowledge of land snails inhabiting these often remote environments is still very patchy. In order to improve the understanding of land snail diversity in the monsoon tropics, we revised the camaenid land snail genus Exiligada based on comprehensive collections, undertaken by use of helicopters on remote limestone outcrops in the Northern Territory and in Western Australia. Based on comparative analyses of shell and genital morphology and patterns of molecular differentiation, we recognize 15 species within Exiligada, 13 of which are newly described. In addition, we suggest a revised delimitation of the type species Exiligada negriensis, as compared to the latest available revision, by removing Exiligada qualis from its synonymy and recognizing it as a distinct species. A key for species identification is also provided. Molecular phylogenetic analyses strongly supported the monophyly of Exiligada with respect to other confamilial genera known to occur in the same geographical region. Most Exiligada species are narrowly endemic to restricted limestone outcrops that cover areas with a diameter of about 20 to 150 km. Within the distributional range of Exiligada, the ranges of up to seven species overlap but we never found more than three species to occur in sympatry at a given sampling site. We propose that species originated by allopatric differentiation, followed by secondary range expansion, leading to sympatric distributions. Our study confirms that less complex rock habitats in more xeric environments support no more than three sympatric species, this being likely to be a result of ecological exclusion. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166 , 689–722.