1 of the pathways for normalization of populations of malignant cells

The paper reports reasons for a possibility of tumour regression due to selection of low-malignant and differentiating clones. Experimental evidence is provided supporting this view.     

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in Tuvinian population of reindeer Rangifer tarandus L.

Mitochondrial DNA variation was examined in one of the southem most populations of domestic reindeer, inhabiting Tyva Republic (Tuva). In Tuvinian population sequence polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region was demonstrated. In a sample of 29 individuals 7 mitotypes were distinguished, pointing to the preservation of rather high level of genetic diversity in this population.     

The effect of temperature on progeny allocation and short interval timing in a parasitoid wasp

Abstract The parasitoid wasp Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura sets the number of progeny allocated to its insect egg hosts according to the duration of its initial transit walk across the host surface. Although cooling the wasp reduces its walking speed, reduced temperature does not affect progeny allocation. By locally heating and cooling the wasps, the initial transit can be thermally uncoupled from the subsequent oviposition. Using this technique we show that the timing of initial transit duration is temperature-dependent. These findings suggest that short interval timing by Trichogramma differs physiologically from the temperature compensated clocks that have been described for other insects.     

Inactivation and oxidative modification of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase by stimulated neutrophils: the appearance of new catalytically active structures.

Bovine superoxide dismutase (SOD) was inactivated during incubation with phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated neutrophils. In addition, stimulated neutrophils were able to disrupt the SOD structure. Inactivation and structural damage were dependent on the action of hypochlorous acid, an oxidant generated by the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride system of neutrophils. Incubation of SOD with stimulated neutrophils lead to long-wavelength fluorescence (ex, 350 nm; em, 450 nm) and the appearance of new structural forms with other isoelectric points. These additional forms possess catalytic activity. Generation of catalytically active new forms of SOD demonstrates the inaccessibility of the active centre of SOD to hypochlorite and may be a reason for the successful application of SOD during anti-inflammatory therapy.     

Effects of neurotropin on seizure activity in picrotoxin kindling]

It is shown that both intracerebral and intraperitoneal neurotropin administration resulted in a decrease of seizure susceptibility of preliminary picrotoxin--kindled rats. On the other hand, neurotropin did not change the course of kindling development. Under conditions of acute picrotoxin--induced seizures it was observed that preliminary cycloheximide (protein-synthesis blocker) administration abolished anticonvulsant properties of neurotropin. It is concluded that anticonvulsant effects of neurotropin are realized via modulation of endogenous peptides synthesis and, in particular, cerulein.     

Species loss leads to community closure

Global extinction of a species is sadly irreversible. At a local scale, however, extinctions may be followed by re-invasion. We here show that this is not necessarily the case and that an ecological community may close its doors for re-invasion of species lost from it. Previous studies of how communities are assembled have shown that there may be rules for that process and that limitations are set to the order by which species are introduced and put together. Instead of focusing on the assembly process we randomly generated simple competitive model communities that were stable and allowed for two to 10 coexisting species. When a randomly selected single species was removed from the community, the cascading species loss was recorded and frequently the resulting community was more than halved. Cascading extinctions have previously been recorded, but we here show that the relative magnitude of the cascade is dependent on community size (and not only trophic structure) and that the reintroduction of the original species lost often is impossible. Hence, species loss does not simply leave a void potentially refilled, but permanently alters the entire community structure and consequently the adaptive landscape for potential re-invaders.