Family studies on the third component of complement (C3), 6h1-antitrypsin polymorphism (locus E1 and E2) in the area of Marburg (Germany)

Summary The polymorphisms of the third component of complement (C3), of ₁ (₁) and of pseudocholinesterase (locus E₁ and E₂) have been investigated in 97 families with 181 children from the area of Marburg. A Mendelian inheritance was observed regarding the segregation of the phenotypes of children in the systems of C3, ₁-at and E₁-locus of pseudocholinesterase.

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Zusammenfassung 97 Familien mit 181 Kindern aus der Umgebung von Marburg wurden in bezug auf die Polymorphismen der 3. Komponente des Komplements (C3), ₁ (₁) und Pseudocholinesterase (Locus E₁ und E₂) untersucht. Die Aufspaltung in die Kinderphänotypen entspricht bezüglich C3, ₁-at und Pseudocholinesterase Locus E₁ den Mendelschen Regeln.

     

Zur populationsgenetik der phosphoglucoseisomerase (EC: 5.3.1.9)

Summary In a population sample of 728 unrelated individuals from Marburg one variant PGI 5-1 was found.

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Direktor: Prof. Dr. Dr. H. Ritter

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Direktor: Prof. Dr. G. G. Wendt

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Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

GPS tracking data of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls breeding at the southern North Sea coast

In this data paper, Bird tracking - GPS tracking of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls breeding at the southern North Sea coast is described, a species occurrence dataset published by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO). The dataset (version 5.5) contains close to 2.5 million occurrences, recorded by 101 GPS trackers mounted on 75 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 26 Herring Gulls breeding at the Belgian and Dutch coast. The trackers were developed by the University of Amsterdam Bird Tracking System (UvA-BiTS, http://www.uva-bits.nl). These automatically record and transmit bird movements, which allows us and others to study their habitat use and migration behaviour in great detail. Our bird tracking network is operational since 2013. It is funded for LifeWatch by the Hercules Foundation and maintained in collaboration with UvA-BiTS and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). The recorded data are periodically released in bulk as open data (http://dataset.inbo.be/bird-tracking-gull-occurrences), and are also accessible through CartoDB and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).     

Yolk testosterone, postnatal growth and song in male canaries

Avian eggs contain substantial amounts of maternal yolk androgens, which have been shown to modulate offspring phenotype. The first studies on the functional consequences of maternal yolk androgens have focused on early life stages and their role in sibling competition. However, recent longitudinal studies reported long-lasting effects of maternal yolk androgens on offspring phenotype, mostly concerning traits that are sensitive to androgens. This suggests that maternal yolk androgens could play an important role in sexual selection, since the expression of many male sexual characters is testosterone-dependent. Using male canaries as a model, we examined the consequences of an experimental elevation of yolk testosterone concentrations on early development as well as long-lasting effects particularly on song, which is one of the most important sexual characters in male songbirds. Elevated yolk testosterone concentrations inhibited male growth, possibly in interaction with an existent ectoparasite exposure. Males hatched from testosterone-treated eggs (T-males) did not have enhanced competitive skills, in contrast to previous studies. The elevation of yolk testosterone concentrations delayed song development but did not affect adult song phenotype. This is intriguing, as yolk testosterone possibly induced developmental stress, which is known to reduce song quality. We hypothesize that yolk testosterone has either no direct effect on adult song phenotype, or that positive effects are merged by the negative effects of developmental stress. Finally, females mated with T-males invested more in their clutch indicating that females either assess T-males as more attractive (differential allocation hypothesis) or compensated for lower offspring viability (compensation hypothesis).     

Elevated yolk androgen levels and the expression of multiple sexually selected male characters

Maternal hormones in bird eggs modulate not only offspring development, but recently it has also been shown that these effects can persist into adult life. A number of long-lasting effects concern traits of which the expression or development is modulated by androgens. This suggests that the nature of yolk hormone-mediated maternal effects may be organizational. Maternal androgens may therefore play an important role in sexual selection, since the expression of sexually selected male characters is often androgen-dependent.We experimentally manipulated the yolk androgen concentrations of European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) eggs. Subsequently we followed 49 unrelated males from hatching until year of first reproduction. We investigated the expression of multiple sexually selected male characters (song, beak color and throat feather characteristics), taking into account whether a trait is androgen-dependent.Elevated levels of yolk androgens affected the length of the embryonic period, but did not modify the expression of either androgen-dependent or androgen-independent sexually selected male characters including song phenotype at adulthood. Thus the most important function of yolk androgens in starlings and possibly other bird species may relate to the early developmental period. The outcome of our study together with the results of our meta-analysis indicates that the effects of yolk androgens on sexually selected male characters may be comparatively small. Our results suggest that this may relate to the numerous other environmental and/or genetic factors influencing the expression of sexually selected male characters.     

Convergent, parallel synthesis of a series of beta-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazole butanoic acids as potent and selective alpha(v)beta3 receptor antagonists

We describe a series of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles, which are potent antagonists of the integrin alpha(v)beta3 and, in addition, show selectivity relative to the other beta3 integrin alpha(IIb)beta3. In whole cells, the majority of these analogs also demonstrated modest selectivity against other alpha(v) integrins such as alpha(v)beta1 and alpha(v)beta6.