Book reviews

Environmental Biology of Fishes -     

Carbon cycling in a loblolly pine plantation

Summary The carbon cycle of a loblolly pine plantation in North Carolina was examined during its 12th through 16th years from planting. Net primary production during the study period averaged 2056 g C m^-2 year^-1. With autotrophic respiration equal to 2068 g C, the calculated gross production was 4124 g C m^-2 year^-1. Heterotrophic respiration of 694 g C m^-2 year^-1 resulted in net ecosystem production of 1362 g C m^-2 year^-1. In carbon cycle comparisons between forest ecosystems, autotrophic respiration rates were found to be closely coupled to regional temperature.     

Neuroleptic-like electroencephalographic changes in schizophrenics through biofeedback

Nine schizophrenic patients participated in a study which explored whether EEG feedback techniques could effect changes in the EEG similar to those associated with neuroleptic-induced improvement. During five sessions, each patient was presented feedback signals which continuously refected the discrepancy between characteristics of the patient's EEG power spectral profile and spectral profile characteristics associated by past research with neuroleptic induced clinical improvement. Significant within-session changes were observed for two of three EEG power spectrum bands of interest. No significant session-to-session EEG changes were observed. The results suggest that the EEG of schizophrenics can be temporarily altered, using feedback techniques, in a way that mimics the EEG changes that have been shown to occur with neuroleptic induced clinical improvement.The authors are indebted to Turan M. Itil, John W. Fredrickson, Michael Madwed, and Irene B. Francis. Senior authorship is shared equally.     

Identification and Distribution of Phenylacetic Acid in the Brain of the Rat

Abstract: Phenylacetic acid, the major metabolite of phenylethylamine, has been identified and quantitated in rat brain regions by capillary column high-resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Its distribution is heterogeneous and correlates with that of phenylethylamine. The values obtained were (ng/g ± SEM): whole brain, 31.2 ± 2.7; caudate nucleus, 64.6 ± 6.5; hypothalamus, 60.1 ± 7.4; cerebellum, 31.3 ± 2.9; brainstem, 33.1 ± 3.3, and the "rest," 27.6 ± 3.0.     

Starch Binding Domain-containing Protein 1/Genethonin 1 Is a Novel Participant in Glycogen Metabolism

Stbd1 is a protein of previously unknown function that is most prevalent in liver and muscle, the major sites for storage of the energy reserve glycogen. The protein is predicted to contain a hydrophobic N terminus and a C-terminal CBM20 glycan binding domain. Here, we show that Stbd1 binds to glycogen in vitro and that endogenous Stbd1 locates to perinuclear compartments in cultured mouse FL83B or Rat1 cells. When overexpressed in COSM9 cells, Stbd1 concentrated at enlarged perinuclear structures, co-localized with glycogen, the late endosomal/lysosomal marker LAMP1 and the autophagy protein GABARAPL1. Mutant Stbd1 lacking the N-terminal hydrophobic segment had a diffuse distribution throughout the cell. Point mutations in the CBM20 domain did not change the perinuclear localization of Stbd1, but glycogen was no longer concentrated in this compartment. Stable overexpression of glycogen synthase in Rat1WT4 cells resulted in accumulation of glycogen as massive perinuclear deposits, where a large fraction of the detectable Stbd1 co-localized. Starvation of Rat1WT4 cells for glucose resulted in dissipation of the massive glycogen stores into numerous and much smaller glycogen deposits that retained Stbd1. In vitro, in cells, and in animal models, Stbd1 consistently tracked with glycogen. We conclude that Stbd1 is involved in glycogen metabolism by binding to glycogen and anchoring it to membranes, thereby affecting its cellular localization and its intracellular trafficking to lysosomes.