Evidence for diet partitioning among three coexisting native freshwater fishes in South Africa's Cape Fold Ecoregion

The partitioning of limited resources commonly explains how different species can coexist within the same ecological community. In this 2010 study, the diets of three coexisting freshwater fishes (Cape galaxias Galaxias zebratus, n = 27; Cape kurper Sandelia capensis, n = 60; Breede River redfin Pseudobarbus burchelli, n = 77) were characterised and compared in three headwater streams in South Africa's Cape Fold Ecoregion using gut contents and stable isotope analyses. These data were analysed to ascertain whether the three species exploit distinct trophic niches. Both approaches provided evidence that these species occupy different trophic niches, though with some overlap. However, dietary differences among sites were not consistent and were probably influenced by site-specific factors like resource availability. Pseudobarbus burchelli had a broader niche breadth at Tierkloof Stream than the other two species, but not at Waaihoek or Tierstel Streams. Our results also suggest that P. burchelli consumed a more omnivorous diet than do the other two species, whereas S. capensis occupied a higher trophic position than the other two species and consumed vertebrates. Our findings suggest that these species occupy non-equivalent feeding niches in Cape Fold Ecoregion headwater streams, and that diet partitioning might facilitate their coexistence in these systems.     

A computational investigation on the antioxidant potential of myricetin 3,4′-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-rhamnopyranoside

In this work, we present a computational study on the antioxidant potential of myricetin 3,4\(^{\prime }\)-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (Compound M). A density functional theory (DFT) approach with the B3LYP and LC-ωPBE functionals and with both the 6-311G(d,p) and 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets was used. The focus of the investigation was on the structural and energetic parameters including both bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) and ionization potentials (IPs), which provide information on the potential antioxidant activity. The properties computed were compared with BDEs and IPs available in the literature for myricetin, a compound well known for presenting antioxidant activity (and the parent molecule of the compound of interest in the present work). Myricetin 3,4\(^{\prime }\)-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside presented the lowest BDE to be 79.13 kcal/mol (as determined using B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) in water) while myricetin has a quite similar value (within 3.4 kcal/mol). IPs computed in the gas phase [B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)] are 157.18 and 161.4 kcal/mol for myricetin 3,4\(^{\prime }\)-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside and myricetin, respectively. As the values of BDEs are considerably lower than the ones probed for IPs (in the gas phase or in any given solvent environment), the hydrogen atom transfer mechanism is preferred over the single electron transfer mechanism. The BDEs obtained suggest that myricetin 3,4\(^{\prime }\)-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside can present antioxidant potential as good as the parent molecule myricetin (a well-known antioxidant). Therefore, experimental tests on the antioxidant activity of Compound M are encouraged.     

Examining the reaction between antioxidant compounds and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) through a computational investigation

In this work, we present a computational investigation on the reactions between two well-known antioxidants (quercetin and morin) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). A density functional theory (DFT) approach with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G(d,p) basis set was used for the simulations. The structural and energetic parameters (Gibbs free-energy, ΔG, and Gibbs free-energy of activation, ΔG⁺⁺) were determined to provide information on the antioxidant activity as well as to evaluate the contributions of each hydroxyl group to the referred property. According to the results obtained, quercetin presented three hydroxyls as being thermodynamically spontaneous in the reaction with DPPH (4\(^{\prime }\)-ArOH, 3\(^{\prime }\)-ArOH, and 3-ArOH, with ΔG = -4.93 kcal/mol, -2.89 kcal/mol, and -1.87 kcal/mol, respectively) against only two in the case of morin (2\(^{\prime }\)-ArOH and 3-ArOH, with ΔG = -7.56 kcal/mol and -4.57 kcal/mol, respectively). Hence, quercetin was found to be a more efficient antioxidant, which is in agreement with different experimental and computational investigations of bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs). However, the order of contribution of the OH groups of each compound to the antioxidant potential present some differences when compared to what was seen in the previous investigations, especially for morin. These findings are in contrast to what was observed in studies based on the determinations of BDEs. Therefore, experimental investigations on the hydrogen-atom transfer mechanism (HAT) for both compounds are encouraged in order to clarify these observations.     

Characterization of Lipids and Proteins Associated to the Cell Wall of the Acapsular Mutant Cryptococcus neoformans Cap 67

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes life‐threatening meningitis. In this fungus, the cell wall is exceptionally not the outermost structure due to the presence of a surrounding polysaccharide capsule, which has been highly studied. Considering that there is little information about C. neoformans cell wall composition, we aimed at describing proteins and lipids extractable from this organelle, using as model the acapsular mutant C. neoformans cap 67. Purified cell wall preparations were extracted with either chloroform/methanol or hot sodium dodecyl sulfate. Total lipids fractionated in silica gel 60 were analyzed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS), while trypsin digested proteins were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). We detected 25 phospholipid species among phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid. Two glycolipid species were identified as monohexosyl ceramides. We identified 192 noncovalently linked proteins belonging to different metabolic processes. Most proteins were classified as secretory, mainly via nonclassical mechanisms, suggesting a role for extracellular vesicles (EV) in transwall transportation. In concert with that, orthologs from 86% of these proteins have previously been reported both in fungal cell wall and/or in EV. The possible role of the presently described structures in fungal–host relationship is discussed.     

Larval development of mandi-pintado Pimelodus britskii (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

This study investigated the morphology, morphometric and meristic characters of 117 larval Pimelodus britskii showing early development of head, eye, barbel and snout. Body and mouth pigmentation increased throughout development; the mouth was ventrally situated in the yolk-sac stage, becoming subterminal afterwards, and an embryonic fin was visible in all four stages observed. Post-flexion larval P. bristskii are distinguished from larval P. ortmanni by having 47–50 myomeres (v. 36).     

Assessment of algorithms for high throughput detection of genomic copy number variation in oligonucleotide microarray data

Background

Genomic deletions and duplications are important in the pathogenesis of diseases, such as cancer and mental retardation, and have recently been shown to occur frequently in unaffected individuals as polymorphisms. Affymetrix GeneChip whole genome sampling analysis (WGSA) combined with 100 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays is one of several microarray-based approaches that are now being used to detect such structural genomic changes. The popularity of this technology and its associated open source data format have resulted in the development of an increasing number of software packages for the analysis of copy number changes using these SNP arrays.

Results

We evaluated four publicly available software packages for high throughput copy number analysis using synthetic and empirical 100 K SNP array data sets, the latter obtained from 107 mental retardation (MR) patients and their unaffected parents and siblings. We evaluated the software with regards to overall suitability for high-throughput 100 K SNP array data analysis, as well as effectiveness of normalization, scaling with various reference sets and feature extraction, as well as true and false positive rates of genomic copy number variant (CNV) detection.

Conclusion

We observed considerable variation among the numbers and types of candidate CNVs detected by different analysis approaches, and found that multiple programs were needed to find all real aberrations in our test set. The frequency of false positive deletions was substantial, but could be greatly reduced by using the SNP genotype information to confirm loss of heterozygosity.     

Antiproliferative terpenoids and alkaloids from the roots of Maytenus vitis-idaea and Maytenus spinosa

Investigation of the organic extracts of the roots of Maytenus vitis-idaea and Maytenus spinosa, collected in the province of Salta, Argentina, led to isolation of eighteen compounds belonging to several classes. From M. vitis-idaea, eight methylenequinone celastroids (1–8) were isolated, four of which (4–7) were hitherto unknown. Additionally, from M. spinosa, two known celastroids, a known celastroid dimer (9), three pentacyclic triterpenoids (10–12) and six β-dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenoid alkaloids (13–18) were identified. Compounds 4–7 were active against six solid tumor cell lines at micromolar concentrations.     

Electroporation of maize embryogenic calli with the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana

Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide of glucose that occurs in a large number of organisms, playing an important role in desiccation and heat stress protection. Trehalose accumulation has proven to be an effective way of increasing drought tolerance in both model plants such as tobacco and important crops such as potato or rice. In this work we aim to genetically engineer maize with the Arabidopsis thaliana trehalose phosphate synthase gene (AtTPS1), involved in trehalose biosynthesis via electroporation. A cassette harboring the AtTPS1 gene under the control of the CaMV35S promoter and the Bialaphos resistance gene Bar as a selective agent was inserted in the plasmid vector pGreen0229 and used to transform maize inbred line Pa91 via electroporation. Fifteen putative transgenic plants (T0 generation) were obtained. Transgene integration in T0 plants was analyzed by Southern-blot analysis. T0 plants had normal phenotypes, although smaller than wild type plants. Contrary to wild type plants, when sexual organs emerged, tassels appeared at least 15 days earlier than ears in the same plant, rendering impossible the self-pollination of the T0 plant. These plants were then crossed with wild type plants and in some cases T1 seeds were obtained. T1 seeds presented deformities, especially the lack of endosperm, but it was still possible to germinate some of these seeds. The so obtained plants were tested by Northern blot but no AtTPS1 gene expression was detected, a fact possibly due to the incomplete insertion of the AtTPS1 gene or an extremely low gene expression level.     

Loss of susceptibility as an alternative for nematode resistance

Among plant pathogens, sedentary endoparasitic nematodes are one of the most damaging pests in global agriculture. These obligate parasites interact with their hosts in a quite unique and intriguing way. They induce the redifferentiation of root cells into specialized feeding cells essential for nematode growth and reproduction; thus, nematodes have evolved the ability to exploit plant genes and hijack host functions for their own requirements. Various approaches to engineer plants with resistance to parasitic nematodes have been pursued, most focusing on the introduction of resistance genes. An alternative strategy to achieve resistance is to exploit the susceptibility of plant disease. Better knowledge of the plant response during the compatible interaction should allow the identification of targets to engineer resistance to parasitic nematodes in crop species.